Hello world,
1.1:
It’s been crazy busy! Packing and moving are happening in the middle of the global pandemic. My anxiety level is going up for unforeseen and unexpected matters such as the moving element itself, arranging movers, and etc.
1.2:
The music of Beethoven has been soothing during this personally and globally anxious time. I have been listening to the 1st Piano Concerto from the beginning of the month. I shared a post about what I was listening exactly a year ago on my blog: Click here to read. One year ago, I surely listened to a lot of Bach, and that taste came back in December when a friend of mine recommended a few cantatas by Bach. [I enjoyed watching live recordings of them on the Netherlands Bach Society’s YouTube Channel]
1.3:
I always loved listening to this album particularly because of Zimerman’s poetic and dreamy interpretation.
Anyway … another reason I started listening to the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 is that Krystian Zimerman’s recording came out. Growing up, I obsessively listened to his recordings of Chopin’s Ballads, Liszt’s Sonata, Debussy’s Preludes, Brahms’ Concerti, and Beethoven’s Concerti.
… and his new Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 came out. Later this year, the whole complete set will come out … !
2.1:
I went down the rabbit hole of the first concerto. I did not do much research on the piece, but I found out who else recorded the piece. I found a few favorite ones, and I would love to share them with you all.
Alfred Brendel / Sir Simon Rattle / Wiener Philharmoniker
Alfred Brendel / James Levine / Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Mitsuko Uchida / Sir Simon Rattle / Berliner Philharmoniker
Mitsuko Uchida / Kurt Sanderling / Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Alicia de Larrocha / Riccardo Chailly / RSO Berlin
3.1:
Do check out Zimerman’s older recording of the same piece. He is playing and conducting, which brings more “chamber-music-like” feel to the piece. There’s also a video version in addition to the audio only, so do enjoy!