88 keys, two distinctive musical voices and a space where every note is given time to resonate. Piano Day, the international celebration of the piano founded by Nils Frahm, returns to Spectaculare_14 with Yehezkel Raz and Poppy Ackroyd performing in the Baroque Church of Sts Simon and Jude. Together, they represent two different approaches to contemporary piano – from intimate minimalism, silence and subtle layers of sound to rhythm, texture and the physical exploration of the instrument itself. Both are also part of the wider Piano Day story: their compositions were selected for its official collection alongside works by Ólafur Arnalds, Hania Rani and Jóhann Jóhannsson.

Yehezkel Raz builds music from the smallest details. Delicate piano gestures dissolve into silence, meet electronic layers and gradually open into expansive sonic spaces somewhere between melody and abstraction. The Israeli composer, pianist and producer has travelled from violin and guitar through classical piano to electronic composition, a journey reflected in his ability to create remarkable depth from minimal means. Alongside him, British composer Poppy Ackroyd explores just how much sound can be drawn from a piano. Beyond the keys, she works with strings, the instrument’s frame and its percussive qualities, transforming piano and violin into intricate layers of rhythm, resonance and colour.

The third protagonist of the evening is the Church of Sts Simon and Jude itself. A historic space once associated with performances by Mozart and Haydn, its distinctive acoustics allow silence, resonance and the finest details of the music to become as important as the notes themselves. It is here that Spectaculare will celebrate Piano Day – the global event held on the 88th day of the year in honour of the piano’s 88 keys. Two pianists, two radically individual approaches and one space designed to let every detail be heard.

The concert will take place as part of the 14th edition of the multi-genre Spectaculare festival, unfolding across a range of Prague venues throughout March and April 2027

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