Pianists corner

Interview Marc-André Hamelin – part-2 the repertoire

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Presentation

We meet Marc-André Hamelin in Berlin, not far from the Teldec studios where he has just recorded a virtuoso programme consisting of transcriptions of operas by Liszt and Thalberg coupled with the Hexameron variations. His ease and cordiality immediately establish a warm contact, and the conversation goes well in French on subjects of a richness at least in the image of the character. It was not the late hour, it could have lasted until the early morning.

The next day we meet the pianist again to conduct an in-depth interview, focusing on two directions: his learning of the piano and the rare repertoire he defends.

This second part of the interview is devoted to the repertoire.

The musical illustrations accompanying these interviews were recorded at a later meeting in Paris on a 1926 Pleyel concert piano, model A (owned by our friend Christophe Labarde).

The video interview is available on the free application named “Pianists Corner App” available on Apple Store & Google Play that you can install by clicking the links below. You’ll find it in the ACTU page.

Dinu Lipatti : Prince of pianists

POST BY The piano files

Dinu Lipatti is one of the most mystical of pianists, yet over a half century after his premature death, most pianophiles know little more than the sketchy biographical information published with the frequent reissues of his critically lauded recordings. Before his death, Lipatti was already considered one of the greatest pianists and musicians to have graced the concert stage.

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Jorge Bolet Chopin-Godowsky BBC 1988

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Jorge Bolet BBC 1988

This is the most fascinating programme of Bolet as teacher and performer. Made in the BBC Studios with a small audience, the interviewer gets Bolet to talk about Godowsky then demonstrate the difference between Chopin and Godowsky’s version of the three pieces to be played

The rarities of Pianists Corner: Mompou, Cancion i danza n°6

Mompou, Cancion i danza n°6

Frederic Mompou, like Francis Poulenc or George Enesco, is one of those musicians whose music realizes the paradox of presenting clearly identifiable influences while remaining clearly recognizable.  For this Catalan composer, the popular traditions of his country are a primary source of inspiration. The Cancion i Danza n°6 is dedicated to Arthur Rubinstein. With its intimacy and purity, the cancion is representative of what makes Mompou’s music so special, while the danza, like all the dances in the cycle, is more playful.

Discover the interpretations of the Cancion i Danza n°6 by Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Jordi Masó i Rahola, Clelia Iruzun, Gila Goldstein and Konstantin Bogino.

Josef Hofmann’s Golden Jubilee Concert

POST BY The piano files

Josef Hofmann’s Golden Jubilee Concert

Born in 1876 near Cracow (Poland), Josef Hofmann gave his Golden Jubilee concert on November 28, 1937 at the Metropolitn Opera House., it was recorded and on the LP Columbia Masterworks  ML 4929 we can read :

“The MET filled with an audience of 4,000 assembled to pay tribute to Josef Hofmann, who appeared on the same stage where, as a boy of 11, he made his American debut on Nov.29, 1887”

Josef Hofmann  gave his first private concert in New York on November 28, 1887 at the Wallack Theater in New York City, and it was followed by a series of concerts at the Metropolitn Opera House which impresses us with the variety of works played : he was only 11 years old.

 The program of the first Metropolitn Opera House was :

Metropolitn Opera House : November 29, 1887

Berlioz  : Overture , “Carneval Romaine”

Beethoven : Concerto in C (No1)

SAINT-SAENS : “Phaeton” Symphonic Poem

Rameau : Variations

Mendelssohn : Overture, “Midsummer Night’s Dream”

Hofmann : Berceuse

Chopin : Nocturne, Waltz

Weber-Liszt : Polacca for piano and orchestra

More on this Golden Jubilee Concert by Marc Ainley.

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Sir András Schiff Piano Masterclass at the RCM: Martin James Bartlett

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András Schiff masterclass with Martin James Bartlett on Schubert’s Impromptus op 90 on Sunday 10 April 2016 at the Royal College of Music, London

Compare Franz Schubert performances of Impromptu (4) D 899 (1827)

2. Allegro (E-flat major)

3. Andante (G-flat major)