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Showing posts from June, 2019

Krystian Zimerman Recital - 12 June 2019 - Berlin

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                                                Krystian Zimerman - Debussy: Preludes (excerpt)  © DG It was the greatest good fortune that the distinguished artist Krystian Zimerman was giving a recital in Berlin on the evening of June 12 just a couple of days before I set off for the astounding Bach Festival in Leipzig. I decided with great excitement to attend as he seldom comes to Poland to give recitals for various reasons. I feel this world famous pianist, regarded at the highest level everywhere, requires little introduction. It was one of those recitals where little or nothing needs to be said at the conclusion, a sign of true greatness to my mind. He opened his recital (on his own superb, I felt especially tuned, Steinway piano) with the Brahms Sonata No 3 in F minor  Op.5. Brahms composed this mighty sonata when he was barely 20 and when the sonata form itself was considered rather an outmoded. Of course Brahms idolized Beethoven and the personal expressiveness of hi

Young Chopin in Warsaw (Episodes 1 & 2)

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You may like to wander the streets of Warsaw with me in the footsteps of young Chopin before he left Poland on 2 November 1830 never to return Episode 1   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8D855ozt2w Episode 2   https://youtu.be/gkdntFOWPdg

Bach Festival Leipzig 14 June - 23 June 2019 'Bach, Court Compositeur'

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Bach, Court Compositeur Bach's personal seal designed by him when appointed Royal Polish and Electoral Saxon Court Composer Why is the Bach Leipzig Festival important for Poland and the music of Fryderyk Chopin?  Bach was the composer Chopin admired above all others save Mozart. He practised for days Das wohltemperierte Klavier before concerts of his own music rather than the pieces he would actually play. The important polyphonic strands and counterpoint within his own music were all derived from his adoration of J.S.Bach. Bach was always chosen during his teaching as indispensable to deeper musical understanding and meaning. It is also instructive  to remember  other aspects of Bach's life were closely associated with Poland at the time. He always wished to be associated with court circles despite the small extent of some of these princely states.  Bach was appointed Royal Polish and Electoral Saxon Court Composer in 1736. The Elector Frederi