Ludovico Einaudi is officially a pop chart legend, and why it’s a big deal

Pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi has reached his highest ever chart position, landing himself in the top 20 albums in front of new releases from Scouting For Girls and Fightstar.

OK, so trumping MOR-peddlers Scouting For Girls and Busted side-project (be honest) Fightstar might not sound that impressive, but Einaudi’s Elements has just arrived in the pop charts at no. 12, and it is massive news.

Not only is it the highest position Einaudi has reached in his none-too-shabby chart history, it’s the first time ANY classical composer has reached the top 15 in over 20 years.

Arriving at no. 12, he’s managed to fight off competition from chart veterans and monster sellers like bona-fide pop legend Taylor Swift and big-hatted minstrel James Bay.

The last time this happened, it was 1992 and Henryck Gorecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs reached no. 6 in the pop charts.

Einaudi himself is pretty humble about the whole thing: “As a composer, it is a great thrill for me to have an album in the Top 15 of the pop charts.  I’m delighted that listeners have embraced the sound of ‘Elements’ and hope they continue to enjoy my music.”

Of course, sales being what they are, this means that Einaudi’s album effortlessly reaches the top of the classical charts. You can hear the whole chart on Classic FM on Sunday at 5pm.