News and Events
2025
23 March
Sheffield, St Marie’s Cathedral, 8.00pm
Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, cond. Darius Battiwalla
World Premieres: The Miracle Tree; This Going Hence; To Wed Again
1 May
New York, Bohemian Theatre, 7.30
Presenter for concert, Paths To Maturity
15 May – 1 June
Leipzig, Gewandhaus
Pre-concert lectures for Leipzig Gewandhaus Shostakovich Cycle
17 June
Reading: Town Hall, 6.30
Pre-concert talk for Emma Johnson concert
20-22 June
Minterne House, Dorest
Pre-concert talks for Schubert weekend
28 June
Reading, Town Hall, 6.30
Pre-concert talk for RPO programme
22 August
Presteigne, Assembly Rooms, 1.00
Lecture; Dmitri Shostakovich
Audience Feedback
SJ conveys knowledge and passion in fascinating language
Just heard the riveting 90 minutes of Stephen Johnson on Ravel. I’m not a pianist, but SJ made me see Ravel as a major piano technician, as an innovator, as a genius. All credit to Johnson’s persuasive and utterly unpretentious manner, analytic skills, and sheer quietly infectious enthusiasm without histrionics or self-promotion. Some lovely playing too by Cedric Tiberghien of Gaspard de la Nuit in particular.
Marvellous knowledge, fluency, musicianship, vocabulary, enthusiasm, generosity…
SJ really knows his stuff and everything he puts together is immaculately researched and INTERESTING. Very much “Old School” Radio 3 and thank goodness he is still around…
Gives insight into literature as well
Hermes – it is funny you should say that about getting SJ presenting the Proms, because the very same thought went through my mind too. He’s articulate, he knows concert protocol (no gushing interjections from him a millisecond after the conductor puts down his arms,) and umm… he isn’t bad on the eyes either.
Compelling
May I second the praise for Stephen Johnson, a terrific asset for R3 and an object lesson in modest and self-effacing presentation skills underpinned by a first rate understanding and love of his subject.