An extra post: a subscriber sent me a non-commercial recording of Schein playing Beethoven a month before her 24th birthday. The pianist herself did not remember having made it when he sent it to her, and he's kindly made it available for me to share:
youtu.be/lmelnkSgJk8
A tribute to Ann Schein, with her first solo LP and first concerto LP - with some fascinating background. Glorious pianism!
www.patreon.com/posts/155778...
American pianist Ann Schein has died at the age of 86. The 'long life in music' that her beloved mentor Mieczysław Münz predicted came to be: she was a formidable performer & teacher, embodying grace & strength. A tribute with two early LPs linked in the comments. RIP Ms. Schein.
An overview of my introduction to Joseph Villa, with a linked tribute I prepared for the 25th anniversary of his death in 2020, plus another incredible concert performance: a volcanic 1980 live traversal of Liszt's Don Juan Fantasy
www.patreon.com/posts/155566...
April 13 marks 31 years since the tragic death of American pianist Joseph Villa at the age of 46. I was fortunate to know him in his last few years - he was always gracious & generous, sending me Christmas cards & cassettes of live performances. Check comments thread for a tribute & recordings.
Two written tributes to Victor Schiøler (one including lots of recordings), plus three specially highlighted studio and concert recordings:
www.patreon.com/posts/155049...
April 7 was the anniversary of Victor Schiøler's birth in 1899. A pupil of Schnabel & Friedman, teacher to Victor Borge (who used his 1st name for his own stage name as a hat-tip), he was a truly great artist in so many ways. Biographical details & some recordings in today's post. Link in comments.
An overview of Simon Barere's pianism and a linked tribute featuring more detailed biographical details, an array of recordings, and recently discovered film footage that reveals his astonishing ease at the keyboard:
www.patreon.com/posts/154654...
Simon Barere died mid-concert at Carnegie Hall 75 years ago on April 2, 1951. The pianist of dazzling dexterity and innate musicality left behind a modest official discography now expanded by hours of live recordings (many from Carnegie Hall) & now some film footage. Link in comments below.
An overview of Busoni's recordings, plus audio of the surviving performances:
www.patreon.com/posts/154531...
Ferruccio Busoni was born April 1, 1866. Remembered today as a composer & transcriber, he was among the most titanic pianists of his generation. No technology could properly capture the scope of his playing (or anyone's) but his 1922 discs still reveal superb pianism. Link with audio & details below
Three filmed conversations in which I discuss with my hosts some important pianists, recordings, and the nature of interpretation - and how some magical moments disappear while others are preserved:
www.patreon.com/posts/154375...
March 28 was World Piano Day, the 88th day of the year celebrating the instrument that (usually) has 88 keys. In recognition of this day and this amazing instrument, 3 filmed conversations in which my hosts & I discuss great pianists, interpretation, and live performances. Link in the comments!
Celebrating Egon Petri's 145th with a link to my feature for his 140th five years ago - including many superb studio and unofficial recordings - plus my notes and his Westminster recordings from 1956:
www.patreon.com/posts/153845...
March 23 was the 145th anniversary of Egon Petri's birth. The Busoni disciple left us many hours of recordings, and while some studio accounts are a bit detached, the best of them - and his live recordings - feature some truly sky-opening pianism. Check the link in the comments.
Celebrating the great Austrian pianist and teacher Robert Goldsand with a 'new' 1946 broadcast, an early 78, a stunning live performance, and a truly fascinating interview (and some more live recordings):
www.patreon.com/posts/153391...
March 17 was the 115th anniversary of Robert Goldsand's birth. A student of Liszt pupil Moriz Rosenthal & other fine musicians, Goldsand became an esteemed teacher and was a superb artist - always better in concert than on disc. Today, rare broadcasts, a 78, and an interview: check link in comments.
An overview about Robert Lortat that includes a link to my article in International Piano magazine @IP_mag plus audio of the superlative CD edition on APR - and a stunning private transfer of his world premiere cycle of Chopin Waltzes from 1931:
www.patreon.com/posts/152907...
My latest column in International Piano magazine features Robert Lortat, whose Chopin Etudes & Waltz cycles predate Alfred Cortot's (the Waltzes were the world premiere set). Unavailable for over 6 decades, these readings are extraordinarily imaginative. Details & audio linked below.
An introduction to Harriet Cohen and some of her pioneering Bach recordings, plus a delightful 1962 interview - truly insightful:
www.patreon.com/posts/152568...
Harriet Cohen recorded the first part of what was planned to be the first Well-Tempered Clavier on disc starting in 1928 (the project was abandoned partway through), and in 1935 several of her Bach transcriptions, all beautifully played. These and a 1962 interview linked are linked in the comments.
Details about the great Moiseiwitsch with links to two written features, 1943 film footage, a stellar 1946 BBC broadcast, and a late 1950s LP - all glorious:
www.patreon.com/posts/152174...
We are fortunate to have many hours of recordings by Benno Moiseiwitsch spanning over four decades - he is always so satisfying. A number of audio links & features I've written about him today, including an incredible recorded live appearance only issued decades after I got it. Link in the comments.
Today's birthday tribute to Dame Myra Hess, including a previously unpublished 1947 broadcast:
www.patreon.com/posts/151659...
February 25 marks the anniversary of Myra Hess in 1890. The beloved pianist was a master well beyond what her official discs reveal. Fortunately we have many hours of live appearances that showcase her more fiery side. I am publishing a 1947 broadcast for the first time today. Link in comments.
An overview into Rachmaninoff's solo recordings (including the correction of an oft-repeated inaccurate claim) and a link to his superb 1940 set of 11 of his solo works - magical performances!
www.patreon.com/posts/151020...
Rachmaninoff recorded no complete cycles of his solo works (as he did with his concertos), but he fortunately set down a number of incredible accounts of some of his great piano works. I have uploaded a set of 1940 discs of 11 of his solo pieces. Link & details in the comments.
A link to an overview of Clara Sansoni's life and sole private recording, captured when she was retired - and 78 years old - on a regrettably out-of-tune piano... but the mastery is absolutely evident. Truly miraculous pianism!
www.patreon.com/posts/150789...
I am thrilled to share the only recording of Clara Sansoni, a pupil of Albéniz & Planté who only made a private disc at the age of 78. Even on a regrettably out-of-tune piano we hear miraculous pianism from this forgotten master in works by Albéniz, Chopin, Beethoven. Stunning! Link in the comments.
