Étiquette : Piano
-
Alfred Brendel, a portrait
When we talk about a pianist who plays in a truly « pure » way, in the sense that nothing is altered, in other words, nothing is superfluous and everything serves the music, I think of Alfred Brendel. Born on 5 January 1931, Alfred Brendel left us on 17 June. He was universally respected for his interpretations,…
-
Brillant Classics gives a vibrant tribute to the art of Sergio Fiorentino
‘He is the only other pianist’, said Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. This April 2025, Brillant Classics is devoting an extremely exhaustive edition – 26 CDs – to the legacy of one of the greatest Italian pianists of the twentieth century. Having devoted most of his career to teaching, Sergio Fiorentino (1927-1998) was recorded mainly at the…
-
Furtwängler conducts Brahms, on December 12th, 1943
A few months ago, in November, I realised a video study for the Wilhelm Furtwängler Society on Furtwangler’s relationship with the music of Brahms. The Society then asked me to write the booklet (originally in French, translated into English by Susannah Howe) for an extraordinary product: the concert of 12 December 1943, magnificently restored by…
-
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…
Sofronichrist 