Tag Archives: piano
Julius Reubke
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 30th November 2022Frederich Julius Reubke (1834-58) is one of music’s saddest tales. Born in Hausneindorf, Germany, he was the son of an organ and piano builder. After the conclusion of his initial musical training, he moved to Berlin and the entered its conservatory. On the recommendation of conductor Hans von Bülow, Liszt agreed to teach the 21…
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Liszt and Opera
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 5th July 2021Franz Liszt (1811-86) was best known as a composer, virtuoso pianist, teacher, and essayist. Among his works for solo piano are dozens of ‘transcriptions’, ‘paraphrases’, ‘fantasies’, or ‘reminiscences’ based on popular operas. These pieces are characterized by both their beauty and thematic insight. The only other composer who could match, or even surpass Liszt, at…
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Chopin Nocturne Op 27 No 2
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 28th March 2013For the most beautiful 77 bars in music listen to Chopin’s spectacularly beautiful Nocturne Op 27 No 2. Written in 1836 when the composer was 26 years old. It’s like a sigh from heaven. The pianist is Arthur Rubinstein. The piece show why Chopin, despite essentially being a miniaturist, was one very greatest composer since Orpheus….
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Shostakovich Plays Shostakovich
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 15th September 2011Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 – 1975) is primarily known as the greatest composer born in the 20th century; though he started out as a pianist. He largely gave up playing to concentrate on composing when he was very young. But later in life he did occasionally perform as piano soloist, though only playing his own compositions. The current Recording…
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Mariangela Vacatello at the Spencer Theater
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 2nd August 2010Pianist Mariangela Vacatello gave the last of the three recitals of this years Ruidoso Chamber Music Festival on Saturday evening July 31. The audience for this performance was by far the largest of the series. The Spencer Theater was almost full. Ms Vacatello chose a formidable program. The first half was Liszt’s Piano Sonata in…
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Recording of the Week: Hummel Piano Sonatas 2 and 5
Written by Neil Kurtzman | 30th May 2010Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778 – 1837) was one of the most celebrated musicians of his time. Born in what was then Hungary but is now Slovakia, Hummel was a child prodigy. He soon found his way to Vienna where he lived and studied with Mozart for two years. He also studied with Haydn and Salieri….
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