Maxim Lando Overshadows the Hype

Seventeen-year old soloist at Salon Piano Series exceeds high expectations   As I looked around the showroom at Farley’s House of Pianos Sunday afternoon at 4, I could not remember the last time — or if ever — so many had been seated for a Salon Piano Series event. Then again, I could not remember…

Old Friends and New Journeys at Salon Piano Series

Cellist Amit Peled and pianist Daniel del Pino fire up Farley’s House of Pianos   For more than five years, the showroom at Farley’s House of Pianos has been the place to hear some of the world’s great artists, up close and personal. As it turns out, what eventually became the Salon Piano Series is…

Trio Céleste Delivers Triple the Pleasure at the Salon Piano Series

Young trio from SoCal backs up their growing reputation   Most of the time the Salon Piano Series, an exquisite season of four concerts held in Farley’s House of Pianos showroom, features pianists, usually one at a time. But Tim and Renee Farley have developed a delicious habit of adding a small ensemble into the…

Look, Learn, Listen…Love It!

Salon Piano Series delivers the total package Here is what one usually gets at a Salon Piano Series event at Farley’s House of Pianos: A world-class pianist, some fascinating tidbits from Tim Farley about a historically restored keyboard, a memorable performance in an intimate setting, and a scrumptious wine and appetizer reception during which one…

Yakushev Delivers the Whole Package

Salon Piano Series remains a Madison treasure   Wonderful things always happen at the Salon Piano Series, but it was particularly gratifying to see what appeared to be a couple of extra rows of chairs squeezed in at Farley’s House of Pianos last Sunday. The occasion was the second of this year’s Salon Piano Series…

It’s a Beautiful Day for a Concert—Let’s Hear Two!

Salon Piano Series and the Pro Arte Quartet made Sunday a day to remember   With all due respect to Ernie Banks’ original quote, expressing his joy in the game of baseball, and to the Green Bay Packers and their legions of fans, there was no place I would have rather been last Sunday at…

Salon Piano Series Flips the Script

Together for the first time, Lippi Trio sounds seasoned   It has been proven repeatedly that the greatest works in the realm of chamber music invariably receive their greatest performances from players who have played together for years; many well-known string quartet members will tell you that their professional relationships are often closer than their…

Hearing Chopin As Never Before

Adam Neiman returns to the Salon Piano Series in an unforgettable performance   I had been literally counting the days for weeks before Adam Neiman’s return to the Salon Piano Series last Sunday. Every event at this series, hosted by Farley’s House of Pianos, offers great performances with some historical insights—and the lure of an…

“4 on the Floor” Kicks It into High Gear

Farley’s House of Pianos takes the Salon Piano Series about as far as it can go Several years ago four of the world’s great pianists came up with what might sound like little more than a stunt that could well be more fun for the players than for the audience: a quartet of grand pianos…

History Breathed On Us

Amit Peled performs a 100-year old program on a 300-year old instrument—and invokes the spirit of Pablo Casals   Any event at the Salon Piano Series at Farley’s House of Pianos contains at least a whiff of musical history: The establishment has long been renowned for its superb restorations of historic keyboards. So much so…