McGowan, who returned to the piano aged 49, said that playing the instrument was “good for your soul, it’s good for your spirit”.

He hopes that the four-day festival, which will include performances by internationally renowned pianists Lucy Parham and Charles Owen as well as comedians Jo Brand and Rachel Parris, will inspire people from the community and around the country “to learn about this incredible instrument … and the beauty of playing it at any level”. And that’s what I’m trying to capitalise on with the programming.”

“It’s the length of a pop song, as are so many piano pieces. But also, he said, people sharing three- or four-minute piano pieces online had helped increase enthusiasm for classical music. Photograph: Steve BestĬomedian and pianist Alistair McGowan, who is launching a piano festival in his Shropshire hometown of Ludlow in May, said the piano’s growing appeal was in part a “lockdown phenomenon”. Alistair McGowan, who is launching the Ludlow piano festival in May.

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