Richard McMahon
Richard McMahon studied at the Royal Academy of Music with
Gordon Green and in Paris with Vlado Perlemuter. The latter having
studied with Ravel, Richard drew on this experience to make a
special study of this repertoire as well as the other French
masters, and Chopin.
Richard’s solo career began at this time, marked by successful
London debuts and followed by concerts throughout the UK. His many
BBC solo recordings ranged through a wide repertoire including many
rarities and first performances as well as mainstream
repertoire.
Whilst a student he had established a piano duo with Anne
Shasby, which found immediate success after Wigmore Hall and South
Bank appearances featuring Stravinsky’s formidable arrangement of
`Le Sacre du Printemps`. Concerts throughout the UK and innumerable
broadcasts followed for well over a decade and included television
appearances, Promenade concerts, appearances at all the major
London venues, throughout the UK and overseas. In this time they
performed and recorded almost the entire repertoire for two
pianists.
Since the 1980s, Richard has also partnered the prodigious
pianist and recording artist, Martin Jones. Their two piano
partnerships in the works of Percy Grainger and the complete
Rachmaninoff were acclaimed upon release, as was Richard’s solo
recording of the complete Chabrier. He also regularly partners the
violinist James Clark, Concertmaster of the Philharmonia, giving
recitals for BBC Radio 3 as well as performances throughout the
UK.
Richard has lived in Cardiff since 1975 and took up his present
post at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 1996. He is
the musical advisor and chair of the jury for the Newport
International Piano Competition and his teaching life outside RWCMD
has now taken on an international dimension involving him in
examining, moderating and adjudicating as well as giving
masterclasses throughout the UK and overseas. He is a regular
visitor to the Far East, especially Singapore.