The cover of the January/February issue of International Piano features the Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov, whose album ‘Shadows of My Ancestors’ is out in January. Michelle Assay talks to him about dividing his life between Uzbekistan and the United States and combining music by Ravel and Prokofiev with the 1973 work The Walls of Ancient Bukhara by the Uzbek composer Dilorom Saidaminova on his highly personal new album.

In other features this month, Mark Ainley presents a fascinating overview of the work of one of the greatest pianists ever to make recordings, Josef Hofmann; Bryce Morrison considers the legacy of Van Cliburn, the American who made headlines by winning the inaugural Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow in 1958, at the height of the Cold War; David Threasher guides us through the history on record of Haydn’s D major Piano Concerto; Jessica Duchen talks to the legendary pianist Krystian Zimerman, who was in London to collect yet another Gramophone Award; and Llyr Williams introduces his new recording of Schumann.

As always, there is more. Murray McLachlan completes his magnificent educational guide for pianists returning to the instrument; we have the rare sheet music for a waltz by Horatio Parker, once recorded by Hofmann; Peter J Rabinowitz talks to Cédric Tiberghien about his ongoing survey of Beethoven’s variations; and our extensive reviews coverage encompasses new recordings from, among others, Peter Donohoe, Mark Viner and Adam Laloum, and a round-up of London piano recitals.

Finally, this issue’s ‘Music of my Life’ features Ingrid Fliter, who is the latest pianist to present five recordings they wouldn’t be without.

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