Bach - Sleepers wake (High Quality)

One of the most wonderful thoughts ever captured by an artist.

Baroque!

This week we explore all things Baroque - the ornate, the obtuse, the over the top.

A new addiction of mine...

Music and the Brain

As you'll learn in this history class - I love podcasts.  They offer so much to learn.

This one is my favourite series by far.

PETRUSHKA (Vikharev, 1991) - 1 of 4

Russian ballet, at its finest!



PUCCINI - MADAME BUTTERFLY

Great animation - no well designed on the story though...

Maria Callas, Madama Butterfly Un bel di vedremo

La Divina.

Will there ever be a voice to match.


Angela GHEORGHIU -Un bel di- Madama Butterfly (Music Video)

A modern Butterfly

Re: Renata Tebaldi "Un bel di vedremo"

Tebaldi! There are a few version of this aria on the blog, because I think its important to see the difference in voice and different in interpretation.

Tebaldi was considered to be one of the greatest Cio Cio San's of all time.

Horowitz plays Chopin Polonaise Op. 53 in A flat major

Live from Vienna - Horowitz was one of the true gods of the piano.

His Polonaise is full of Parisian charm. He was well into his 70s, or 80s, when this was recorded.


Chopin - Polonaise As-Dur op 53 "Heroique"

There is something to be said for a Polish pianist playing Polish music. This young man played exceptionally well at the 2006 Chopin competition.
His youth attributes to his performance of this - what makes his performance different from that of Horowitz?

Distant Memories By Alexina Louie

In 2001 I had the privlege of performing the complete Music for Piano by Alexina Louie for a feature on Canadian music. Ms Louie was there - and she and I have since remained in contact. I went to the opera in Toronto with her last year.
This is not exactly how I hear this piece...but that's the joy of modern music, each performance should have its own taste.

Berlioz: "Symphonie Fantastique" - 5th Mvt. - Leonard Bernstein

Can you hear the Witches......?

Dawn Upshaw - Gretchen am Spinnrade

I had the pleasure of working with Dawn Upshaw in the spring of 2010 - she is the most talented person I've ever had the joy to play for.
We played through this, and it really is effortless for her.

Notice how the piano part truly plays the role of the spinning wheel.

Schubert - Der Erlkönig [魔王] (complete version.)

A VERY young Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Really, the best recording of the Erlking ever.

Haydn's Piano Sonata No.39 - Richter (1/2)

Haydn truly challenges pianists - there are an incredible amount of details. The touch has to be perfect, and the balance of the arms in crutial to the clean sound.
Often, the key to playing Haydn well is playing to create the atmosphere of a string quartet.

Haydn's Piano Sonata No.39 - Richter (1/2)

Haydn truly challenges pianists - there are an incredible amount of details. The touch has to be perfect, and the balance of the arms in crutial to the clean sound.

Often, the key to playing Haydn well is playing to create the atmosphere of a string quartet.

Glenn Gould plays Haydn sonata No 59 in E flat major Hob XVI 49 (3/3)

Not known for his Haydn playing, at the end of his career Gould announced he would record the complete Haydn sonatas, a feat that was unheard of 30 years ago. He died before completing this task.
Although known for taking break-neck tempi to Bach, this delightful minuet is taken a leisurely pace. He truly captures the grace of Haydn playing