Llŷr Williams - Biography

Llŷr Williams was supported by Borletti-Buitoni Trust between 2004 and 2008.  For an up-to-date biography please visit www.victoriarowsell.co.uk

Welsh pianist Llŷr Williams is widely admired for his profound musical intelligence and for the expressive and communicative nature of his interpretations. An acclaimed performer of Beethoven, he has several complete sonata cycles under his belt, most recently at Wigmore Hall and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, as well as a Concerto cycle with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Williams regularly performs as a soloist with the major UK orchestras, and has given recitals in halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Beethoven-Haus in Bonn and the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.  Festival appearances include the BBC Proms, Edinburgh, Verbier, Piano aux Jacobins, Ravinia and Gilmore.

Williams’ eclectic repertoire is reflected in his discography. April 2018 saw the launch of a 12-CD box-set Beethoven Unbound, on Signum Classics, featuring all 32 sonatas and other major works, recorded live from Wigmore Hall, and was BBC Music Magazine’s ‘Recording of the Month’ in August 2018. His previous CD, Wagner Without Words (Signum, August 2014), which reflects his intimate relationship with operatic music, also received widespread critical acclaim.

A former BBC New Generation Artist and Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award recipient, Llŷr Williams is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where he is also artist-in-association, and he is also artist-in-residence at the Cowbridge Music Festival. In 2017 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Wales.

Last updated: October 2018

Spending some of the money from the BB Trust Award on replacing the worn-out mechanics of my piano has resulted in my being able to achieve things when practising that were previously impossible. Having also spent a small proportion of the total award on this it means also that I can look forward to spending the remainder of the £20,000 at a future stage. With the support of the Trust I can now feel increasingly secure in my career.

Photographs by John Ferro Sims