Center Stage Records has announced the release of The Pianist: World Premiere Recording, a new musical adaptation of Wladyslaw Szpilman’s internationally acclaimed memoir, which is available now in digital and streaming formats. A physical CD edition will be released later this year.
Written and directed by Thom Southerland (Titanic the Musical), the new musical brings Szpilman’s story and music together for the first time, with Szpilman’s own compositions presented through new musical arrangements by Simon Lee. Lee also serves as album producer.
Malcolm Forbes-Peckham is the album’s associate producer, serves as music director, and is featured as “The Pianist”.
The Pianist will debut at London’s Park Theatre from 15 October to 28 November 2026. Prior to its London opening, the production will play a limited run at Southampton’s Mayflower Studios, from 9 to 12 September 2026.
In The Pianist, a cast of virtuoso actor-musicians conjures the golden age of Jewish Warsaw in all its warmth and wit: the packed concert halls, the candlelit cafés, the irrepressible spirit of a city that loved music above all else. Original compositions from the so-called “Polish Gershwin” score his story: popular songs that had Warsaw humming, compositions that made him a star.
The Pianist features new lyrics by an international group of writers and musicians, bringing fresh voice to Szpilman’s original compositions. The lyricists and songwriters include two-time Grammy Award nominee Carol Connors, acclaimed songwriter David Batteau, jazz singer Wendy Lands and collaborator Jim Gillard, Grammy nominee Michael Ruff, Drama Desk nominee Marcy Heisler, and Szpilman’s son Andreas Szpilman.
The Pianist is produced by Wolk Transfer Company and Willette Klausner, presented by special production arrangement with Andreas Szpilman, son of the pianist.
The creative team is led by adaptor and director Thom Southerland, with new arrangements, musical supervision, and orchestrations by Simon Lee, choreography and movement direction by Karen Bruce, set and video design by Andrzej Goulding, costume design by Jonathan Lipman, lighting design by Robbie Butler, sound design by Gareth Tucker for Autograph Sound, musical direction by Malcolm Forbes-Peckham, assistant direction by Josh Whatsize, casting by Ginny Schiller CDG & Ben Armstrong with executive producing and general management by DEM Productions.
Best known worldwide through his memoir and the Academy Award-winning film it is based on, Wladyslaw Szpilman was not only a Holocaust survivor, but one of Poland’s most celebrated composers and pianists.
The album features performances by John Addison, George Arvidson, Fra Fee, Emily George, Kate Graham, Joanna Hickman, Abi Hudson, Daniel Krikler, Adam Linstead, Mark Meadows, Niamh Perry, and Tom Ping.
THE PIANIST: WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING – TRACK LISTING
1. I’m Lost in This Moment – lyrics by Carol Connors
2. I Am Free – lyrics by David Batteau
3. True and Tender – lyrics by Wendy Lands and Jim Gillard
4. Mazurka
5. One More Time – lyrics by David Batteau
6. Interlude (Mazurka)
7. Memories of You – lyrics by David Batteau
8. Strangers by Design – lyrics by David Batteau
9. Lost (part 1)
10. Lost (part 2)
11. Without You – lyrics by Michael Ruff
12. Life of the Machines (Movt. 3 Toccatina)
13. Once in a While – lyrics by David Batteau
14. Forgotten Song – lyrics by Andreas Szpilman
15. Someday We Will Love Again – lyrics by David Batteau
16. Bell Tolls (Strangers by Design)
17. Nocturne in C# Minor (Chopin)
18. Out of the Darkness – lyrics by Marcy Heisler
