Piano Blog

New Old Anton Nel Videos

I know that many of my readers are fans of the pianist Anton Nel. Two recent videos of him from his childhood in South Africa were just added to youtube. Enjoy!

 

 

 

There is No Middle of the Road in Art

Great works of art and great performances are never middle of the road.

Some of my favorite performers, like Richter and Argerich, also elicit my most negative reactions. Rudolf Serkin's concerts were incredible or disastrous, but rarely mediocre. Beethoven has a large collection of worthless compositions. So does Mozart.

This is the nature of real art: this is my world and to hell with you if you don't like it. The artist doesn't aim to please but to create -- even if the creation polarizes, offends, or falls apart completely. 

 

Arthur Rubinstein - An Amazing Person

There is so much in this interview, not just about music but about life. It is worth watching many times over. 

 

 

Getting to know Scarlatti

I think it was Horowitz who considered Domenico Scarlatti to be the "first Romantic". I find it hard to disagree. Scarlatti's own preface to his "Sonatas" gives us a peak into his own benevolent disposition: 

"…show yourself to be more human than critical, and then your pleasure will increase…Live Happily!" 

It's hard for words to do justice to the beauty and range of emotion found in Scarlatti's music. Many of his pieces are flamboyant and playful, but one of my favorites is this beautiful introspective and tender work played here by Spencer Myer: 

Anton Nel Radio Interview

Have a listen to this radio interview with the amazing Anton Nel! 

Goode is Great

Last Thursday I saw Richard Goode perform Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 18 in B-flat Major K. 456, with the San Francisco Orchestra. There really aren't enough good things to say about Goode's playing. Thoughtful, beautiful, and a colorful crisp sound. But most stunning is Goode's ability to make his ideas seem utterly natural.

Goode opted to play from the score during this performance. I am glad he did. It was not distracting in the least. While there is no doubt Goode knew the music inside and out, I was comforted by the fact that his message would not be hampered by a nervous performance psychology. I wonder how much needless torment and bad performances have emerged from valuing tradition over beautiful music making.