Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A pianist acclaimed as one of the world's foremost interpreters of Mozart and Schubert.
On the island
Eight records
String Quintet in C major, D. 956: II. AdagioFavourite
Sándor Végh and the Végh Quartet with Pablo Casals
This is not a very original choice, the slow movement of the C major string quinta. Many people have chosen this in this program, I know. But to me it's a it's an obvious choice. It's also something I would like to hear at my own funeral.
Sonata for Piano Four-Hands in C major, K. 521
András Schiff and George Malcolm
I didn't want really to play any anything of my own in this programme. It's a matter of principle. But this is an exception because it's a duo recording with George Malcolm. We are playing Mozart sonatas for piano four hands, and it's on a very special instrument. It's on a Walter Forte piano, which was Mozart's own forte piano.
Mikrokosmos, Vol. 6: No. 142, From the Diary of a Fly
Miela Bartok is one of my idols, a wonderful musician and composer, but also as a human being, somebody absolutely spotless, with a great integrity.
Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056: II. Largo
Edwin Fischer and his Chamber Orchestra
Johann Sebastian Bach is the most important composer to me. I start every day by playing Bach. It's a cleansing proc procedure. It's like taking a bath or a shower. And Edwin Fischer is one of my very favorite pianists.
Così fan tutte, K. 588: "Soave sia il vento"
Mozart again and Cosifantutte, probably my favorite opera. And this is uh not a secret anymore, but in a few years' time I I'm planning to conduct Cosifantutte.
String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat major, Op. 130: V. Cavatina
Beethoven string quartet opus a hundred and thirty, the cavatina. This is the most transcendental and metaphysical music that I know. I stayed away from this music very long, deliberately, because I didn't understand it enough.
Má vlast (My Country): Vltava (The Moldau)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Rafael Kubelík
Czech music had always been a great Passion to me... And the key figure was Rafael Kubelec... if I would have to single out the greatest and most uh emotional concert experience of my life, then this was it.
Symphony No. 88 in G major, Hob. I:88: IV. Finale: Allegro con spirito
Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler
Humour is very important to me in in life and in music... and this is equally deep and profound, but to me nobody got the feeling of humour in music like Joseph Haydn did.
In conversation
Presenter asks
2:31How much do you need to know and to care about the man as well as his music before you can play it well?
In my opinion, as much as you can. You have to get under his skin. Good actors also have to do that. And we cannot uh forget our own personalities, but we are dealing with great minds, with great composers.
Presenter asks
12:21Why do you say that as a Jew, despite Hungary being your country, you can't call it your own?
To me this is this is very clear. Look, I'm. I am a Jew born in Hungary. I can't help that. And the fact that I was born in Hungary is an accident. And even the fact that I was born is an accident too, because the the Hungarians did everything to to kill my parents.
Presenter asks
17:43Why don't you approve of [piano] competitions?
They are wrong. You know, they are promoting something that that cannot be compared. Art and music is is very much a matter of taste.
The keepsakes
The luxury
I'm afraid it's got to be a piano. It's not even my favorite instrument, I much prefer the cello. But what about the repertoire? So I could play all the piano repertoire and all the other things on the piano.
Presenter asks
What's wrong with the quality of, say, the three tenors, or Nigel Kennedy playing Vivaldi?
If I may say so, I don't think it's good music making... I think it's a shame that they prostitute themselves. The same about Nigel Kennedy, I think.
Presenter asks
30:55Why did you settle in Florence, Italy?
I always had this idea of of Italy and going south and this fascination and interest in in Italian Renaissance. And if it's Italy it's it's got to be Florence. So that's where I am now and it's a great uh inspiration to me to to live in in the midst of of Renaissance culture and nature.
“Music is not a job, it's not even a profession, it's a it's a total dedication and I consider it a a great privilege. If I was born a hundred times again I wouldn't really want to do anything else.”
“I have a problem with this whole question of popularizing and the argum the political arguments of pop culture and things for the masses. I am very much against that and I might be called an elitist, which is a dirty word, but I'm I'm pr proud to be an elitist because I fight for quality.”
“I start every day by playing Bach. It's a cleansing proc procedure. It's like taking a bath or a shower.”