Tag: Pianists
Spinning on Air
Pianissimo
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The piano, or, to use its full name, pianoforte, earned its name because it can be played both quietly (piano) and loudly (forte). Lately there seems to be a trend toward the quiet side. Suddenly there are a number of young composer/pianists exploring a relaxed and alert sensibility in their music. David Garland presents an hour pianissimo pianos.
WQXR Blog
_small_image.jpg "Pianist Jing Li")
Bach, Brahms and Brad
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Brad Mehldau, that is. The music of the jazz pianist/Carnegie Hall-commissioned composer entered my ipod world through his interpretation of Radiohead’s Exit Music. I was immediately struck by how lyrical and intricate his sound was and have been a fan ever since. When I heard Mehldau was presenting a solo piano recital on January 26 at Zankel hall of his own works, interspersed with repertoire by Bach, Brahms, Faure and pop and jazz transcriptions, I wondered, what was he going to do with “those” guys?
WQXR Features
Hélène Grimaud: Dances with Pianos and Wolves
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
As WQXR celebrates Powerhouse Pianists throughout January, we spotlight a pianist known to give the keyboard a workout. Hélène Grimaud is frequently admired for her enormous technical command and her keen musical curiosity.
WQXR Features
'If all you do is follow, you’ll always be behind'
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Malcolm Martineau, one of today’s most sought-after pianists, gave a masterclass at Weill Hall on Friday evening. The program had a mostly French theme, with six fantastic young singers and pianists presenting Debussy, Poulenc, Weill, Liszt, Chausson and Ravel.
WQXR Blog
Accompanists: Unsung Heroes of the Concert Stage
Friday, January 21, 2011
Behind every successful man there is a woman, or so the old saying goes. In the music world, behind every brilliant soloist there is his or her accompanist. Jascha Heifetz had his Brooks Smith, Anne-Sophie Mutter has her Lambert Orkis, Midori had her Robert McDonald and among many other things, Benjamin Britten was the reliable accompanist to his Peter Pears.
Showdown @ High Noon
Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Whose version of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 -- a.k.a. "Rocky 3" -- is your favorite? You told us you preferred the performance by Vladimir Horowitz over those of Vladimir Ashkenazy, Martha Argerich, and Leif Ove Andsnes, so we played it at 12 Noon.
Top 5 @ 105
Top Five Piano Prodigies
Monday, January 17, 2011
As we celebrate the current class of the keyboard world this month with our series Powerhouse Pianists, here are five up-and-coming prodigies -- and recent prodigies -- who could be selling out concert halls in the years to come.
WQXR Features
Ten Questions for Byron Janis
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Along with Van Cliburn, Leon Fleisher and Gary Graffman, Byron Janis is a leading light in the generation of American pianists who burst onto the international scene in the 1950s. Yet almost from the start he faced incredible odds.
WQXR Features
David Fray: A Frenchman Makes His Mark on German Classics
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The young French pianist David Fray is fast gaining notice for his charismatic, sometimes eccentric performances of Bach and Schubert. Just don't compare him to Glenn Gould.
