Hidden Gems III – Pheobe (1909) by Mel Bonis
Quite rightfully, the work of composers such as Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) are being rediscovered with enthusiasm. Written a year before her death at just 24, Vieille prière bouddhique is a … Continue reading
Absolutely on Music
Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa – Haruki Murakami, Seiji Ozawa. tr. Jay Rubin. Harvill Secker. Any mention of Glenn Gould is usually enough to make me consider buying a … Continue reading
Aline Van Barentzen
Aline Van Barentzen: Her earliest recordings and Chopin, Liszt & Villa-Lobos. APR. Length: 2 hours 27 minutes Lately I’ve been listening to a new release of Aline Van Barentzen’s (1897-1981) … Continue reading
Frederyk Chopin: A Life and Times – Alan Walker
From the well-known daguerrotype of Chopin it is instantly clear he was a guarded man, prone to melancholy, and suffering from tuberculosis – the only three things I … Continue reading
Leo Ornstein
There are some figures whose lifespans encompass seemingly impossible social and historical changes. Think of Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) or Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) (‘From Cowboys to Disco’, as my friend remarked). … Continue reading
‘I knew it was my music’: Idil Biret Concert & Interview
Those assembled in Westminster Cathedral Hall earlier this month had the pleasure and privilege to hear the celebrated Turkish pianist Idil Biret in a concert arranged by the Chopin Society. … Continue reading
Ballet at the Royal Opera House
As I was passing through Covent Garden yesterday, I decided on a whim to stop at the Royal Opera House, where I was lucky enough to acquire a ticket for … Continue reading
Sibelius: betwixt and between
Shortly before the announcement of Simon Rattle’s appointment as musical director of the LSO last month, he completed a series of concerts at the Barbican centred around a survey of … Continue reading
#Richter 100
#RICHTER 100 2015 marks the centennial of Sviatoslav Richter’s birth. Richter stands alone among twentieth century pianists – preternaturally gifted, intellectually demanding, and perhaps most mind-blowingly – self-taught. A répétiteur … Continue reading
Rhapsody of Rags 