Wilhelm Kempff: Great Pianists of the 20th Century

This CD from Philips Great Pianists of the 20th Century is the second of a 3 part view of Wilhelm Kempff, as chosen by Alfred Brendel, who admired Kempff.

I would have to agree that Michael Steinberg, whose comments appear in the accompanying booklet, that Kempff is particularly simple (I would add sober) in all these interpretations.

I, and now I am sure I am being shallow as my opinion contradicts Brendel's, did not like this CD. CD-2 I do not foresee me listening to, and CD-1 I am sure I can find more pleasurable (at least to my ear and experience) versions.

Regardless, this CD comes quite recommended elsewhere.

CD 1 Franz Schubert Piano Sonata in Am, D845 Moderato Andante, poco mosso Scherzo, Allegro vivace Rondo, Allegro vivace Beethoven Piano Sonata in Em, Op.90 Mit Lebhaftigkeit und durchaus mit Empfindung und Ausdruck Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragen Mozart Piano Concerto #23 in A, KV 488 Ferdinand Leitner/Bamberger Symphoniker Allegro Adagio Allegro assai

CD 2 Franz Liszt Deux Légendes Saint François d'Assise: la prédication aux oiseaux Saint François de Paule marchant sur les flots Années de pèlerinage Première année: Suisse excerpts (7, 2, 4) Deuxième année: Italie excerpts (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) JS Bach + Kempff Nun komm' der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 Jesus bleibet meine Freude (from BWV 147) Wachet auf! ruft uns die Stimme (from BWV 140)

New 4-column Template

I thought I should write a small post commemorating the advance this blog has suffered today.
It went from a 2-column template to being 4-column. This was motivated because of the integration and new tools that Amazon and Blogger now offer.

Plus I now have a Google click-through, as well as a sell via Amazon. Thanks to those two benefactors, I am 1/10th of a US dollar richer. ;-)


I eliminated some of the Amazon gadgets that bloated the load time. And set on the left corner the navigation sections of the blog, and used the right columns for miscellaneous (toy, eg. youtube) and ad related content.

Furtwängler: Beethoven, Symphonien 5 & 7

[post modified jun-2010]
This is a beautiful interpretation. I used to be a musical ignorant and snob to the point that I would have frowned upon the dull recording of this CD. Fortunately, this experiment (of listening to great interpretations) has broadened my enjoyment, and can now heartedly recommend this Deutsche Grammophon CD as a cornerstone for a collection.
What a wide range of emotion, the precision of the attacks and releases is of such beauty. Furtwängler is in control of the orchestra at each step. What a crisp orchestration.
Be prepared for some deliberate slowness in the 5th, and an overwhelming precision and impetus in the 7th. This was an opportunity for Furtwängler and the Berlin Philharmoniker to protest against the way Nazi Germany was heading towards the end of WWII.

Berlin Philharmoniker,Wilhelm Furtwängler

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Symphony 5	Cm	Op.67		Live, Berlin, Philarmonie, 30.6.1943
Symphony 7	A	Op.92		Live, Berlin, Philarmonie, 3.11.1943

Il Giardino Armonico: Artist Portrait

Well, for those that know Il Giardino Armonico, there is not much to say. Nice selection of works, well-known concertos from Vivaldi and Bach. Some small pieces, too.

But, for those that do not know Il Giardino Armonico, well... you are in for a surprise. Noise. Movement. You can listen to the player's gestures. You can even imagine their hair flying all over their face (not really sure about this ;-) ).
This group puts each instrument and interpreter under the spotlight. There can be historical evidence that suggests that this was in fact the way it was played, before music became an idol in itself. Therefore it is irreverent, gay (no reference to orientation), novel, controversial, abusive, imaginative, irreverent, and communicative.
No doubt worth listening to, but certainly no obligation to adopt. Listen to the plasticity of sounds, and the new dimension the works acquire.

Marco Uccellini (c.1603-1680)

Aria sopra "La Bergamasca"

Antonio Vivaldi (c.1678-1741)

Concerto in Fm, op.8/4 "l'Inverno"

Johann Sebastian Bach (c.1685-1750)

Brandenburg Concerto no.3 in G

Tarquino Merula (c.1594/5-1665)

Ciaccona

Giuseppe Torelli (c.1658-1709)

Concerto à quattro in Gm

Antonio Vivaldi

Concerto in C RV425

Johann Pachelbel (c.1653-1706)

Canon & Gigue in D

Antonio Vivaldi

Concerto in D RV564

Tomaso Albinoni (c.1671-1751)

Adagio (Oboe Concerto in Dm op.9 no.2

Antonio Vivaldi (c.1678-1741)

Concerto in Gm RV104 "La Notte"