Pianist Tim Horton is the guest on the latest episode of the Thoroughly Good Classical Music Podcast, where he speaks to host Jon Jacob about ambiguity in music, the importance of letting go of worry, and why he loves applause between movements.

Introduced by Jon Jacob as “a phenomenal musician”, Tim was delighted to appear on the podcast, which gives insight into the world of classical music through the eyes of those who create, perform and listen to it. Joining a roster of distinguished guests, Tim was invited to speak about his upcoming cycle at Wigmore Hall, and enjoyed an intimate conversation about what inspires and sustains his musical life, the artists he admires, and how individual composers’ voices have the capability to transform the sound produced by the piano.

In a recent piece published by Wigmore Hall, Tim wrote about the importance of ambiguity in music; this aspect of Tim’s process is highlighted by Jacobs, who reflects that this way of looking at music has the potential to lead to more active listening.

“The reason that great art is great is because it’s not obvious”, Tim says, going on to describe the responsibility that musicians have to articulate the emotional complexity and sophistication of even the simplest music.

On his approach to programming the cycle, Tim says that he felt a desire to be deeply immersed in Chopin’s music beyond its borders, finding more interest in presenting his music alongside that of the composers who preceded and succeeded him than to simply play it alone.

The effect of context and conversation on listening is a subject that runs throughout the conversation, and Tim speaks about the way in which Sheffield’s Music in the Round, where he performs regularly, has fostered a culture of discovery in which performers regularly speak to their audience, opening up an avenue for communication that can lead to deeper listening. His enthusiasm for this spirit of adventurous concert-going is encapsulated in his comment that he loves the occasions when somebody applauds between movements, since it means they are either going to a concert for the first time, or that they are really enjoying themselves.

This illuminating conversation is available to hear via these links on Apple Music and Spotify. Tim embarks on his Wigmore Hall cycle on December 11th, performing Chopin’s 24 Préludes, op. 28 alongside Debussy’s Préludes, Book 2. Find more details by following this link.