2020 – Page 2 – The Piano Files

Jan Smeterlin plays Chopin

by Mark Ainley / Feature / Preview / Recordings / Uncategorized / 2 Comments / June 19, 2020

I am delighted to have written the liner notes for a superb new release of Jan Smeterlin’s incredible 1954 recording of Chopin’s Nocturnes, which also features some other recordings in the two-disc set. Here is

Claudio Arrau plays Liszt (literally) in 1935

by Mark Ainley / Feature / Recordings / 4 Comments / May 29, 2020

A phenomenal series of uploads was made to YouTube in 2020: 3 clips of the legendary Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau in a 1935 Mexican movie in which he portrays Franz Liszt! The film ‘Sueños de

Remembering Joseph Villa

by Mark Ainley / Feature / Recordings / 5 Comments / April 13, 2020

On the 25th anniversary of the death of the great American pianist Joseph Villa, I am creating this page dedicated to him and his artistry. The passing of this great pianist on April 13, 1995

World Piano Day 2020

by Mark Ainley / Feature / Recordings / No Comments / March 28, 2020

Happy World Piano Day! This celebratory day is held on the 88th day of the year (nice idea, since the piano has 88 keys), which is usually March 29 – but since we had Leap Year

Dame Myra Hess

by Mark Ainley / Feature / Recordings / No Comments / February 25, 2020

Our perceptions of many artists are formed by the recordings we’ve heard, biographical details that have been publicized, and photographs that we’ve seen – and as always, while these can give us a snapshot of

Musings on Recordings, Concerts, Performance, and Interpretation

by Mark Ainley / Feature / 9 Comments / February 10, 2020

His Master’s Voice Recording technology has had a profound impact on the musical world. Before we could preserve sound documents, music needed to be played and heard (ie, experienced) ‘live’, whether in the home, a salon,

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