Richard Mapp — pianist
Richard Mapp showed musical promise early. He made his solo debut at the age of 12 with the Christchurch Civic Orchestra, playing Mendelssohn's First Piano Concerto. He studied with Ernest Empson, a Godowsky pupil and later at the University of Otago with Maurice Till, who had been a student of Empson.
He pursued his musical studies in the United Kingdom studying with Gordon Green. He had inspirational coachings with William Pleeth (cellist and teacher of Jacqueline Dupre) and with the Beaux Arts Trio.
His Wigmore Hall debut was very well received and a successful career of solo and recital engagements in Europe, Scandinavia and North America followed.
During his time in Europe, he recorded several times for the BBC and his recent release of piano music of Granados on the Meridian label received glowing reviews in the BBC music magazine. His playing was also featured in a Mozart Concerto on the popular New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Concert FM release "Beauty Spot 2".
Since his return to New Zealand in 1991, he has performed as a concerto soloist with all of the major orchestras, as an ensemble pianist with the New Zealand String Quartet and for Chamber Music New Zealand. He has done recitals for Radio New Zealand and enjoys a busy teaching schedule at the Massey University Conservatorium of Music in Wellington.
Favorite Music
- Johann Sebastian Bach: his Brandenburg Concertos, Cello Suites and Motets
- Maurice Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe
- Jean Sibelius: Symphonies
- piano music by Federico Mompou and Leos Janacek
- Harry Connick Junior, Miles Davis, Art Tatum and Cassandra Wilson
Teachers and Influences
- Ernest Empson (pupil of Godowsky and Busoni)
- Maurice Till (pupil of Empson)
- Gordon Green (teacher of John Ogdon)
- inspirational coaching from The Beaux Arts Trio and with William Pleeth (cellist-teacher of Jacqueline Dupre)
Favorite Teaching Material
- Russell Sherman-"Piano Pieces"
- Madeline Bruser-"The Art of Practising"
- Mildred Portney Chase-"Just Being at the Piano"
Discography
- Beauty Spot 2: (Concert FM/NZSO) Mozart Concerto Movement
- Granados Piano Music: Meridian Records
Hobbies
- Gardening, Walking, Crosswords, Cooking, Drinking Wine and Backgammon
Words to Live By.
"Grow out of your innermost selves
Never renounce your opinions
Do not toil for recognition
But always do all you can
So that the field allotted to you may prosper"
Leos Janacek