‘Caskie is a model of poetic subtlety and discretion... You can only marvel at his ease and authority...’ (Gramophone Magazine)
Internationally acclaimed pianist Graham Caskie is renowned particularly for his interpretations of piano music by Brahms and Debussy. Recitals have included most works by Debussy including both books of Preludes, and pieces by Brahms such as the Sonatas, the complete Klavierstücke and chamber music works. He is a keen advocate of contemporary music, jazz, ragtime and improvisation, commissioning several works from leading composers including Stephen Goss, Matthew King, John Cooney and Marcel Baudet.
His first professional recording, on the Metier label, included works by Michael Tippett, John McCabe, Paul Patterson and Nigel Clarke, working closely with these composers prior to release. Caskie’s world premiere performance of Baudet’s El Mestengo was broadcast live from the Concertgebouw and subsequently performed in a concert at the Bimhuis, both in Amsterdam.
Caskie’s work with composer Stephen Goss began in 2003 with an ideal insomnia, a group of four short pieces for solo piano. They worked together again on Préludes and Interludes, a collaborative piece by Goss and artist Brian Dunce, released on CD in 2008. Dunce created a performance installation of 12 large canvases, inspired by each of the 12 Préludes from Debussy’s first book, to accompany recitals given by Caskie. Goss’s Interludes, performed in amongst the Préludes, were composed to complement both Dunce’s paintings and Debussy’s music.
Current chamber music partnerships include a duo with cellist Thomas Carroll. Specially written works for the duo by Goss include Caught Between and Concerto for Five. The latter, scored for piano, violin, cello, saxophone and double bass, premiered at Cadogan Hall in London with the Orpheus Foundation Orchestra. Caskie and Carroll have also recorded Chopin’s Sonata for Cello and Piano for Cadenza records.
Caskie was born in Darlington in 1967. He studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Academy of Music under Frank Wibaut, Hamish Milne and Alexander Kelly. He has previously taught at the Yehudi Menuhin School and Chetham’s School of Music. In addition to his work at the Academy he also teaches at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.