“When Judith asked me whether I would want to premiere Variations for Judith, I did not hesitate for one second! Each variation respects the brevity of the aria, and is in many ways a very personal musical letter to Judith. There are however a huge variety of moods: some are quirky and humorous, others more sombre; some pay tribute to the acoustics of Shoreditch Church where the variations were first performed, others to the choral writing of Bach. Each one of them is a unique gem in a wonderful collection that commemorates Judith’s precious involvement with Spitalfields Festival.” – Melvyn Tan 2012
Exploration, insight and imagination are vital ingredients in Melvyn Tan’s blend of artistic attributes. He established his international reputation with pioneering performances on fortepiano and, acclaimed for the wit, tonal contrast and poetry of his playing, he continues to cast fresh light on a repertoire ranging from Bach, Scarlatti and Rameau to Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky, Messiaen and John Cage.
Melvyn’s work in recital, chamber music and as a concerto soloist has been heard at many of the world’s leading concert halls, from the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Vienna Konzerthaus, and London’s Wigmore Hall. His concerto partners have included the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and the English Chamber Orchestra.
Melvyn has also connected with audiences across China and Southeast Asia, introducing many to their first experience of fortepiano and attracting young people to attend recitals on both the early and the modern piano. Many have discovered his work through his exceptionally large discography, complete with ground-breaking recordings of Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert for EMI Classics, and releases on the Archiv, Deux-Elles, Harmonia Mundi, NMC and Virgin Classics labels. His latest release (2024) of the last three Beethoven sonatas for Signum Records rounds off his discography of Beethoven concerti, sonatas and smaller works.
Recent appearances include performances with MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Filharmonie Brno, Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchester Wiener Akademie, Deutsche Philharmonie Merck and Singapore’s re:SOUND Collective. Chamber highlights include Wigmore Hall, AMUZ, Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival, Singapore’s Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, a Beethoven Marathon in Brussels, and recitals across Singapore, France, Italy, Spain and South Africa.
Highlights of the 2024/25 season include a performance with the English Chamber Orchestra at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg in February 2025, along with solo recitals at Wiltshire Music Centre and North Norfolk Music Festival. Further engagements in this season feature a concert series in Wetzikon, Switzerland, and a performance with Guy Johnston at Wigmore Hall.
He continues his role in devising ‘Music and Word’, a subtle balance of literature and music in collaboration with a series of narrators including Dame Vanessa Redgrave, Dame Harriet Walter, Sir Derek Jacobi and Alex Lawther within the unique setting of the Hay Barn at Charleston Farmhouse in East Sussex.
November 2025
Variations for Judith 