Solo

Nicholas McCarthy, who at one point was told he would never have a career, is not your average artist. Born in 1989 without his right hand he only began to play the piano at the late age of 14 after seeing a friend play Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata but was determined to fulfil his dream of becoming a concert pianist. He has now signed a record deal with Warner Classics and will release his debut album in September. "I'm absolutely delighted to have been signed by Warner" says Nicholas "and it's so exciting to be recording my first professional album with a label that shares my vision and passion for sharing my repertoire with a wide audience"

Nicholas McCarthy's career so far has been quite the rollercoaster journey. "They said I would never play piano well" he famously told BBC Breakfast early this year. As a teenager seeking a place at a school for young pianists, Nicholas McCarthy was refused an audition and told he would never succeed. "They told me having one hand would always hold me back and it was better not to waste my and other people's time". Nicholas didn't take no for an answer and his graduation from the prestigious Royal College of Music in London in July 2012 made history and drew press headlines world-wide. He is the only left-hand alone pianist to graduate from the Royal College of Music in its 130 year history. Nicholas then went on to perform alongside Coldplay at the Closing Ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games in front of an audience of half a billion worldwide and has since then developed an international career as a concert pianist, speaker (TED, ITV 'Big Think') and patron and ambassador for several music education charities (Music For Youth). Now with a record deal under his belt Nicholas enters the next adventure in his young career bringing the voice of the piano to an ever-wider audience.

McCarthy's first album, entitled Solo, features 17 pieces. Accessible yet surprising at every turn, the programme ranges from Wittgenstein's arrangement for left hand of Bach/Gounod's Ave Maria to popular early 20th-century works such as 'O mio babbino caro' from Puccini's Gianni Schicchi (arranged by Frédéric Meinders) and 'Summertime' from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (arranged by McCarthy himself). It's a real gift to his fans who have been supporting Nicholas from the very start. "My fan base have always been half core classical and half lighter classical," explains McCarthy. "I didn't want to alienate anyone by putting longer pieces on my first commercial release, but I hope this album will offer a snapshot of the range of repertoire that exists for left hand. My selection also offers a portrait of me as an artist, including three of my own arrangements." The disc's final track is a new commission by the British composer Nigel Hess - a Nocturne for left hand, written specially for Nicholas: "It has a really simple, beautiful theme and I've I love the way Nigel uses harmony. He does some unexpected things that I really like."