Today's music on BBC Radio 3

Almost every morning, one of the first things I do when I wake up is to put on BBC Radio 3. It's good for the children - for us too- to start our day with music. Though I must say that quite often the music played is not the best thing one would like to listen to; I cannot, for instance, bring myself to listen to opera arias or Wagner at 7 in the morning - it just seems insane, doesn't it?

It seems to me that the best music one can start one's day with is baroque possibly because there is a purity in the sound that helps one dissolve the dim and shadowy world of dreams and darkness and make a fresh start into the world of light and reality.
But today, I heard this beautiful Adagio from Spartacus, composed by Aram Khachaturian and, while listening, my memory went immediately to the latter's Piano Concerto - one of the very first piano concertos to penetrate my ears and heart.

It is a unique concerto, in the sense that it's a world on its own, it does not belong (melodically speaking) to any particular style or genre. The Second Movement (Andante con anima) is really sublime. The melody played (in unison) by the piano is heart-breaking, so beyond words and so full of ineffable, passionate feelings - it's really pointless to go on.
Here is a good performance - with Peter Katin and the LSO.



This was one of my favorite pieces of music when I was a radio producer, ages ago, I used to put it on often, and everyone loved it.

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I had a concert last Monday - with Spyros Souladakis - we played Hadjidakis and some of my own transcriptions of Spanoudakis's music. Also, Gershwin's Rsapsody in Blue. Went ok I think, around 70 people came. This coming Sunday, another small concert, this time with 2 flutes (Telemann, Vivaldi, Bach). We are not well prepared I think, but it seems that it will be a rather informal venue so I am trying not to get too stressed about the whole thing.

Frederic Chiu recordings of Prokofiev Piano Music

Frederic Chiu is, I think, the only pianist who has recorded the complete piano works of Sergei Prokofiev (Harmonia Mundi). I really cannot imagine what stamina, strenght and courage is required to carry out this huge project - and time of course. But the result is definitely succesful. I did not manage to hear all the works, but I did listen to the 2nd and 4th Sonatas, as well as Op.12 and 32. There is a distinct "Prokofievan" quality in Chiu's sound; he has captivated the complexity of Prokofiev's musical language very well: his sarcastic, often harsh and mocking tone, his clarity, tenderness, strength, and percussive sound.

Listening to this music, one realizes what an extraordinary composer Prokofiev was... He has inspired me probably more than any other composer I've ever "met". I seem to "understand" his music - and I am not sure I can explain that... Let me just say that there is music I simply cannot grasp: Scriabin, for instance, or Bartok. But with Prokofiev, everything makes sense to me..

Last night, I listened to his Op.12 again - Ten Pieces for piano. The Allemande I found amazingly bold, with a subtle dancing melodic "statement" that cannot be easily discerned but which, for that very reason, is quite unique. I actually decided to play that piece. The final Scherzo is unparalleled... (I've already played his "atmospheric" Legend, around 9 years ago).
Chiu's performance of these pieces is the best I' ve ever heard, I think. In particular, his Scherzo is really breathtaking!