Last Thursday - part 1

Last Thursday, the water in our building was shut off from 9-5 for maintenance.  Happily, a local museum was open with time stamped tickets.

And for those of you, like me, who always wondered about this...

Incarnation

 

 

Peace & Quiet

After all that music, it's nice to have a lazy, quiet day at home.

 

Encore!

OK, just one more.  The Liszt/Paganini "La Campanella" is reputed to be the most difficult piece to play on the piano.  Here are two more astounding talents: Evgeny Kissin at the Proms in Royal Albert Hall in 2008 and Lang Lang in Caracas in 2017.  In the first performance, the audience gasps upon Kissin announcing the piece, and both pianists display the effort involved by the end of the performance--even Lang who is very cool and effortless on stage.

Piano Finale

Let's finish the week off with this medley of clips showing the virtuosity of Wang and Trifonov from earlier in their careers, some great keyboard angles.

 

Speaking of Style

The brilliant Yuja Wang has also developed a reputation for over-the-top fashion on stage.  One critic wrote: "How can she even walk in those heels, much less work the pedals."  I dunno, she seems to do a pretty good job with Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." 

Differing Styles

Scriabin's Etude Op. 8, no. 12 is a strikingly emotional piece.  The performance by the old grand master Horowitz contrasts in more than simply musical style with the contemporary powerhouse Daniil Trifonov.

 

Another Favorite

We seem to be embarking on a piano theme at this point, not doubt inspired by the recent sheep concert.  Another favorite not often heard is the "Variations on a Theme from Bizet's Carmen" by the illustrious Vladimir Horowitz.  The quip is that he wanted to compose a piece that only he was competent to play, and he actually played about 5 different interpretations throughout his storied career. This is my favorite from the first televised concert from Carnegie Hall, I believe, 1968.  I actually remember watching it on TV at the time; even the cameramen who were on stage, wore tuxedos.

Probably the best performance in history, though the brilliant contemporary artist, Yuja Wang, can I think give him a run for his money.  The blistering pace she takes at the end is amazing.

Philip Glass: Études, No. 6

I only encountered this stunning piece last week, and now I can't get enough of it.  I'll have to explore more of Glass's work.  The performance is by the acclaimed Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson who, among other things, has both absolute pitch and synesthesia, whereby he associates keys with colors. For example, he reportedly associates F-minor with blue, A-major with yellow, and B-major with purple.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Saturday Stroll

Yesterday the high was right about at 80º (26º C) with quite moderate humidity.  A lovely day for a walk along the Potomac. 

Beauty in Simplicity

 

Today's Moment of Zen

My Kinda Place

Meanwhile, at a very fashionable boutique in Taipei... 

Fashion

Here is my current mask wardrobe: 1 Villanova, 1 Duke, 1 perky & very comfortable, and very much as Coco would have it, 1 little black mask (a must for evening wear, not like there's any place to go).  I even figured out a clever, if I do say so myself, place to put them.

Le Roi Est Mort

 Today is the anniversary of the death of Louis XIV, the Sun King.  Weep appropriately. 

Bewildering Relatives

Some fun facts to know and tell:

My father's name was Ed and my mother's Lil.  My father's sister, also named Lil, married a man also named Ed.  It was no problem for me and my brothers, and for the children of the other Lil & Ed, but all the other cousins always had to specify which Aunt Lil and Uncle Ed they were speaking about.

On my mother's side, her sister Ann married a man named Pete, and her brother John married Pete's sister Maggie; a brother and sister married a sister and a brother.  I am, therefore, related to numerous cousins on that side in two different degrees, first cousins are at the same time first cousins once removed, or some such.

Also on my mother's side, a certain trait runs through the family: we have trouble distinguishing right from left and are somewhat ambidextrous (I write with my right and eat with my left).  I'm the only one in my immediate family that has it.  A few cousins have it, and a couple of them took the Mensa test and passed.  I never did, but it does appear that genius, so to speak, runs in my family.