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johnLee christian loves lifebpchurch and ltf plays the piano and the cello studies at raffles institution has a good time making music at RISE likes Chopin's music
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Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. For his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. -Psalm 1:1,2
1.18.2008 Russian Rondezvous!
First up was the Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol. For a rarely performed piece, it is highly entertaining. The composer's exploitation of each instrument's strengths was evident in the five distinct sections in the work. Pounding rhythms, exuberant solos, drum rolls, brass fanfares, a flamenco dance and a little bit of Spanish flare was exhibited in this wondrous composition - something not to be missed. Of course Lan Shui was extremely enthusiastic as usual, it's a good thing (: Next came the highlight: the Rachmaninov Concerto No. 1 - played by Simon Trpcesky. (He has a nice website at www.simontrpcesky.com) Anyway, it was a real eye-opener (also because enzhao and I wanted to dose off after they took so long for the piano to be moved in and all.) But, truly, it was a wonderful experience looking at that virtuoso with his beautiful fingers, dancing, trashing about. The bombastic sections were exhibited with exuberance, and the tiny, lyrical sections were emotionally charged. The whole package was so brilliant, so sublime! And totally russian. The 1st movement started with that well known F# brass fanfare. Then came the huge mountains of chords by the piano. Little commentaries followed by the piano, sometimes leading, sometimes echoing the orchestra. I loved the soulful melodies best. Especially the one near the start where the pianist has to pick out notes as the melody and accompany himself with the little waves of running water. All of it was really fluid, seamless, and beautiful. It was also definitely tiring. We saw Trpcesky wiping his persperation after the first movement. Huge work, that was. After that, he obliged with a small, simple encore - Tchaik's Autumn. Nice melodic work there! After the intermission (where enzhao and I started giving songs to "represent" people), we heard Stravinsky's Petrushka. Oh, that dark, dark tale of 3 puppets, of which one is killed and comes back to haunt the show. How morbid. Didn't like it much. It was interesting, though, as Stravinsky played around with leitmotifs. We were dead tired. And hungry. We got buns from breadtalk. I got one milo from Coffee and Toast. He got 8 slices of toast. Plus his buns. And his Milo. Mad guy, he is. We took the MRT at around 10.30. I got home at 10.45. He got home at 11+ i think. Haha. Sarah Chang's next! Sibelius Violin Concerto - many RISE people are attending it. That'll be fun! Tata for now (:
layout by: hilary header by: sealedcards kwek mu yi chang jonshin charmaine mags huixian nadia and one best friend who does not want his blog to be revealed. hrm. i wonder who. One of my favourite piano concertos! And my favourite Russian pianist. Can't find stuff like that all the time. Title: Concerto No.2 -- Composer: Rachmaninov -- Pianist: Evgeny Kissin -- Orchestra: BBC Symphony - Sir Andrew Davis All four movements of Schumann's Piano Quintet in Eb. Pure composing genius, I say. And Maisky's playing! Title: Quintet for Piano and Strings in E flat Major -- Composer: Schumann -- Performers: Violins: Renaud Capuçon, Sayaka Shoji; Viola: Lars Anders Tomter; Cello: Mischa Maisky Another one of my favourite piano concertos! And Yundi Li does it pretty well. Title: Piano Concerto No. 1 -- Composer: Chopin -- Pianist: Yundi Li My favourite violin concerto with David Oistrakh - I think he plays this piece better than Heifetz although Heifetz is superior technically. It's more soulful. Actually my fav. is the Hilary Hahn recording but they didnt give the HTML code. So sad. Title: Violin Concerto -- Composer: Sibelius -- Violinist: David Oistrakh The best cellist ever plays one of the nicest cello works ever written. Brilliant! Title: Cello Concerto in E Minor -- Composer: Elgar -- Cellist: Jacqueline Du Pre The Polonaise-Fantasie by Chopin. I'm playing this. Apparently I am suited to play this because of my style. That's what my teacher said. Go figure. It's beautiful anyway. Title: Polonaise-Fantasie -- Composer: Chopin -- Pianist: Spencer Myers I'm playing this too. Very Schumann-ish, which is nice. But still Chopin. Title: Ballade No. 2 -- Composer: Chopin -- Pianist: Zimerman One of my favourite violin pieces by the best violinist ever! Title: Introduction and Rondo Capriccio -- Composer: Saint-Saens -- Violinist: Jascha Heifetz |