The London Piano Festival 2026 opens with an evening of conversation and music exploring the creative lineage between Olivier Messiaen and Sir George Benjamin. BBC Radio 3’s Donald Macleod is in conversation with Sir George Benjamin, followed by performances from Artistic Directors Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva of Benjamin’s Two or Four and Divisions, alongside Messiaen’s monumental Visions de l’Amen.

The opening performance of LPF 2026 begins with a discussion between BBC Radio 3’s Donald Macleod and Sir George Benjamin, exploring Benjamin’s formative relationship with his teacher, Olivier Messiaen, and the lasting impact of Messiaen’s musical and spiritual thinking on his work.

The discussion is paired with performances of George Benjamin’s Two or Four and Divisions, both for piano, four hands and concludes with Messiaen’s monumental Visions de l’Amen (1943), one of the landmark works of the twentieth‑century piano repertoire. Written for two pianos, its seven movements combine radiant harmony, intricate rhythm and visionary intensity.

This event will last for approximately 2 hours with an interval.

About Charles Owen

Charles Owen enjoys an extensive international career, performing a wide-ranging repertoire to outstanding critical acclaim. In the UK he appears regularly at major venues including Bridgewater Hall, The Sage Gateshead and Kings Place, while internationally he has performed at leading halls such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York, the Brahms-Saal in Vienna’s Musikverein, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Melbourne Recital Centre.

A committed chamber musician, Charles collaborates with many distinguished artists, including Alina Ibragimova, Johan Dalene, Steven Isserlis and Augustin Hadelich, and has partnered leading ensembles such as the Carducci, Heath, Sacconi and Takács string quartets. He is also a frequent guest at major festivals including Aldeburgh, Bath, Cheltenham, Three Choirs and Ryedale, as well as appearing internationally at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and the Verbier Festival.

As a concerto soloist, he has worked with orchestras including the Philharmonia, Hallé, Aurora and London Philharmonic, collaborating with conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, Ryan Wigglesworth, Nicholas Collon and Martyn Brabbins. His acclaimed discography spans both solo and chamber repertoire, from Bach and Brahms to Janáček, Poulenc and Schumann, alongside recordings with Katya Apekisheva and Augustin Hadelich.

Charles Owen is Co-Artistic Director of the London Piano Festival, which he founded with Katya Apekisheva in 2016. A dedicated educator, he is Professor of Piano at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and a Steinway & Sons UK Ambassador. He also supports young musicians through his work with Help Musicians.

About Katya Apekisheva

Described by Gramophone as a “profoundly gifted artist”, Katya Apekisheva is recognised as one of Europe’s most distinguished pianists. Born into a family of musicians in Moscow, she studied at the Gnessin Music School for gifted children and made her debut at the age of 12. She later continued her training at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem and at the Royal College of Music in London, before coming to international attention as a prizewinner at the Leeds International Piano Competition.

Katya has since performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. She has collaborated with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, David Shallon, Jan Latham-Koenig and Alexander Lazarev.

A highly acclaimed recording artist, Katya has received numerous accolades, including Gramophone Editor’s Choice, International Piano Magazine Critics’ Choice, Classic FM CD of the Week and a Classical BRIT Award. Her discography spans both solo and chamber repertoire, with works by composers including Mussorgsky, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Dvořák and Rachmaninov.

An in-demand chamber musician, she regularly performs with leading artists such as Janine Jansen, Natalie Clein, Guy Johnston and Nicholas Daniel, and appears at major festivals and venues worldwide, including Wigmore Hall. She also maintains a celebrated piano duo partnership with Charles Owen; together they are Co-Artistic Directors of the London Piano Festival, which they founded in 2016.

About George Benjamin

George Benjamin, born in 1960, is widely recognised as one of the leading composers of his generation. He began composing at the age of seven and, at just sixteen, entered the Paris Conservatoire to study with Olivier Messiaen, later continuing his studies with Alexander Goehr at King’s College, Cambridge.

Benjamin’s extraordinary early success saw his orchestral work Ringed by the Flat Horizon performed at the BBC Proms when he was only 20. This was soon followed by At First Light, premiered by the London Sinfonietta under Simon Rattle, which established his international reputation. Since then, his works—including Antara, Three Inventions and Palimpsests—have been performed by many of the world’s leading orchestras and featured in major festivals worldwide.

Equally celebrated for his operatic collaborations with playwright Martin Crimp, Benjamin has created a series of highly acclaimed works: Into the Little Hill (2006), Written on Skin (2012), Lessons in Love and Violence (2018) and Picture a Day Like This (2023). These works have been staged by leading opera houses internationally and have received numerous awards, with Written on Skin in particular becoming one of the most performed contemporary operas.

Alongside his composing, Benjamin is an accomplished conductor with a wide-ranging repertoire and a long-standing relationship with ensembles such as the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble Modern. He has been Professor of Composition at King’s College London since 2001 and continues to be a major influence as both a creator and mentor in contemporary music.

About Donald Macleod

Donald Macleod was educated in Glasgow and at St Andrews University, where he studied psychology. His early musical education was less auspicious—his piano teacher famously gave up on him at the age of eight, telling his parents they were wasting their money—but a lifelong passion for music soon took hold through listening to BBC Radio 3.

He went on to become Head of Presentation at Radio 3 for four years, before taking on the challenge in 1996 of launching and presenting the station’s overnight service, Through the Night. His background in psychology may well have shaped his distinctive broadcasting style, helping him draw out insights from interviewees and bring a deeper understanding to the lives and work of composers.

In 1999, Donald became the first sole presenter of Radio 3’s flagship programme Composer of the Week—widely regarded as one of the most rewarding roles in music broadcasting. He marked the programme’s 80th anniversary in 2023 and has now presented well over 1,000 editions.

Over the course of his career, he has interviewed many of the world’s leading composers, including John Adams, Steve Reich, Harrison Birtwistle, Kaija Saariaho, Thea Musgrave, Judith Weir and Sally Beamish. His conversations have also featured renowned performers, conductors, and figures from across the musical world, from singers and instrumentalists to opera designers and directors.