Behrouz Jamali has created the kind of film I had always hoped to see about Alexander Toradze. I permits Toradze to speak for an hour without abridgement or abbreviation. It abjures soundbites. I believe it should be seen by all devotees of the piano, and to fledgling pianists at music schools and conservatories. Born in Tbilisi in 1952, Toradze graduated from … [Read more...] about Toradze’s Piano Stories
Savage Beauty — Take two
Three months ago I blogged about Min Xiao-fen’s exceptional new recording, “White Lotus,” in which her pipa is mated with Rez Abbasi’s guitar. The music comes from her soundtrack to a classic Chinese silent film: "The Goddess." I’m delighted to see that NPR has now done an enterpirising seven-minute feature. Here’s an excerpt: ABBASI: And there is that scene [in "The … [Read more...] about Savage Beauty — Take two
Inimitable
It is my privilege to partner a new Myrios Classics CD: Mozart’s two most important four-hand piano sonatas, importantly performed by Kirill Gerstein and Ferenc Rados. Gerstein customizes his Myrios recordings in exceptional ways. Three years ago, he invited me to contextualize his Gershwin CD via “The Gershwin Moment.” His new Mozart CD comes with a 40-page booklet … [Read more...] about Inimitable
A Soldier’s Tale for Today — Premiered
In PostClassical Ensemble’s new version of Stravinsky’s A Soldier’s Tale, a “cautionary fable” for today, the Soldier weds the Princess – and the narrator continues: But where’s the fiddle – which won the bride? It was not to be found inside And the Devil, where is he? Awaiting the Soldier – naturally. With the instrument in hand, He played, his … [Read more...] about A Soldier’s Tale for Today — Premiered
A Soldier’s Tale for Today
In the wake of World War I, Igor Stravinsky was living in Switzerland, cut off from his family estate in Russia. He was receiving no royalties from his publisher in Berlin. Stage performances of his music by Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe were very infrequent. His concert works were virtually dormant. With the Swiss writer C. F. Ramuz, he conceived a small, portable entertainment, … [Read more...] about A Soldier’s Tale for Today