Friedmann jouant Mendelssohn, c’est d’une beauté telle qu’on ne se lasse pas de l’écouter. Une forme de sensiblité musicale qui s’est aujourd’hui perdue.
Brilliant! I have Friedman in only one recording - on EMI with Huberman playing a Beethoven Violin Sonata. In that case the balance is off, with the piano too loud for the violin, which is a pity, but one senses a really grand performance all the same. Funny Friedman story. Before my Norwegian grandparents married [during WW II] in Oslo, my grandmother thought it would be nice to take my grandfather to a piano recital played by Friedman. She was a deeply cultured lady, appreciating literature in English, German and Norwegian, all styles of music including the classical, as well as being an accomplished painter in oils, and amazingly also a brilliant tennis player [under 16 champion of Norway one year], and later a phenomenal golf player! Also a competitive rower in her youth - they threw away the mould when they made her!. But sadly my grandfather was not impressed and as far as I know they never went to another concert together. Such a shame as I am sure that my grandmother would not have gone to any concert without him after that. So she had to make do with radio after that. It is amazing to think of Friedman visiting Oslo to play. Oslo was not the last word in concert giving, unlike Copenhagen for example! I am so grateful for your transfers and uploads of performances that otherwise would remain unheard, if legendary. Best wishes from George
Thanks George. Friedman records have always been relatively common here, so I have a good selection. When I wanted to demonstrate something to a friend about playing Mendelssohn, Friedman was the obvious place to begin. It's easy to say that his complete output is available on Naxos - but there are no classical record shops left in Sydney. As a result, I no longer buy new CDs and I don't know what is currently available. Rather a shame, though good for the budget! Thanks for the story. I always like one told by a friend of taking his boss to a concert of a famous pianist, only to find that the boss went to sleep - during, of all things, Kreisleriana!!
@@vintagesounds3878 I had to revisit this one as well. Just so stunningly subtle, so evocative, and withal so perfectly played on a technical level as well. A real treasure trove. Thanks from George
@@georgejohnson1498 I can understand why! I just love the Songs Without Words, but I don't love all the performances I hear on record!! The Venetian Gondola Song provided me a couple of days ago with some good examples of the variety of performance styles, as I was playing through several versions during the course of a discussion with a friend who is learning the piece. The one I least liked was of a prominent pianist who played metronomically - and too fast. One that really grabbed me was a phone recording of my friend's teacher: slower, atmospheric and full of well-judged but obvious rubato that created tension/ expectation that was totally absent in the fast waltz version. Having said that, I know which of the two would win a piano competition nowadays and which one wouldn't even get a place! Sad, isn't it?
@@vintagesounds3878 Technical perfection is a musical mirage. You might as well get a computer music reader, and a Steinway sample pack, if technical perfection really were the point. Best wishes from George
