repertoire of such composers as Pierre Boulez and Olivier Messiaen, though for Naxos she has recorded an excellent four-album cycle of the complete piano music of Erik Satie, (an album of highlights is also available). Staying with French music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Kormendi has also recorded this extensive and well-balanced programme of piano music which, from the ornamental and playful Deux Arabesques (1888-91) to three of the second set of late Préludes (1912-13) spans virtually Debussy's entire musical career. Central to the collection is the Suite Bergamasque, in which Debussy makes homage to various past musical forms, and Images I and II (separate works to the orchestral Images). Throughout, the recital requires considerable virtuosity, a sense of lyrical fantasy and the facility to capture Debussy's quixotic changes of mood and tempo. Kormendi responds with great flair, technical skill and not a little humour, such that her performances mix whimsy with tenderness and beguiling melody. It is a most appealing anthology. --Gary S. Dalkin
repertoire of such composers as Pierre Boulez and Olivier Messiaen, though for Naxos she has recorded an excellent four-album cycle of the complete piano music of Erik Satie, (an album of highlights is also available). Staying with French music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Kormendi has also recorded this extensive and well-balanced programme of piano music which, from the ornamental and playfulDeux Arabesques(1888-91) to three of the second set of latePréludes(1912-13) spans virtually Debussy's entire musical career. Central to the collection is theSuite Bergamasque, in which Debussy makes homage to various past musical forms, andImagesI and II (separate works to the orchestralImages). Throughout, the recital requires considerable virtuosity, a sense of lyrical fantasy and the facility to capture Debussy's quixotic changes of mood and tempo. Kormendi responds with great flair, technical skill and not a little humour, such that her performances mix whimsy with tenderness and beguiling melody. It is a most appealing anthology.--Gary S. Dalkin
Advantages: Beautifully hypnotic music from the master of floating ambient piano Disadvantages: It is a very short CD indeed
...Effortlessly graceful and dreamlike, Music for 3 Pianos is quintessentially Harold Budd. Admittedly his two partners in music should not be ignored but it is clearly Budd's input that is the greatest: the floating, hauntingly minimalist piano style and lyrical drift is his alone. I have nothing by either Ruben Garcia or Daniel Lentz, though Lentz has recorded on the Cold Blue Music label (as I believe did Budd briefly in the early 80s), the music of which mirrors Budd's slightly in its haunting simplicity and minimalist approach, with soloist often multi-tracking their recordings (similarly they are usually about 20 minutes per CD). In many ways Music for 3 Pianos sounds like a multi-tracked album. The three pianos could often be Budd's playing overlaid on two base recordings to generate additional depth.
Thus the sound...
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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. ~
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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...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
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...
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helpful 27.07.2004
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