Zichy, Wittgenstein, And Me

Part of the BBC's focus on disability in November, marking the 25th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act

Marking the 25th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act, and with Remembrance approaching, the pianist Nicholas McCarthy, who performed at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics and was born without his right hand, explores the treasures of the left-hand piano repertoire and tells the intriguing stories behind their composition. Whilst Geza Zichy and Paul Wittgenstein, both concert pianists who lost their right arms, are the key figures in the composition and expansion of left- hand music, there are also stories of Godowsky's pedagogical left-hand transcriptions of the Chopin etudes, intended to strengthen his pupils' 'weaker' left hand technique, and the touching romance behind Brahms's transcription of the Bach Chaconne for Clara Schumann when she injured her right hand in an accident.

Nicholas McCarthy, is the next one-handed pianist to follow directly in Zichy and Wittgenstein's left hand alone footsteps and talks of his hopes for the future expansion of the repertoire. He talks about Stephen Hough's writing for left-hand piano and finds out what it is that makes this repertoire unique, demonstrating specific techniques at the piano.

Producer: Elizabeth Arno

BBC Radio 3 Publicity

Publicity contact: BBC Radio 3 Publicity