Indeed. Two huge names in the piano world. Could you name some characteristics of them you particularly admire jakev2.0?? for those that may be less familiar with who they are and what were their distinguishing attributes.
I used to have a crush on Hélène Grimaud and I thought her Schumann concerto was the best thing since slice bread. (Later I found that Klara Wurtz was even better). But anyway, she wrote an open letter that really spoke to me, so I'd like to share it with you guys. Here's the letter:Music changed my life. I was quite an agitated and agitating child before I had music training. As a matter of fact, a psychologist told my parents later on that without music I could have easily become a delinquent of the worst sort!Of all art forms, only music transcends words. It is hard to talk about music when music talks to us better than any other language. But I can tell you that music gave my life a sense of purpose and direction.Music taught me that you should never let anyone convince you that your dreams are outlandish. Few things are more condescending, and what a tragedy it would be if you believed it. Our backgrounds and circumstances may have influenced who we are but, ultimately, we are responsible for who we choose to become, and it takes a long time to become the person you want to be. I have learned that it is not what happens to us that is important - it is what we do about it.Studying music also taught me that you should not compare yourself to others but only to your last best effort, that you cannot get by on charm for very long, that music sharpens your senses, imagination, creativity and intuition, and that you actually have the ability and strength to keep going long after you think you can't. I have learned that difficulties and failures along the way make you stronger and that maturity does not come with how many birthdays you have celebrated but more with the experiences you have had and what you have learned from them.Making music with others showed me that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. Music will develop your social, personal, physical and intellectual skills better than any other activities combined.Music is about emotional communication. Give it a try and don't think you have taken the wrong road when perhaps you just have not gone far enough. After all, what is to come does not need to be discovered so much as invented.Hélène Grimaud
Argerich is by far me favorite living pianist. (Male, female, or any type of male.)
Im very interested to hear any views, particularly those of you who are american, regarding the pianist and composer Amy Cheney-Beach She is little known in eurpose although is increasingly being recognised and honoured by retrospective recordings. I imagine there is much more source material stateside. Would anyone care to share???
Grimaud is not such a bad pianist...bit of a hottie too.
Clara Haskil, Annie Fischer, Alicia de Larrocha, Felicja Blumental, Martha Argerich (at times)....Not a fan of Angella Hewitt. She gets rather boring... sounds too much the same.. begins to sound like a baroquen record after awhile.
Good 1!
Regarding Amy Beach this is a start (I was hoping US observers might shed more light): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amy_Beach
Anyone know about Teressa Carreno (Ive heard she is legendary - but Ive never heard her).
Thoughts on Gariela Montero?
Topic: Women of the keyboard 