What better way to begin a new year?
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Suite No. 5 in C minor for Unaccompanied Cello; Steven Isserlis (1958-, cello), live, New York, 2018
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lagniappe
random sights
last night, Oak Park, Illinois
timeless
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), Prelude No. 13
Victor Schiøler (1899-1967), piano (1956)
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Illinois
There are a handful of pianists whose performances I jump on immediately, no matter the piece. He’s one.
Daniil Trifonov (1991-), piano: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), “The Sleeping Beauty,” Op. 66 (Transcr. Pletnev), IV. Andante, published 7/26/25
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Illinois
what’s new (timeless, too)
In a hurry? Don’t miss the excerpt from Ravel’s lone string quartet (9:15-).
Takács Quartet (Edward Dusinberre, violin; Harumi Rhodes, violin; Richard O’Neill, viola; András Fejér, cello), live (Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in D minor, Op. 42: IV. Finale; Nokuthula Ngwenyama: Flow: III. Quark Scherzo; Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F major: II. Assez vif – très rythmé), Washington, D.C., published 7/7/25
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago (Columbus Park)
timeless
Ignaz Friedman (1882-1948), piano, 1936: Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), Nocturne No. 16 (E-flat major, Op. 55, No. 2)
Need a break from the unceasing cacophony?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Adagio in B Minor (K. 540); Grigory Sokolov (1950-, piano), live, Spain (San Sebastián), 2023
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
sounds of London
Leonkoro Quartet (Jonathan Schwarz, violin; Amelie Wallner, violin; Mayu Konoe, viola; Lukas Schwarz, cello), live, London, 11/21/24: Joseph Haydn (String Quartet in F major, Op. 50, No. 5 [“The Dream”]), 2:00-; Felix Mendelssohn (String Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44, No. 2), 22:30-; Giacomo Puccini (Chrisantemi), 53:00-
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, outside Chicago
serendipity
Bumped into this last night. Couldn’t take my ears off it. One of the finest performances of Bach’s keyboard music I’ve heard.
Johann Sebastian Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1, No. 1-12
Sara Daneshpour (piano), 2024
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
never enough
Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), Prelude No. 15 (“Raindrop”); Daniil Trifonov (1991-), piano
alone
Giacinto Scelsi (1905-1988), Un Adieu (c. 1978); Marianne Schroeder (1949-, piano), 1992
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Illinois (Conservatory)
music clip of the day 