It would appear that the general majority consensus on the blogs I read that today is not a day for politics and that it should be one to remember nearly 3,000 people who died as the result of an event that has been laid at the door of terrorism. As a result, this blog will do likewise and refrain from any political comment.
Some blogs have posted music videos in tribute, so I thought I would go one better and rather than post an extract from a work, I would post the entire work. The piece I have chosen is a piano concerto by Beethoven, namely the Emperor, played by Krystian Zimerman with the orchestra conducted by Leonard Bernstein. For those unaware Zimerman is Polish and renowned for taking his own grand piano with him, whilst also being renowned for his recordings of piano concerti by not only Beethoven but also Grieg, Liszt and Rachmaninoff. Zimerman is not a pianist I had come across previously and courtesy of the Guardian we learn that he is a man of few words and forthright opinion.
Some may say that Zimerman is a showman where his style of play is concerned, a style in stark contrast with that of, for example, Martha Argerich. Anyway, I trust you will enjoy what is probably one of the 'great' piano concertos.
2 comments:
Excellent rendition by Zimmerman and Bernstein. As well as those composers you mention, Zimmerman excels in Chopin and Schubert, and many of his recordings are available on You Tube. Have you come across Tzvi Erez, another remarkable pianist.
Anon: Yes I was aware of his expertise with Chopin and Schubert, thanks to Wiki!
I must now take a look at Tzvi Erez!
I had thought of this one as the first of a series, but as you have been the only comment to date maybe it did not go down too well?
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