With an extraordinary career spanning over four decades, Martin Roscoe is unarguably one of the UK’s best loved pianists. Renowned for his versatility at the keyboard, Martin is equally at home in concerto, recital and chamber performances. In an ever more distinguished career, his enduring popularity and the respect in which he is universally held are built on a deeply thoughtful musicianship allied to an easy rapport with audiences and fellow musicians alike.
With a repertoire of over 100 concertos performed or recorded Martin works regularly with many of the UK’s leading orchestras, having especially close links with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Hallé, Manchester Camerata, Northern Chamber Orchestra and with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, where he has given over ninety performances. Martin has also performed with orchestras and festivals across Europe, Canada, Australia and the Far East, and shared the concert platform with eminent conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Mark Elder and Christoph von Dohnányi.
A prolific recitalist and chamber musician, Martin tours the UK extensively every season, including regular appearances at Wigmore Hall and Kings Place. He has long-standing associations with Peter Donohoe, Kathryn Stott, Tasmin Little and the Endellion and Maggini Quartets as well as more recent collaborations with Jennifer Pike, Ashley Wass, Matthew Trusler, Liza Ferschtman and the Brodsky, Escher and Vertavo Quartets. One of his most important ensembles, the Cropper Welsh Roscoe Trio, performed many times across the UK, most notably at Wigmore Hall.
Recent highlights include BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, whilst future plans include engagements with the BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Northern Chamber Orchestra.
Martin is Artistic Director of Ribble Valley International Piano Week, Beverley Chamber Music Festival and the Manchester Chamber Concerts Society.
Having made over 500 broadcasts, including seven BBC Prom appearances, Martin is one of the most regularly played pianists on BBC Radio 3. Martin has also made many commercial recordings for labels such as Hyperion, Chandos and Naxos. He has recorded the complete piano music of Nielsen and Szymanowski, as well as four discs in the Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto series. For the Deux-Elles label, Martin has recorded the complete Beethoven piano sonatas, the first four discs of which have been released to unanimous critical acclaim. Martin’s most recent disc is Volume 3 of the complete piano music of Dohnányi, released on Hyperion in 2015; the disc has been yet another success with reviews such as “commanding and warm-hearted... a delectable disc” (Gramophone) and “exuberant and expressive...brilliant technical precision” (BBC Music Magazine, 5 stars).
Teaching has always been an important part of Martin’s life and the development of young talent helps him to constantly re-examine and re-evaluate his own playing. He is currently a Professor of Piano at the Guildhall School of Music in London and has been awarded his Fellowship there.
Martin lives in the beautiful English Lake District which provides inspiration and relaxation, and also enables him to indulge his passions for the countryside and hill-walking.
