I have been a lifelong admirer of British music. Composers like Arnold Bax ( whose sonatas and 1st symphony in its pianoversion I recorded ), Edward Elgar, Arthur Bliss, Frederic Delius, Vaughan Williams, Granville Bantock, Ernest Moeran, George Dyson to name a few always meant a lot to me. Here is one I never heard […]
Norabakken is one of 2 buildings of the Barratt Due Music Institute in Oslo. It’s where the pianists sit and practice, eat and somehow seem to live. A great place, unusual and despite some unfinished renovation work ( a euphemism for the state the building is in ) I wouldn’t want to change it for any […]
For German speaking folks : the great Austrian cabarettist Josef Hader has produced a 2 part dark black comedy about hospitals. He plays a pathologist and it is the usual wild Austrian scenario that goes with it: eccentric characters, death,love, misery,cranky women,useless men… A great achievement and once more: for top quality TV one has […]
I had two teachers in my life that influenced me a great deal. Here comes one of them : Jacob Lateiner, with whom I studied at the Julliard School in a masters program for 2 years. I used to have lessons with him as well before and after that in Europe. We had met at […]
The great director here answering 12 lighthearted, unusual questions. Enjoy !! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpniYxRjX3o
The Austrians have not only some of the best European contemporary Art Cinema ( Ulrich Seidl , Michael Haneke ), but also produce superb TV series over the last decades. When compared with the many flat and ‘safe’ German TV productions , which often are poor in originality, low on acting talent and relying on the lowest […]
Needless to say this: there is no ‘crisis’ in contemporary music composing, there never was. Its a myth perpetuated by those who lack curiosity, an open mind and the will to say Good Bye to perceived wisdoms. If anything it is astonishing how many truly amazing composers are around, during our life time. For example Unsuk […]
He was just one of many splendid pianists of this truly Golden Era…what charm and poise….enjoy !!!
Easily the most beautiful and unspoilt country in Europe Norway reminds one very much of New Zealand: both countries are far off any centre, have very similar beauty of nature and seem to be spared from overpopulation and other unfortunate developments such as the ones happening right now in Germany. Here is a clip that shows […]
You tube is an incredible resource and one gets used to it, but from time one finds truly outstanding channels. For example a channel called “MusicProf78” offers a vast library of extremely rare old 78’s, and neatly organised in folders. My favourite one is the Columbia Black Label Collection ( 116 numbers ) but see and […]