Pianistic postscript: also born on January 5 (in 1920, he died on June 12, 1995) is Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Film of him playing Ravel’s Concerto in G with Celibidache & the LSO in Royal Festival Hall; undated. Also, a 1962 film of him playing Chopin.
“Frederic Chopin
Piano Sonata No 2 in B-flat minor, Op 35 0:12
Ballade No 1 in G minor Op 23 27:08
Andante spianato et Grande polonaise brillante, Op.22 36:35
Fantaisie in F minor, Op 49 50:08
Waltz in A-flat major, Op 69, No 1 “Valse de l’adieu” 1:03:38
Waltz in E-flat major, Op posthumous 1:14:06
Scherzo No 2 in B-flat minor. Op 31 1:17:15
Mazurka in A minor, Op 68, No 2 1:28:10
Mazurka in B minor, Op 33, No 4 1:31:34
Mazurka in D-flat major, Op 30, No 3 1:38:02
Berceuse in D-flat major, Op 57 1:41:35″
Wow, if the Ravel with Celibidache (great great maestro) wasn’t enough, then the Chopin is simply breathtaking. And Cziffra too, what a haul. Thanks!!!
http://www.colinscolumn.com/gyorgy-cziffra-at-the-bbc-1962-1963-complete-tv-broadcasts/
Oh, and Gilels too, such riches.
http://www.colinscolumn.com/emil-gilels-at-carnegie-hall-february-2-1969-recording-taken-from-lp/
Colin….so many thanks for alerting me to this, which I had no idea had been televised. Apart from the superb performance (and decent TV sound) it has a curious nostalgic twist for me.
I attended the RFH on numerous occasions, between roughly 1980 and 2012, with a dear friend who alas has abandoned concertising for health reasons. Our joint visits included Carlos Kleiber’s famous (or infamous?) LSO concert in 1981, and Claudio Abbado’s last London appearance, in 2011, featuring music by Mozart and Bruckner.
It was following the Kleiber evening (I think) that he proudly announced to me that he had booked another LSO engagement….with Celibidache and Michelangeli. I roared with laughter. Didn’t he know that he’d paid money for an event with not one, but TWO artists who invariably cancelled? What a waste….. since the chance of them both turning up was minimal. How wrong I was ……and here’s the proof. Bless you….this has made my week!
My pleasure Ian. (Although Celi rarely cancelled, even standing in for Karl Böhm at an LSO RFH concert, Brahms 3 & 1.) Colin
Fair point. Perhaps Celi had cancelled a couple of times around that date and so gained an unfair perspective in my mind?
Certainly I missed Bohm 3 times….although he was old and infirm by the late 70s….but substitutes included Jon Vickers and the aforementioned Kleiber, so I wasn’t complaining!
Still….thanks again. Keep well and keep safe.
Ian
The Jon Vickers concert was conducted by Andrew Davis. The Philharmonia was able to get Vickers, too. Böhm’s programme was Haydn 88 & Heldenleben. I assume AD did the Haydn & Strauss and can’t recall what Vickers sang to make the concert longer. I wasn’t there!
Certainly remember he did the Heldenleben Col. It was the prospect of that item which induced me to get a ticket. Can’t remember item 1 in the first half.
RE: Vickers – I recall he sang the Dungeon aria from Act 2 of Fidelio, “Wintersturme” from Walkure, and I think some more Wagner.
Also heard Andrew Davis conduct the Alpine Symphony @ RFH. That I think was planned – ie not a substitution.