calimac: (Haydn)
[personal profile] calimac
Soprano who can sing elongated German consonantal clusters like "schlummre" [blame Mendelssohn; he wrote the music] so that they're not ugly, while still being intelligible. Impressive.

Piano student who can play Copland's infamously dissonant "Piano Variations" so that it almost sounds tuneful. Enlightening.

81-year-old piano legend who can still make a formidable but humorous meal out of a large Brahms variation set, and throw in a Chopin waltz at race-demon speed for dessert. Enjoyable.

On the other hand, not-very-good violinist should not attempt to play a Brahms sonata on a gut-stringed instrument. His grip on the pitch kept wandering, likewise on the work and the audience.

Date: 2009-01-17 08:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asimovberlioz.livejournal.com
81-year-old piano legend
Well, my first thought was Ivan Moravec, but he's 78; Alicia de Larrocha is 85 (and retired). And Leon Fleisher won't be 81 for a few more months.

Date: 2009-01-18 07:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kalimac.livejournal.com
Does Charles Rosen count as a legend? For it was he.

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