LONDON: British composer and pianist Alexis Ffrench, a rising black star in the overwhelmingly white world of classical music, is on a mission “to change the narrative” that the genre is stuffy and outdated.

The 48-year-old, who is set to release his latest album next month, is trying to counter what he sees as a false perception by using his fresh take on the music and growing status to reach new audiences.

Ffrench’s 2018 hit record “Evolution” propelled him to wider recognition after topping Britain’s classical music charts for three weeks and spending around three months in the top 10. He now boasts nearly two million regular listeners on Spotify and has to date garnered around 200 million streams online, while also hosting a weekly show on new classical music digital station Scala Radio.

“Classical music is under-represented in certain echelons of society, no doubt about that,” he said during a practice session this week at legendary piano-maker Steinway and Sons’ central London store. “I’m determined to use whatever profile, influence, I can to help young people who are certainly disadvantaged in one way or another,” he added.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2020