January 11, 2010
The pianist Beth Levin is an acclaimed recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. Her repertory is broad, from Bach's Goldberg Variations to Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, to the romantics such as Schubert and Chopin. You can listen to the Diabelli in our library, but today we decided to present a selection from the recently uploaded complete set of 24 piano Preludes Op. 28 by Frédéric Chopin. Here are eight of them: no. 4 in e minor; no.7 in A major, no. 8 in f-sharp minor, no. 11 in B major, no. 12 in g-sharp minor, no. 13 in F-sharp major, no. 15 in D-flat major ("Raindrop Prelude"), and no. 19 in E-flat major. To listen, click here.
Eleanor Alberga - If the Silver Bird Could Speak
Hyunjung Rachel Chung (Piano)
Gary Noland - "Deformed Fugue" for harpsichord (Op. 17)
Gary Noland (Harpsichord)
Jon Tolansky interviews Alon Goldstein Play
Alon Goldstein is a pianist with a powerful gift for communication whose artistry has touched audiences and critics alike throughout Europe, Israel and the United States. Admired for his musical intelligence and warmth of personality, Alon's artistic vision and innovative programming have brought him to the forefront of his generation. Alon Goldstein's podcast includes his recollections of studying with the legendary Leon Fleisher, who was so impressed with him that he invited him to become his assistant.
Jon Tolansky interviews Ashu Play
Concert saxophonist Ashu has defied conventions, winning major international and national competitions traditionally won by pianists and violinists. He made his recital debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Hall in New York, and his concerto debut at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. He was just 16 at the time. Since then, performances have taken him throughout Europe and the United States. In his podcast, Ashu includes a look at some rarely performed music of strong and evocative character that ranges from the mid-19th century to today.
Jon Tolansky interviews Leanna Primiani Play
Composer-conductor Leanna Primiani is a native of California. She has studied with such noted musicians as Leonard Slatkin, Peter Eötvös, and Steven Stucky. Her work, Sirens for Orchestra, was premiered by Leonard Slatkin and the Nashville Symphony in February 2009. Leanna Primiani's podcast includes her description of her ambitious new opera Truman, which sets the life of former US President Harry Truman.
Jon Tolansky interviews Sergey Zaks Play
The founder of Classical Connect talks about some of the ideas behind the site.
January 4, 2010
This week is especially rich in birthdays. Five talented composers were born between January 3 and January 9: Giovanni Pergolesi, Nikolai Medtner, Max Bruch, Alexander Scriabin and Francis Poulenc. We could play the music of these composers for many hours, but we have to be reasonable. So here is this week's playlist: we'll start with Medtner's Canzona serenata, from Forgotten Motives Op. 38, played by the Russian pianist Dmitry Paperno. Medtner is not particularly popular these days, but together with Scriabin and Rachmaninov, he was one of the most important Russian composers of the early 20th century. Then we'll hear two etudes by Scriabin: Etude in c-sharp minor, Op. 2, No. 1, played by the pianist Soyeon Lee; and Etude in c-sharp minor, Op. 42 No. 5, in Daniil Trifonov's interpretation. After these three Romantic pieces, we'll hear a very different performance: Poulenc's Sonata for Clarinet and Piano played by Alexander Fiterstein. To listen, click here.
Andrew Chubb - Meditation at Bar Beach
Andrew Chubb (Piano)
Chiara Margarita Cozzolani - Gloria in altissimis
Catherine Webster (Soprano)
Andrea Fullington (Soprano)
Suzanne Jubenville (Contralto)
Karen Clark (Contralto)
Hanneke van Proosdij (Organ)