Catégorie : Piano
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Chopin by Guiomar Novaes
Guiomar Novaes (1895-1972) was an incarnation of the most absolute Romantic pianism, between possession and tenderness, caught up in emotional tensions that were at once incandescent and uncertain, at once fragile and determined. While Novaes’ discographic legacy is – unfairly and far too meagre – it remains an important sum devoted to the music of…
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The art of Clara Haskil
Clara Haskil is an artist who is not to be missed. She is one of those personalities who have left their mark on the history of performance and who have had a considerable impact on the pianists who have followed them. Haskil was a highly inspired pianist from an early age: as a child prodigy…
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Arrau speaks
Claudio Arrau, photography by Allan Warren Between May 1980 and July 1981, Arrau gave a series of interviews to Joseph Horowitz, who published the collection in 1982. In them, Claudio Arrau talks about his practice of the instrument, his ideas about music and interpretation, and his own experience of the great historical movements of the…
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The art of Samuil Feinberg
Samuil Feinberg was an embodiment of the accuracy and intelligibility of the text. But even beyond the formal perfection, admittedly quite absolute, of his interpretations, the spirituality that emanated from them gave his readings of the great works of the repertoire an unheard-of depth. Feinberg was, like Artur Schnabel, both an important, if long forgotten,…
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Alfred Cortot commenting Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata
On 13th January 1958 and 4th June 1959, Alfred Cortot recorded this commentary on Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata, Op.27 No.2. In the order of the article, the French transcription is presented, followed by the English translation. The Masterclass with the commentary in French Original version / Transcription originale en français Sonate Quasia una fantasia, Opus 27…
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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…