Let all mortal flesh keep silence...

Holy Week, the deepest and most beautiful week of the year is approaching! In the Orthodox Church, there is such a vast richness of hymns, music, meanings. If only I could even give a hint of all that - but, alas, it's not possible.

Musically speaking, the best example of the profound beauty of so-called Byzantine music is a hymn sung on Great Saturday morning. I think it's an ancient hymn. Here are the words:
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; ponder nothing earthly-minded, for the King of kings, the Lord of lords, will give to all the faithful His own self for heavenly food. Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way, the Principalities, the Authorities, the Cherubim with countless eyes, the six-winged Seraphim, veil their faces to the presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry: Alleluia

The best version (known to me) is written by Iakovos Protopsaltis and it is sung by the Hellenic Byzantine Choir (directed by Lykourgos Angelopoulos). It's such a moving hymn, especially when put in the particular context of the day and time it is sung. On the other hand, the music is not sentimental, yet it conveys with great power and solemnity a spiritual intensity which, to me, goes beyond feelings.


I know that this music seems very strange to those who are not familiar to its sound. But it's worth spending some time discovering it. And this particular hymn is a very good introduction.

Back to Bach...

After quite a long period of silence, I am so glad to be able to write something again here... It's been (and still is in a way) a difficult period for me. And, at times such as these, one realises the importance of music - the healing power that emanates from the beauty of sound.
The only thing that I really wanted to practise during this period was JS Bach. I am working on the 2nd English Suite (in A minor) which is, in my view, the best of the set. I played it 5 years ago, and I always wanted to play it again. This is the thing with Bach's music: one never grows tired of it; sooner or later, one will come back to it.

The 2nd Suite is a very demanding piece of music, one has to keep the tempo in absolute control, especially in the long introductory prelude. There are some really fascinating moments: the slow, thoughful Sarabande, the playful Bourre II, the exciting Gigue... Let's hope that I'll be able to play it in public soon.

Here is Bouree I and II and the final Gigue, played by Anatoly Vedernikoff in a really excellent recording. I don't know many things about him except that he was a good friend with Richter.

The Goldberg Variations - Live Recording made last January

This is a live recording made (without my knowing it...), from a concert given last January, at the"Parnassos" Concert Hall. Around 10 months later, the person who had made the recording gave me the DVD! The sound quality is poor, and the video camera was placed quite far away from the piano but still, I think the result is ok. I was playing in a (then) brand-new Steinway Concert Grand - I think it was possibly the second time this piano was played. It's a magnificent instrument, absolutely worthy of its reputation, and I remember being overjoyed at the occasion. Musically speaking, the result is mediocre (as usual) but nonetheless, it's an sincere effort to play a work of gigantic dimensions, so at the end of the day I am quite satisfied... In any case, here is the recording (divided in 5 parts) and all comments are welcome!...

Here is Part I



Part II



Part III



Part IV



Part V

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.

***

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!

Playing music in the background...

This was the first time, I think, that I played "officially" in the background. I was asked to play for a reception, while the guests were having their drinks. It was awkward in the beginning, to say the least! Being a concert-pianist, I wasn't used to playing withe no one to paying any attention! I also felt a bit lonely at times, having the impression that no link whatsoever was created between me and my audience. Apparently this was not true, as almost everyone in the end came to thank me - so I suppose they were listening!! Of course, I did not/would not play classical music; I played light music, Greek songs, movie themes, etc.

Today was the first cold Autumn day. I am so fond of this period of the year... There is a sweet melancholy in the air, there is a spirit of expectation for the coming year (despite the crisis!), and there is a silent anticipation of Christmas...

I think Tchaikovsky succeeded best in capturing this spirit of the Fall, in his "Months". These are 12 wonderful pieces, each one dedicated to a month of the year. Here is "October: Autumn Song", played by Alexei Sultanov, a Russian pianist who died after having suffered a stroke, at my age - 35.




Such a moving mixture of sweetness and sadness. A voice of desolation.

Prokofiev and various

Sergei Prokofiev is in my view one of the most interesting cases in the history of music. There is something fresh and original in his music, something truly unconventional; I was listening to his opus 32 (Four Pieces for Piano) and was amazed at the boldness and inventiveness of his musical writing. There is humor and sarcasm blended together with sentitiveness and tenderness.

I haven't written here for ages. The academic year began (September 24) with a nice solo recital at "Parnassos" concert hall which went well, except my Rachmaninoff (Moment Musical in E minor) which, for some reaons, was unsteady, with many wrong notes and a lack of character. It is the piece that I actually recorded in August, and I thought that this would be my best piece - yet the opposite happened! I really fail to understand sometimes what determines the "success" of a piece; one practices something for ages and ages and still the result is not satisfying.

I now plan for November another shared recital with my friend Spyros Souladakis, here at Holargos, where I live; this will be something different -Greek composers mostly, together with five of my transcriptions on Spanoudakis' music - the first time we'll play these in public.

A sweet Autumn day today, full of light and freshness.