“It is not just sound. The problem is that this content cannot be really be articulated in an objective, rational, scientific way — with words. If it were possible to articulate it in an objective, rational, scientific way, the music would not be necessary.” In the Masterclasses series with Daniel Barenboim, he speaks about what it is and what it […]

Daniel Barenboim is not the only one to have successfully had the complete Beethoven sonatas on his agenda lately. A Grammy nominee for “Best Classical Album (Without Orchestra)” for the second volume of his Complete Beethoven Sontata recordings for ECM, András Schiff began in 2004, a series of performances in Europe in which he explored the 32 Beethoven piano sonatas […]

Dudley Moore, was an English actor, comedian and musician. This video clip is from the 1950’s-60s British comedy group “Beyond the Fringe. Dudley Moore plays a very funny but also musically ambitious parody of a Beethoven piano sonata based on very odd yet well-known thematic material, the whistling tune from “Bridge Over the River Kwai”. Want to play it yourself? […]

Ludwig van Beethoven’s supposedly “last piano work” has been found by musicologist Peter McCallum, while studying the composer’s final music sketchbook at the Berlin’s state library. The 32 bars piece was found in the so called “Kullak sketchbook”, one of Beethoven’s working documents full of ideas, jotted notes and musical fragments. Mr McCallum noticed what he calls the “Bagatelle in […]

The National Gallery at Trafalgar Square in London is arranging a Dame Myra Hess Day on the 25th of November (2008). This annual event honours Dame Myra Hess who initiated, directed and performed a series of legendary concerts at the National Gallery during the Second World War. This year’s concerts will take place in the Barry Rooms (Room 36), where […]

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (1920 -1995) was an Italian classical pianist. He is considered among the most commanding and individualistic piano virtuosi of the 20th century, alongside names such as Vladimir Horowitz and Sviatoslav Richter. Along with Ferruccio Busoni, he is often described as the most important Italian pianist ever. He obtained his soloist’s diploma at the age of fourteen, and […]

If you need reference recordings of the Beethoven piano concerti, do not neglect the Pollini/Böhm collaboration from the 1980’s. Their ”Emperor” recording on Deutsche Grammophone from 1984 was internationally recognized and Pollini was described as the definition of the modern pianist. With Pollini before our eyes, we therefore present the second movement from Beethoven´s ”Emperor” concerto no. 5 under Claudio […]

26 new tracks have been added: Chopin – Preludes op 28 no 6 and 7 Clementi – Sonatinas op 36 no 2 and 3 Handel – Minuet in G HWV 450 Hummel – Rondo Köhler – Sonatina op 300 Lemoin – op 37 no 3 and 6 Mozart – Sorrow March K453a Mozart – Minuet in F K94 Mozart – […]