Regional Spotlight: Benjamin Grosvenor

St. Paul, Minn. — Critics have a difficult time coming up with the right words to describe the talent and musical mastery of 17-year-old British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor (pronounced "GROVE-ner").

"Colorful!" says one.

"Alluring and dark hued," say another.

Perhaps it's best to call Grosvenor something on which all can agree: he is a rare musical talent.

How rare? In this week's Regional Spotlight, from February 2010, Benjamin Grosvenor performs three jazzy concert etudes by contemporary Russian composer Nicolai Kapustin.

We'll be hearing more from this uniquely gifted musician in the decades to come!

Guests

• Benjamin Grosvenor: Benjamin Grosvenor first came to prominence as the outstanding winner age 11 of the Keyboard Final of the 2004 BBC Young Musician Competition. He then made his Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall debuts aged 13. In recent years EMI Classics have supported him through an innovative development agreement. In 2008, he recorded a mixed recital of shorter works entitled 'This and That' to overwhelming acclaim, with Gramophone exclaiming "the performances by Benjamin Grosvenor exhibit a skill and talent not heard since Kissin's legendary teenage Russian debut."