Great to know you like a little Ludwig too Rollingstoned...
He seems to just have a Magic about his music that has stood the test of time. Another by-product of his popularity is if people check out some other great music from centuries past, by the other composers.
It's at times like this I always remember that classic album title by Ian Hunter..."You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic"...
Getting down to business, here's another masterpiece from Ludwig, "The Emperor" piano concerto. I have two versions of this piece, one done on Period instruments and wooden framed piano, and the one I'm posting now done with a modern orchestra and metal framed piano, played by the maestro Claudio Arrau.
I could recite a full page about this particular composition, but I'll keep it brief. Before Ludwig wrote this Monster, most piano concertos were composed to be lighthearted fare heard more in drawing rooms and parties for wealthy patrons than concert halls. The "Emperor" shattered that forever, it is vibrant, lively, passionate, it explodes into life and changed the perception of the piano concerto for everyone that came after it was written and performed. Oh and it's just plain beautiful to listen to,,,as an added bonus.
I could post the whole work but here's the 1st movement, with one of my favorite pianists Glenn Gould.
Last edited by Lord Grendel; 01-14-2010 at 08:20 PM.
Every movement of the "Emperor" is fantastic, but the Adagio is particularly beautiful. I especially love the way it merges so seamlessly into the finale.
A lot of people were first introduced to the work by the (generally good but occasionally embarrassing) Richard Dreyfuss/Amy Irving film The Competition.
BTW, LG, if you don't have it already there's a great and inexpensive version of it by Gina Bachauer with Stanislaw Skrowaczewski conducting the LSO. It's on Mercury's old 35mm film-recorded "Living Presence" series that has such tremendous sound. I just pulled it up here on iTunes to listen to while I type this.
__________________ Hire an architect - an ego is a terrible thing to waste
Last edited by Craig in Indy; 01-15-2010 at 06:57 AM.
Sticking with the piano theme for my next subject. Here is my favorite Beethoven sonata CD, it contains three of his masterpieces, "Waldstein", "Les Adieux" and "Appassionata". I can't think of a stronger collection of solo piano sonatas to recommend than this set, and to put the icing on the cake, my CD with Emil Gilels was selected as one of Deutsche Grammophones top 55 albums of all time, considering the amount of excellent recordings on DG that is quite an honor.
Here's the first movement from Appassionata, by Vladimir Horowitz.
Last edited by Lord Grendel; 02-28-2010 at 10:27 AM.
I didn't like the movie myself, A Clockwork Orange, I'm a big fan of Kubrick but that one didn't work for me. Not surprising seeing I didn't enjoy the original story by Orwell either. Still as you pointed out the music they chose was first class.
I didn't like the movie myself, A Clockwork Orange, I'm a big fan of Kubrick but that one didn't work for me. Not surprising seeing I didn't enjoy the original story by Orwell either.
That would be Anthony Burgess, LG (no relation to me, AFAIK ).
__________________ Hire an architect - an ego is a terrible thing to waste
It was a disturbing movie, no question. Seeing it once was enough to last my own lifetime. I never read the book, just remember seeing a lot of kids carrying it around in HS and college.
__________________ Hire an architect - an ego is a terrible thing to waste
Re: Ludwig van Beethoven 
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Linear Mode
