Page 235 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024

Nevertheless, Pioro is practical about the realities of life for orchestra members with multiple
commitments. His wife works in the arts and he does a lot of the childcare. He tells me his son
loves listening to him play, that watching this infant ignited by music he hears for the first time
causes Pioro to question – again – why the classical establishment doesn’t do more to promote
new music. “I am struck by the artistic apathy when it comes to championing the new. Old music
is fine. It has already survived – because it’s amazing and we’ve totally forgotten about all the old
music that was not very good because it’s just not played any more. I’m questioning why we’ve got
into a place where we are so content to not seek out new sounds.”

He continues: “Last year a concert by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra was advertised simply as
‘Tchaikovsky’s Fifth’. It took some friends to tell me that they would also be playing Cassandra
Miller’s new viola concerto, and getting [viola player] Lawrence Power to perform it – this should
have been the thing on everybody’s lips. For the first time in a long while I cried in a concert. I still
think about it every day. So why wasn’t it advertised more prominently? It wouldn’t have bothered
Tchaikovksy or the people who wanted to hear his Fifth!”

Pioro stresses he’s “not interested in riling traditionalists. If you want to pull on a ruff and silk
stockings then go for it. Amazing!”

Daniel Pioro is one of four featured musicians at this year’s Aldeburgh Festival which runs from
June 7-23. Info: brittenpearsarts.org/featured-musician-daniel-pioro