I’m excited to officially introduce a new series to highlight what people in the business are listening to, reading and/or watching. I just worked with an extraordinary young pianist, Anna Polonsky. She gave me two lists, both of them great, and for someone so young, it is amazing how far back her favorites go, definitely some surprises for me anyway….
First things first, she performed with us an exquisite rendition of the Mozart 21 K467 concerto. The reviewer agreed:
Guest artist Anna Polonsky then joined the orchestra and maestro Ron Spigelman for a riveting account of Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major.” The petite pianist displayed brilliant technique throughout the complex piece, especially in the speedy outer movements. Her lighter-than-air touch captured the buoyancy and humor of the two allegros, then lent a hushed delicacy to the heart-stopping beauty of the famous andante. The pianist’s interplay with the strings and woodwinds was captivating here, as was the ballerina-like grace of her physical movements.
Her first list reaches way back into the past. She remarked how many of these artists are her favorite interpreters of Schumann her favorite composer. I have included links to samples and video, and as she is an avid runner, she has a very different play-list for that activity. I have included it also at the bottom. Enjoy! (her remarks are in italics)
Elisabeth Schumann: Mozart Opera & Viennese Operetta Arias
Sample of – Mein Herr Marquis
Kathleen Ferrier: Love, just LOVE her! Try Schumann’s Frauenliebe & Leben
Sample of – Er, Der Herrlichste Von Allen
Charles Panzera… a Swiss baritone, recorded Faure…and Schumann.
Sample of – Devant La Maison
Willem Mengelberg conducting Mahler 4!
Sample of 2nd movement
Tito Schipa – watch him singing Mappari from Flotow’s Martha
Fyodor Chaliapin – Video
One might ask, what about Pianists?:
Vladimir Sofronitsky – hear him or watch a CD cover retrospectiveIgnaz Friedman – walking in central park! – A great recording
Now for list number 2…………..
Anna’s Running Music:
1. Podcasts… Not technically music, but best when running in loud traffic!NPR’s “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me“, Slate podcasts, the ABC News Shuffle, the Poets.org “Poetcast”.
2. Old-time jazz:
Ella, Nina Simone, Johnny Hodges, Grappelli (the Django + Grappelli album is true art).
3. Various Russian bards.
4. Jeff Buckley, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, complete Beatles. Strictly mainstream, as you can see…………….
Maybe once they were! Great Lists, thanks Anna.
PS. My very first On the Go was with Larry Loh in this post
Interesting the age of many of her favorites.