Number 8 is a special one for me.
“Evgeny Kissin & Kremerat Balitca 'Mozart Piano Concertos 20 &
27'”.
Before I started writing this I asked
myself, “How does one describe pure music?”. And before you ask,
yes I do sound pompous when I talk to myself. But I could not find an
answer to my original question. I could talk about the technical
aspect of it, but I always thought that was boring. I could talk all
flowery and poetic about it, but then I would sound even more
pompous. So if you don't mind I'm going to flounder through hoping to
catch a glimmer of this brilliance in the blog.
Let me start with Evgeny Kissin. This
man is a genius, and I don't use that word lightly. In my opinion, to
use that word a person has to be either truly innovated in their
field or perfected their art. Kissin defiantly perfected his art. He
was playing the piano by ear and improvise by the ripe old age of 2.
Ten years later at the age of 12 he played Chopin's concertos 1 &
2 at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory.
I have listen to many piano virtuosos
all of them great. Here is the problem that I hear with almost all of
them. They are really amazing at playing one period of classical
music. Most of them are brilliant at playing the Romantic period.
When playing Beethoven or List they sound amazing. When they play
Mozart or Bach not so much. Kissin isn't like that, he can play any
piece of piano music he wants and he makes it sound beautiful.
I'm going from one genius to another,
Mozart. I don't think I need to describe why I think Mozart is a
genius. Even if you are not a fan of him, no one can deny the
influence musical history. He is my favorite composer. I had a hard
time choosing a piece from Mozart, there is only 626 pieces of music.
I thought first to pick my favorite recording of his Requiem. Then I
thought I would love one of his operas, there is a great version Don
Giovanni that I love. However this recording, even only being two
years old, is the one I listen to the most.
Mozart piano concerto 27 is a lively a
moving piece. It always gives me a feeling of running. Not running
away from something or towards something, but just running for the
joy of it. Then it slows down and it feels like you sit to take
breath. You feel your heart beat and you take a breath. Afterward, to
get up and run again. I can't describe it better than that. I know
it's only what I picture in my head, but there it is.
Mozart piano concerto 20 is not as
upbeat as most of his music. It begins with a heavy orchestral that
makes it feel almost as if something ominous is chasing you. Yet the
entire time the piano part gives you a since of hope. Which the
orchestra starts to follow along with. It feel like Mozart is trying
to say the power of positive thinking can change anything. Kremerat
Balitca does the best job with this orchestra I have heard in this
piece since the movie Amadeus.
This is a must have for me on any
desert island.
