Australian Emma Knights has grown up always knowing she would be a piano player. But the lack of women role models in the public eye meant she had to turn to men for inspiration. In this hour she takes us through some of those who shaped her musical thinking, and the women who should have had the recognition that history denied them.
There's a decent script to give the show structure, some of it very informative. There are songs from the likes of Billy Joel and Elton John and many others, and comparisons between the quality of work produced by male classical composers and the almost unknown works by their female contemporaries. Knights is a solid pianist and can turn her hands to a variety of styles, but is let down by her singing. It's a strong voice, with good phrasing at times, but there's too many off notes for her to described as a singer. Nonetheless her enthusiasm, knowledge and keyboard strengths carry the show through and it was an interesting hour, not least because of the fascinating Pianodrome surroundings.
There are shows at the Piandrome every day until 25 August. Well worth making the trip out to Leith to have a look and take in the atmosphere.
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