The average listener will never have heard most of the music on these discs, sets of ... more
variations Beethoven composed in his piano-playing days for casual use. All but one lack opus numbers, which means Beethoven didn't take them very seriously. There are no hidden masterpieces here, at least not in Ogdon's nine selections. But the music has charm and grace, and gives dedicated Beethoven-lovers a chance to experience the composer at his most informal. Ogdon, a great fire-breathing virtuoso during his brief prime, plays this music with modesty and subtlety, never inflating the music beyond its boundaries. These previously-rare recordings (if they were ever issued at all) expand our understanding of a great, tragic pianist, brought down at the height of his career by mental illness. The Gilels performances, of somewhat better-known music, are rescued from their original use as fillers on concerto LPs. Gilels plays the almost famous 32 Variations in C Minor with wonderful drama, and captures the humour in the "Turkish March" Variations. With EMI's excellently remastered sound and super-bargain price, this set is well worth acquiring for anyone interested in the music. --Leslie Gerber
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Advantages: Excellent physcological study of character. Disadvantages: Grim, brutal, shocking scenes of a sexual nature.
The Piano Teacher
The Piano Teacher is a subtitled film of the Phycological Drama genre. Released in 2001 it is also known by it's French name La pianiste. Directed by Michael Haneke, it is based on the novel by Die Klavierspielerin which won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 2004.
Graphic in it's content this film delves into the darker side of sex, including fetishism, bondage, and sado/masochism. It also touches
on the delicate subject of genitalia self harm. This is not a light film, and is not recommended for family viewing. ~
I will be reviewing FILM ONLY
Synopsis
This is a tale revolving around a professor at a music conservatory in Vienna. Her name is Erica and she is played played by the wonderful actress Isabelle Huppert, Who has an impressive 75+ films under her belt. Erica is ...
Morning_Becomes_Electra 20.01.2008 (25.01.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Piano Teacher
Advantages: interesting story, excellent acting, Disadvantages: expected more
I went into this movie knowing about the oscars it had won and having been recommended by several friends, I expected something good.
As a fan of period films, this movie is set in the 1850's, New Zealand. Ada (Holly Hunter) is a mute who with her young daughter Flora(Ann Paquin) braves the dangerous journey across the world. We see the movie start with them landing with all their belongings, including the priceless piano. Life begins in the leafy forest with her new Husband, Stewart (Sam Neill). Life is not what she expected in this remote area. Things take a turn for the worse when her new Husband sells her piano a neighbour, George (Harvey Keitel). George however, tells Ada she may earn back her piano by giving him piano lessons. Through the lessons, we see a turbulant but intreging relationship form.
This movie wasn't what I ...
rafomania 16.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Piano (DVD)
Advantages: A great film to watch, a very emotional film which is gripping to watch.. Disadvantages: none
The film, The Piano, is a film that tells a story about a young woman’s journey from oppression to freedom. The main character, Ada McGrath (Holly Hunter), is sold off in marriage to marry Alisdair Stewart (Sam Neil) and is thus sent away from her home to New Zealand. She is accompanied by her 9 year old daughter, Flora (Anna Paquin) and her beloved piano.
When Ada arrives on the beach of the New Zealand coast she is dressed in black dress and bonnet standing beside her beloved piano (her daughter on top), Ada provides a stark contrast with the vast backdrop of the crashing sea and grey skies. Ada has not spoken ever since her lover was killed by lightning. She communicates through her piano and sign language, understood by her daughter. The way in which she uses the piano reflects her mood in a very strong and clear manner ...
