Synergy Concerts Hauschka

Listening to a piece by Hauschka can be deceiving: what sounds like an ensemble of musicians and instruments is just one man, performing at one piano. Dusseldorf's Volker Bertelmann, is one of the most recognisable 21st Century proponents of 'prepared piano' and a man who knows his instrument - quite literally - inside out. Unafraid of approaching music with a fresh sensibility, he draws upon an unusually broad church of influences.

Almost two decades after he began his professional career rapping, Hauschka finds himself in the unusual position of being regularly compared to the likes of Eric Satie, John Cage and Steve Reich. (In 2011 he was invited by The Barbican to perform as part of Reverbations, a festival celebrating the work and influence of the latter composer.)