by Mark Ainley /
Feature / Recordings /
2 Comments /
October 12, 2022
Among the amazing French pianists who were regrettably long overlooked but are fortunately enjoying a posthumous revival today is the fabled Agnelle Bundervoët (pronounced ‘Bunder-wet’). The Lazare-Lévy pupil produced a handful of recordings in the
William Kapell at 100
3 Comments /
September 20, 2022
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The 1950s saw some of the most promising young classical musicians die prematurely, seeming to wipe out a new generation of leading interpreters: among those lost are Ginette Neveu (in 1949), Rosa Tamarkina, Dinu Lipatti,
Carl Friedberg at 150
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September 18, 2022
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Among the most remarkable aspects of recorded history is the capacity to hear both composers and those who were associated with them play some of the most beloved music ever written. It is particularly insightful
Solomon at 120
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August 9, 2022
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The British pianist Solomon Cutner (primarily known just as Solomon) was born August 9, 1902, making this his 120th birthday. While I have long planned a comprehensive page with detailed biographical material, this anniversary caught
Severin Eisenberger
2 Comments /
July 24, 2022
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We are fortunate and privileged to be able to hear the playing of many esteemed musicians born and trained in the 19th century, including some who chose not to record officially. It can be hard
The Piano Files at 13
2 Comments /
July 8, 2022
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On the 13th anniversary of my Facebook page, I thought I would share some of the highlights of this past year’s activities at The Piano Files. When I started the page, it was the early
Jacqueline Eymar at 100
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June 30, 2022
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Jacqueline Eymar was born June 23, 1922, making this year her centenary. Unfortunately this event seems to have been overlooked, just as she as a pianist has been largely neglected despite a not-insignificant number of
Alfred Cortot plays Beethoven
3 Comments /
April 14, 2022
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Alfred Cortot had a long career with the gramophone, having produced a vast amount of solo, chamber, and concerto recordings over the course of four decades (with some overlooked discs accompanying soprano Félia Litvinne predating
Bartók The Pianist
1 Comment /
March 23, 2022
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Bartók playing at the Proms in London in 1936
The legendary composer Béla Bartók was a superb pianist, but his standing as an interpreter has often been overlooked due to his fame as a composer. Those
Walking Up the Mountain Track – An Enlightening Publication
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December 2, 2021
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The greatest performers in musical history were focused on their craft from the context of a wider landscape – they were more than ‘performers’, weaving their musical expression on a much wider canvas than is