Photography by Katya Chilingiri
Pianist Lura Johnson, recently named a Steinway Artist, has established herself as one of the Mid Atlantic’s most prominent ensemble pianists. Hailed as “brilliant” by the Washington Post, Ms. Johnson is celebrated for her passionate and insightful interpretations of the standard repertoire, and esteemed by colleagues for her uncommon sensitivity and skill as a collaborative partner. Trained by luminaries Leon Fleisher and Robert McDonald, she is the Principal Pianist of the Delaware Symphony and has performed regularly with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Marin Alsop since 2007. She has collaborated extensively in orchestral performances and recordings with such artists as Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Leila Josefowicz, and Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Johnson performs as soloist with regional orchestras in Maryland, Ohio, Delaware, and Massachusetts.
Devoted to chamber music from an early age, Johnson fields a steady stream of invitations to play in ensembles, most frequently with colleagues in the BSO, including concertmaster Jonathan Carney, with whom she has presented the complete Brahms violin sonata cycle. She has been a frequent guest artist at the Garth Newel Music Center in Warm Springs, Virginia. Recent recital partners include clarinetist Anthony McGill, cellist Amit Peled, and flutist Marina Piccinini, among others.
Johnson was most recently appointed Artistic Director of Baltimore chamber music series Music in the Great Hall, a well-established Baltimore area series with performances by both emerging and established artists.
Equally at home with contemporary music, Johnson plays with VERGE Ensemble, who are in residence at Washington’s Corcoran Gallery and have rapidly established a commanding presence in the new music community both nationally and abroad.
Johnson’s discography includes a chamber music disc released in 2001 with award winning flutist Christina Jennings which won praise from critics. In November 2010 Centaur Records released her second chamber music disc, Inner Voice, a recital with BSO violist Peter Minkler featuring sonatas by George Rochberg and Dmitri Shostakovich as well as short pieces by Benjamin Britten and Arvo Pärt. Ms. Johnson can also be heard on several recordings released by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, including Naxos’ Grammy nominated release of the Bernstein Mass, on which she played principal keyboard.
A committed teacher, Johnson serves on the faculty of Peabody Conservatory.
For more information, visit www.lurajohnson.com.
LOOOOOOOOOVE the new look!!!!!!
Enjoyed Sunday”s concert of the three Brahms violin Sonatas at Music in the Great Hall. Did not have a chance to tell you personally after the concert.
Your website looks great!!! Stay in touch. I will make every effort be at your next concert.
God Bless
JH
Dear Lura,
Can you tell me more about the 1894 Bluthner? Do you know the style number or length? Has it been restored or is it in original condition? If restored, do you know what kind of hammers? And does it have the patent action?
I am a professional organist in Maine and teach at the University of Maine – and recently purchased an unrestored 1892 Bluthner Style 8. I was intrigued by your website and the Bluthner reference. Nice to read that a major pianist is also interested in a beautiful old piano!
My best wishes,
Kevin Birch
Bangor, Maine
Dear Kevin,
Thanks so much for your interesting post.
I’m afraid I don’t have the answers to your questions. The piano is in a private home on the West Coast and was brought over from England some years ago. I can’t imagine it hasn’t had some attention, given the condition it is in, but don’t know the details. It is truly an amazing instrument, each register completely distinct in timbre so as to make available textures and balances the modern piano simply can’t produce. It’s very exciting to explore the late romantic German repertoire on an instrument that could, theoretically, have been in the room with Clara Schumann herself at one point!!!