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Nelson Freire (1944-2021) RIP

The marvelous Brazilian pianist, Nelson Freire, has died. He has been among the most admired pianists on the planet for 60 years. I own a handful of his discs and consider them must haves of the repertoire. It starts with Brahms OP5, the magnificent sonata #3. Nelson’s recording in 2017 on Decca has outstanding sound and his interpretation rivals any recorded. Next…

Vikingur Olafsson

How Did He Make It As A Professional Classical Pianist? Vikingur Olafsson is a professional classical pianist. He’s 37 and at the top of his game. It took him a while to get there. It’s an interesting path. If you’re a great pro athlete, stats usually make it clear that you’re a stand out. At 18 Bryce Harper hit 22 homeruns and…

Chopin: Brevity Is Beautiful

Nobody says more, in less time, than Chopin. Nobody understood the piano better. Nobody is a better architect of music for this magnificent instrument, which provides a full orchestra of colors. Chopin has dozens of pieces that are short, yet they’re fully formed and mature. As I learned to play several of these through the tutelage of my eminently patient teacher, Marlene…