After three years ‘vegetating’ in New York, Béla Bartók produced a handful of late great pieces. A dying man’s birthday gift to his wife, his often easygoing and playful last piano concerto is, perhaps, my favourite concerto of all time… Listening time 35 mins.… Listen
What’s in a name? Not much it seems. An ‘Intermezzo’ is often a short piece that breaks up something bigger… but Brahms used it as his go to name for any short piano pieces where nothing else came to mind! In any case, these three Intermezzos for solo piano from late in Brahms’s life are beautiful, wistful, dreamy and give us a perfect break from whatever you’ve got going on… Like all Brahms pieces they’re musically perfect too. [21′]… Listen
Fans of Rachmaninov describe his music as lush, passionate, romantic. They’re right! His Cello Sonata is terrific. [17′]… Listen
Maurice Ravel wanted his Piano Concerto to be lighthearted and brilliant, and not aim at profundity or at dramatic effects… and then wrote one of the most beautiful slow movements there is! Intro here: Listen here: or on Spotify: Please rate and … Listen
When the organisers of the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889 invited gamelan players from Indonesia, they introduced French composers to a whole world of new and exciting possibilities and a new direction in music. Debussy led the way and his … Listen
Schubert wrote some great music that hardly any of us know. In his penultimate Piano Sonata we eavesdrop on his search for answers and acceptance. [4 parts] The music: Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata No.20 in A D.959 1. Allegro 2. … Listen