Catégorie : Piano
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Deutsche Grammophon releases two « lost tapes » of Rudolf Serkin playing Beethoven’s « Waldstein » and « Appassionata » Sonatas
On this Friday 17th November, Deutsche Grammophon released two « lost tapes » by Rudolf Serkin, dated 1986 and 1989. The album contains two previously unreleased versions of the ‘Waldstein’ and ‘Appassionata’ sonatas, which the pianist was unable to validate. His daughter, Judith Serkin, agreed to publish these recordings, and also wrote the introductory text that appears…
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The art of Dinu Lipatti
Liveliness is an essential characteristic of Lipatti’s playing. With the Romanian pianist, time never seems to stand still. At first, there is something calmer, without being frozen – which would be in contradiction with the moving and temporal character of the music. Some performers place their interpretations in a moment as if out of time…
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The art of Marcelle Meyer
When we try to identify a form of « French piano tradition » – which is sometimes already debatable – we often tend to speak of « pearl playing ». Marcelle Meyer’s style lies in a way of linking this pearled playing to an extraordinary expressive power, with notably an infinite palette of nuances in the high notes and…
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Alfred Cortot commenting Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata
At the École Normale de Musique de Paris, on 11 January 1958, 3 May 1959, 13 and 14 June 1960, Alfred Cortot recorded this commentary with musical examples explaining Beethoven’s ‘Pathétique’ Sonata. Here is the transcription.First, here is the original version, the English version is available just below. The Masterclass with the commentary in French…
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A legendary recording: Kempff plays Beethoven’s «Hammerklavier» Sonata in 1936
It is astonishing to note that Wilhelm Kempff’s style has only become wiser. However, it would be more accurate to say that it was a step towards wisdom. In the great German master’s late recordings, ardour has given way to idealism, but imagination has never dried up. Where many pianists would be confined to a…
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The art of Claudio Arrau
There is something elusive about Arrau’s art. His interpretations seem to take on an additional dimension with each new listening, and one seems to understand new meanings, sometimes radically different from the previous ones, as one moves through the pianist’s considerable discographic legacy. Arrau is a Chilean pianist, but it is the Germanic repertoire that…
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Alfred Cortot masterclass on Beethoven’s Appassionata ( transcribed and translated by Bruno Pancek & Roy Howat )
At the École Normale de Musique de Paris, on 21 and 24 march 1958 and 8 June 1959, Alfred Cortot recorded this commentary with musical examples explaining Beethoven’s ‘Appassionata’ Sonata. Here is the English transcription by Bruno Pancek and Roy Howat. Special thanks to Inbar Rothschild. 10’-16’Beethoven himself has given the interpreter (on this fabulous…
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Wilhelm Backhaus, a portrait
Wilhelm Backhaus is often described as the embodiment of the traditional pianist, sometimes a little austere, a little cold, and in any case it is neither joy nor virtuosity that comes first to those who speak of him. Yet Backhaus’ playing appears to be much more complex than it is often reduced to. Wilhelm Backhaus…
Sofronichrist 