Mark Ainley - Living the Classical Life: Episode 23

[@Gamla123]

In a world that's increasingly moving at an exponential pace, it's so refreshing and so important to occasionally slow down and reconnect with the human experience. The Piano Files does exactly that in multiple ways. Great interview.

[@MrInterestingthings]

I must be really brave or foolish to type commentary where none exist . Then again everything is perhaps too accessible now ! OMGawd there are films of Poulenc playing I spend entire weekends on youtube and have yet to see that . Thankyou . I knew a student of Jorge Bolet . He said Bolet had a greater technique than Horowitz and those who really know about such things knew . That statement used to hold weight for me .Now I say so what ? Now I enjoy personalities and subjectivity ; even in Tokyo on the wrong drugs- Horowit's ear and tonal variety is more thrilling than almost any pianist . Volodos amongst many seems to have this ability too .I've discovered now that unknown serious pianists often provide unforgettable performances where records have to be correct are often not interesting . I think you can know a piece of music for forty years but the music doesn't actually come from you so that a composer might have a different idea about his work . I don't think anyone has a more valid idea of any type of art work no matter how well they know the era . I think like jazz shows you're always bringing yourself to the work . I certainly dont think Schnabel would agree with Maria Yudina's last Schubert Sonata but it's my favorite . I think classical music will open up and Urtext will be seen for what it really is : just another way . I studied early with a woman who knew Ethel Leginska (Leschetitzky pupil ) another teacher studied like everybody with Nadia Boulanger and Cortot . He adored Cortot . I really know nothing about how to play piano but I think my musicianship is unique . Buniatishvili seems like the Sun . Cortot means not very much . Everyday I hear artists who I think stand comparison with the so called Golden era ..As a child in love with note spinning and variation of sound and personality I was in love with Hofmann .Now I listen to LangLang who can do or say anything ;hot to cold in a millisecond -impresses me more Moisewitsch , Lhevinne, Sauer , (the Godowsky in his 2 Schubert recordings might give us some idea how really alive and knowledgable he truly was were unique . I think the world of ,Arrau I heard twice in Los angeles in the 1970's but I didnt know how to listen then Argerich and Sokolov but Buniatishvili.