Melvyn Tan

Born in Singapore in 1956, Melvyn Tan lives in London, his home since he arrived at an early age to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School and Royal College of Music.

Tan has built a formidable international reputation as a versatile keyboard player. He travelled to the origins of his instrument to rediscover it, and in doing so he earned worldwide acclaim as a leading exponent of the fortepiano and the broader ‘early music movement’. His collaboration with Sir Roger Norrington produced a number of landmark recordings and performances, including the Beethoven and Mozart piano concertos for EMI, and a European tour with the London Classical Players on Beethoven’s very own 1817 ‘Broadwood’ piano.

Today, Melvyn Tan performs on both the fortepiano and modern piano. Passionate about the French repertoire and an expert in the Classical and pre-Romantic periods, he has won critical acclaim for his complete cycles of the Beethoven concertos and sonatas, Mozart sonatas, Debussy préludes and Chopin préludes. A well-travelled musician, his visits have frequently brought him to world class venues including London’s Wigmore Hall and Royal Festival Hall, New York’s Lincoln Centre, Vienna’s Konzerthaus and Musikverein, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and festivals such as Salzburg, Edinburgh and Spitalfields.

Chamber music and Lieder, from Haydn to Messiaen, hold an important place in Tan’s repertoire. Some of his current partners include cellists Guy Johnston, pianist Ronald Brautigam and Steven Isserlis (with whom he has recorded the complete Mendelssohn works for cello).

Melvyn Tan was welcomed back in his home country in January 2011. The result was a sold out audience at the Esplanade Hall. He now looks forward to returning regularly for further performances as well as sharing his experience with the younger generations of Singaporean artists.