Matan Porat (piano)
Friday 06 February 2026
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
In this richly evocative programme, pianist Matan Porat traces shifting visions of nature and imagination across the centuries. Debussy’s Prelude is given a new perspective in Matan’s own arrangement while Ravel’s Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit conjures the shimmering, perilous allure of a water spirit. Finally, Beethoven’s Pastoral Sonata returns us to the joy of nature.
Chopin Barcarolle op. 60
Debussy (arr. Porat) Prélude à l’après midi d’un Faune
Ligeti No. 7 from Musica Ricercata
Ravel Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit
Beethoven Sonata op. 28 “Pastoral”
Matan Porat piano
Hailed by the New York Times for his “magnificent sound and breadth of expression”, pianist and composer Matan Porat has performed in distinguished venues including the Philharmonie in Berlin, Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Auditorium du Louvre in Paris and Alte Oper in Frankfurt, and with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, SWR Symphonieorchester, Helsinki Philharmonic and Hong Kong Sinfonietta, working with such conductors as Pierre Boulez, Daniel Barenboim, András Keller, Susanna Mälkki and François-Xavier Roth.
Known for his unique, narrative-based programming, Porat’s varied repertoire ranges from the complete Bach Partitas and Schubert Sonatas to Ives’ Concord Sonata and the Ligeti piano concerto. Matan Porat has participated in many acclaimed festivals including Marlboro, Lockenhaus, Ravinia, Verbier, Hohenems, Rheingau, La Folle Journée, La Roque d’Antheron, Piano aux Jacobins and Musikfest Berlin. Chamber music appearances include performances with the Artemis Quartet, Quatuor Ysaÿe, Cuarteto Casals, Modigliani, Schumann and Jerusalem Quartets.
His love for the performing arts has led him to collaborate with legendary director Peter Brook, touring with his production of Mozart’s Magic Flute for piano solo and 7 singers; with the Ballett am Rhein in the Opernhaus Düsseldorf and with the music theater group Nico and the Navigators in Bozar and Konzerthaus Berlin. Porat also improvises live music for silent films, hailed by The New-Yorker’s Alex Ross as “an astounding feat of creative musicianship”.
Born in Tel-Aviv, Matan Porat studied with Emanuel Krasovsky, Maria João Pires and Murray Perahia, obtaining his Master’s degree from the Juilliard School. Porat’s works have been commissioned and performed by Nicolas Altstaedt, Avi Avital, David Greilsammer, Vladimir Jurowski, Kim Kashkashian, Maria João Pires, Andreas Scholl, and Dover Quartet, Among his works are two operas, 4 string quartets, a Requiem and a mandolin concerto.
Dates, Times & Book
| Fri 06 Feb | 1:00 PM | £10 | Book |
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