Aldo Ciccolini, 82, at his career's peak

[cloches_de_geneve]

Some pianists, remember Backhaus, Rubinstein, Arrau, simply ignore age -- not to speak of Horzsowski, who was giving concerts up to the age of 100.

Yesterday, I attended an All-Schumann recital by living veteran Aldo Ciccolini, the famous italian-french pianist, who just turned 82.

On the program were, among others things, Schumann's Vienna Carneval (Faschingsschwank) and the grand f-minor sonata op. 14 (the long version, I should add).  I don't know how many young pianists would feel comfortable putting op. 14 on their recital-programs. 

I went there thinking, well, even if his memory and hands might be a bit shaky at this old age, the touch and musicality will still come out. I couldn't have been more wrong!

It was a dazzling firework, iron fingers, technically impeccable, a finished performance ready for print.  After getting furiously to the end of the op. 14 sonata and smashing the last chords, he got up and looked defiantly into the public, like saying: "Ha, what were you thinking!?" Standing ovations and storms of applause.

So much for prejudices about old pianists.

 

 

   

[pianowolfi]

Some pianists, remember Backhaus, Rubinstein, Arrau, simply ignore age -- not to speak of Horzsowski, who was giving concerts up to the age of 100.

Yesterday, I attended an All-Schumann recital by living veteran Aldo Ciccolini, the famous italian-french pianist, who just turned 82.

On the program were, among others things, Schumann's Vienna Carneval (Faschingsschwank) and the grand f-minor sonata op. 14 (the long version, I should add).  I don't know how many young pianists would feel comfortable putting op. 14 on their recital-programs. 

I went there thinking, well, even if his memory and hands might be a bit shaky at this old age, the touch and musicality will still come out. I couldn't have been more wrong!

It was a dazzling firework, iron fingers, technically impeccable, a finished performance ready for print.  After getting furiously to the end of the op. 14 sonata and smashing the last chords, he got up and looked defiantly into the public, like saying: "Ha, what were you thinking!?" Standing ovations and storms of applause.

So much for prejudices about old pianists.

 

Good to read this. I will give attention next time he comes close to my region (If)

[Kassaa]

He's coming to the Netherlands, he's going to play some Grieg, Mussorgsky Pictures and the Appassionata, should be great .

[jakev2.0]

When I saw the abridged topic title "Aldo Ciccolini, 82..."

..thought it was an obituary notice1

[gerry]

I remember as a child, my teacher took me to hear Rubenstein. We went backstage after and I instinctively held out my hand to shake his--of course pianists seldom shake hands with strangers and he didn't--but he apologized to me. BTW - I've been following the threads regarding the overadulation of young Asians, their disireability as students, their obedience, their drive, their technical perfection, success in competitions, etc. I wonder how many of them will  mature as artists and stick with it long enough to be 82 to 100-year-old veteran performers.  This is such a recent phonemenon only time will tell. (LangLang at 100) Wish I could live to see it.

[allthumbs]

Some pianists, remember Backhaus, Rubinstein, Arrau, simply ignore age -- not to speak of Horzsowski, who was giving concerts up to the age of 100.

Yesterday, I attended an All-Schumann recital by living veteran Aldo Ciccolini, the famous italian-french pianist, who just turned 82.

On the program were, among others things, Schumann's Vienna Carneval (Faschingsschwank) and the grand f-minor sonata op. 14 (the long version, I should add).  I don't know how many young pianists would feel comfortable putting op. 14 on their recital-programs. 

I went there thinking, well, even if his memory and hands might be a bit shaky at this old age, the touch and musicality will still come out. I couldn't have been more wrong!

It was a dazzling firework, iron fingers, technically impeccable, a finished performance ready for print.  After getting furiously to the end of the op. 14 sonata and smashing the last chords, he got up and looked defiantly into the public, like saying: "Ha, what were you thinking!?" Standing ovations and storms of applause.

So much for prejudices about old pianists.

   

This reminded me of two fantastic opportunities I had in the 70's. One was seeing Eubie Blake perform a free concert around 1973 at York University in Toronto.

Blake was in his early 90's at the time and had to be assisted to the piano, but once he sat down and started to play, the years seemed to disappear and his playing blew me away.

The other was hearing Andrés Segovia in 1976 at Massy Hall, also in Toronto. He was approaching his mid 80's and was still the master of the classical guitar.

Both performers defied their age as well and while I don't even come close to their level of mastery with their instrument, I'd like to be so lucky to even approach their age bracket and still be able to play.


Cheers


allthumbs