5-day Exploring the Romantics with Florian Mitrea – intermediate – advanced – WAITING LIST

Exploring the Romantics invites pianists (intermediate – advanced) to immerse themselves in the expressive world of the 19th Century, a period when the piano became the quintessential instrument of personal and artistic expression.

Through a combination of morning workshops, individual tuition, masterclass-style lessons, performance classes, and concerts, participants will explore the ideals and innovations that defined Romantic music. Each workshop will focus on a major composer (Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann, and Liszt), tracing how their works reflect contrasting aspects of Romanticism: elegance, poetry, imagination, and virtuosity.

Alongside technical and interpretative study, we will consider the cultural context of the time, examining how these composers sought to capture human emotion, storytelling, and national identity in sound. The course offers not only practical strategies for mastering Romantic repertoire but also opportunities to perform, reflect, and share music with fellow pianists. By the end of the week, participants will have gained deeper insight into the Romantic spirit and new inspiration for their own artistic journey.

Our 5-day courses are a well established highlight of the Finchcocks calendar. To ensure a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, places are open to those who have attended at least one weekend Finchcocks course previously.

“An outstanding young pianist’” ~ Martha Argerich

Exploring the Romantics will be led by internationally renowned British-Romanian concert pianist Florian Mitrea. With performances broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM, as well as appearances at prestigious concert venues such as Carnegie Hall and St John’s Smith Square, learning from Florian’s wealth of knowledge and experience will be a guaranteed privilege and delight!

Florian says, “A 5-day course provides the ideal framework to explore music-making in all its aspects. It gives us the necessary time to discuss issues regarding the role of technique, touch, phrasing, and sound production, from both historic and contemporary perspectives. It also provides the opportunity to experiment with these in several performances, either in a masterclass setting or in the various informal concerts, with a goal to finding your own fresh voice with the music that you are playing.

I will always listen to your own response to each piece and match my artistic suggestions with possible technical means to achieve them, not in a prescriptive way, but rather in a manner that will give you options, which you can then explore during your practice and reach a final interpretative decision. With the already well-established format that includes masterclasses, as well as interactive workshops and individual lessons, I am looking forward to spending these days with you talking music all day long, sharing what makes us all so passionate about it.”

Like our weekend courses, formal tuition takes place in workshops, performance classes and one-to-one lessons. Below are the topics Florian will cover in his interactive workshops.

1:  Clarity and Elegance. Felix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn’s piano music combines sparkling clarity with poetic charm, often evoking the spirit of song or the intimacy of chamber music. In this workshop, we will explore his Songs Without Words and other piano works as examples of balance, proportion, and transparent textures. Interactive activities will include duet reading of short excerpts (one person doing one hand, and another person doing the other), phrasing experiments to find the ‘sung line’, and group discussion about how to keep Mendelssohn’s textures light, yet expressive.

2: Poetry. Chopin

Chopin transformed the piano into a voice of profound expressivity, fusing ‘’bel canto’ lyricism with bold harmonic innovation. This workshop focuses on shaping melodic lines, exploring rubato, and creating tonal colour through touch and pedalling. Together, we will analyse short excerpts from nocturnes, mazurkas, and preludes, then experiment with different interpretations to highlight Chopin’s subtle emotional nuances. The aim is to help pianists discover how Chopin’s music can sound both intimate and universal, both improvisatory and perfectly crafted.

3: Story-telling and imagination. Robert Schumann

Schumann’s piano music often tells stories without words, portraying characters, moods, and fragments of inner life. In this workshop, we will explore pieces and cycles of pieces such as Kinderszenen and Fantasiestucke, considering how pianists can bring out their contrasting voices and narrative qualities. Activities will include group analysis of short movements, ensemble role-play of Schumann’s ‘characters’, and interpretive exercises that emphasize contrast and imagination.

4: Visionary Virtuosity. Liszt

Liszt expanded the piano’s possibilities with dazzling virtuosity and visionary soundscapes. This workshop looks at how to approach his music not only as technical display, but as deeply expressive art. We will consider his innovations in harmony, texture, and pianistic writing, focusing on excerpts from works like the Consolations, Hungarian Rhapsodies, and Years of Pilgrimage. Interactive exercises will encourage participants to experiment with bold gestures, orchestral sonorities, and controlled virtuosity. The goal is to inspire pianists to approach Liszt with both freedom and imagination, seeking deeper expression in this fascinating musical universe.

As usual, everyone will have access to their own grand piano for the week including our new Steinway, and have plenty of time to practise in our vaulted piano cellar.

We’ll also have a bit of fun! We’ll explore the private gardens at Finchcocks, experience a local wine tasting, be able to go for beautiful Kentish countryside walks to Scotney castle and enjoy a session or two in the family’s new heated swimming pool, weather permitting.

And of course, it goes without saying that you can expect the usual!

Guests will:

• Have the chance to play in and observe multiple performance masterclasses.
• Will receive one-to-one lessons with Florian.
• Enjoy access to play on our 9 grand pianos anytime between 7am and 8pm. (There are enough pianos to go round that everyone can play a piano at any given time.)
• Experience a salon-style concert performed by Florian exclusively for guests.
• Have the chance to take part in a recital on the Bosendorfer in the main hall of the family home.
• Join and socialise with a group 8 fellow piano enthusiasts during lunch and dinner.
• Dine in style with lunches and three course dinners prepared by our fabulous chef.
• Experience the Finchcocks bubble, hailed as a “paradise for pianists” by BBC Music Magazine and stay in a grade 1 listed country manor.

Plus ones are very welcome on our courses, with a room surcharge dependant on whether they are a playing or non-playing guest. Please ask for further details.

This is a unique, luxury UK-based piano gem and an experience that you won’t forget anytime soon. Many guests continue friendships made on these courses, encouraging each other on in the piano playing on Whatsapp, organising private piano meet ups further down the line… and bumping into each other again on future courses!

For booking enquiries, please fill in the form below.