The music on this album is drawn from the four volumes of the complete piano music of Erik ... more
Satie performed by the Hungarian pianist Klara Kormendi. Recorded at the Italian Institute in Budapest, the small acoustic is eminently suited to this intimate music, while Kormendi plays with considerable assurance, if lacking just a little of the fluid fantasy Satie really demands. Given that there are 36 pieces on the disc, it is clear that these are miniatures, and what elegantly crafted miniatures they are. Occupying a place in French piano music between the refined lyricism of Fauré and the spare impressionism of Debussy, these works have a beguiling gem-like perfection and lightness of touch. Satie, who studied with d'Indy and Roussel, sets out to charm with deceptively simple, ingenious compositions, often a subtle twinkle in his eye. His nonsensical titles and performance directions appear as a joking defence of a famously insecure man, uncertain of his standing besides Ravel and Stravinsky--who once described the composer as "the oddest person he had ever known"--but also the most "consistently witty". The composer's best-known pieces, the lovely three Gymnopédies, are beautifully presented, yet all the music here really has immense appeal. --Gary S. Dalkin
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Advantages: Excellent physcological study of character. Disadvantages: Grim, brutal, shocking scenes of a sexual nature.
the piano with excellence is evident, and although she trains them to this stage of perfection, she becomes jealous of their hard earned achievement when they have reached their pinnacle. Erica is highly strung and sexually charged, and she is also a bitter and vindictive individual. One day she meets a promising young male pianist at a recital, by the name of Walter (Magimel Kramer). Walter is a handsome,arrogant, and self confident young man, and there is an instantaneous strong mutual bond, a meeting of minds, and a deep physical attraction, and she sees something in him that she seems to have been searching for. They talk and discover they both share the love of the works of Schumann and Schubert. This is a further attraction for Erica, and an unhealthy obsession towards him begins to take shape in her mind. ~
Erica teaches ...
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: Excellent selection and performance of piano works by Frank Bridge Disadvantages: A few pieces are not very interesting
Frank Bridge was an early twentieth century English composer. His works are not widely known, but are played increasingly, and more recordings are becoming available.
Some of his later works, such as his piano sonata, were influenced by Scriabin. This CD is the second of three, and covers a wide range of styles, but mostly in his earlier style.
Most of the pieces on this CD are fairly easy to listen to, and can be enjoyed by the majority of classical music lovers.
The opening piece, Etude Rhapsodique, is an etude appropriately played by Jacobs, in the grand manner (of Liszt and other nineteenth century virtuosi), full of late nineteenth century panache, but with Bridge's own distinctive voice.
The second piece, Berceuse, is played beautifully, a gentle piece as the name would suggest (a lullaby) but again with Bridge's own ...
