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A Pianist Explores

A musical journey through the piano repertoire. In each lecture Jonathan Darnborough turns the spotlight on a single iconic piano work, exploring its historical context, musical structure and expressive power.

Each lecture will be illustrated from the piano and will end with a performance of the piece.

You can register for individual lectures, see list below, or you can register for the entire series. (Booking the complete series offers a reduced rate compared to booking lectures individually.)

Please note: enrolments for the complete series will close at 23:59 UTC on 21 January 2025. Enrolments for each individual lecture will close a couple of days before each lecture.

About the lecturer

Jonathan Darnborough is Director of Studies in Music and Departmental Lecturer in Music at Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. He is a composer and pianist and has worked in continuing education throughout his career. He was a prize-winner in the 1992 Franco-Italian Piano Competition in Paris and he has performed throughout Britain, as well as in Europe, the USA and Indonesia.

Upcoming courses

Mozart: Sonata in C, K 545, 1st movement

In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Lecture series

In this late work Mozart shows himself at his subtlest, achieving that Holy Grail for all creative artists, beauty with simplicity. This lecture is part of the 'A Pianist Explores' lecture series – providing a musical journey through the piano repertoire.

Fri 24 Jan 2025
11:00am-12:15pm

Beethoven: 'Moonlight' Sonata, Op. 27, no. 2, 1st movement

In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Lecture series

The poet Rellstab compared the first movement of this iconic work with the play of moonlight on the waters of a lake. Concealed beneath the dreamy surface of this movement, however, is a structure every bit as tight as anything Beethoven ever wrote.

Fri 31 Jan 2025
11:00am-12:15pm

Mendelssohn: Variations Sérieuses, Op. 54

In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Lecture series

Reacting against the empty display of variations by the virtuosi of his day, Mendelssohn wrote his Variations Sérieuses as a homage to Beethoven. Basing them on a poignant theme, Mendelssohn explores a wide range of moods, ending in a jubilant finale.

Fri 07 Feb 2025
11:00am-12:15pm

Chopin: Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2

In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Lecture series

In this famous Nocturne, Chopin combines the dreamy with the dramatic in an apparently improvisatory stream of consciousness that belies the time he devoted to its composition. This lecture is part of the 'A Pianist Explores' lecture series.

Fri 14 Feb 2025
11:00am-12:15pm

Rachmaninoff: Prelude in D, Op. 23, no. 4

In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Lecture series

In his D major Prelude, Rachmaninoff weaves one of his characteristic extended melodies and builds towards a climax of shattering intensity. This lecture is part of the 'A Pianist Explores' lecture series.

Fri 21 Feb 2025
11:00am-12:15pm

Scriabin: Sonata no. 5, Op. 53

In-person day/weekend • Short courses • Lecture series

Described by Horowitz as the most difficult piano piece ever written, legend has it that this sonata came to Scriabin in a dream. This lecture is part of the 'A Pianist Explores' lecture series – providing a musical journey through the piano repertoire.

Fri 28 Feb 2025
11:00am-12:15pm