Classical Music for Aficionados

I also love Angela Hewitt, especially her Bach.
A worthy successor to Gould's Canadian crown.
Playing this week in Vienna!

+ for Angela Hewitt , she is fantastic with Bach .

She is wonderful with almost anything!

Just been browsing on Idagio and came across a compilation entitled The Art of Maurizio Pollini and the first three tracks are Stravinsky's Three Movements from Petrushka. I have never heard them played so well and they are generally avoided by pianists as they are so fiendishly difficult, Mr Pollini ate them up and swallowed them whole. It was worth the subscription to Idagio for them alone as I was stunned by the playing. I have only ever been to see Pollini perform once and it was in the seventies at City Halls Candleriggs in Glasgow. I even remember the program as it was so special because he directed from the piano Mozart's Piano Concerto no 24 and he conducted Beethoven's Symphony no 4. I don't think he has conducted since but I say he made a really good job of it. One thing that did strike me was he had the most beautiful hands that I have ever seen on a pianist. They were so long and thin and his stretch was enormous , some of his octaves were with thumb and ring finger without the slightest strain. I would hunt them out if I were you and I assure you will not be disappointed . Other stuff in the compilation are wonderful renditions of Chopin's Opus 25 Etudes and also a virtuosic Beethovens - Piano Sonata in C Minor Op.111.