Classical Music for Aficionados
Time just stopped. Listening to John Ogdon, Rachmaninov, Etudes-Tableaux Can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srSUS4zS5UY |
In 2014 Mariam Batsashvili won First Prize at the 10th International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Utrecht. Her hands seem very large! Here is her winning performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HQDpQ5GF4k more here, including schedule: https://www.mariam-piano.com/ |
Normally I am more interested in pieces of music and less interested in who is performing. But there are exceptions. Last December I saw one of the most remarkable and memorable recitals of my concert-going career. It was a violin and piano duo consisting of violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and pianist Polina Leschenko. I had purchased the tickets because I had seen the amazing Kopatchinskaja before and I wasn’t going to miss a chance to see her again, and she delivered the goods at this concert. But the most amazing thing about this concert was that both performers exhibit incredible virtuosity and both have energetic performing styles. Often the piano accompaniment to a singer or instrumental soloist is stolid and supporting. Not in this concert. Both performers were egging each other on and raising the roof as they went about it. The program consisted of a Poulenc sonata, the famous waltz from Delibes’ Coppélia, the 1922 Bartok sonata, and Ravel’s Tzigane. Fortunately for everyone who was not at that recital, or the others in the tour, Kopatchinskaja and Leschenko were plugging their new CD. Which anyone can buy. Here is a pretty good review of the CD http://myscena.org/norman-lebrecht/patricia-kopatchinskaja-polina-leschenkos-deux-ingenious-exhilarating/ |
A cd to dying for because of sound and interpretation in the "Tube Only" collection of Tacet : https://www.amazon.ca/Vivaldi-Tacets-Four-Seasons-Tacet/dp/B019GLKZE4 |
