Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
One of the world's greatest pianists, known for his concert career and recordings dating from 1915.
On the island
Eight records
We Shall Fight on the Beaches (excerpt)
I would like to hear that voice that always inspired us confident optimism and goods here.
a recording of a rehearsal by Toscanini. All the world knows that he was the greatest conductor that ever lived. But few have a glimpse and the way he manages and trains his orchestra and he's never happy, loses his temper until he reaches just what he wants.
I had the pleasure of knowing personally. It's beautifully recorded and it reminds me so much of the exotic countries that I visited. One of them was Brazil.
The Stars and Stripes Forever (piano transcription)
an arrangement for the piano by a very great friend of mine. Vladimir Horovich. Everybody knows he's one of the greatest pianists alive, but uh fewer people know that he's also a wonderful arranger.
I shall certainly need a laugh on the desert island. So let's have ... Creeps. Time permits, I would like to squeeze in the minute walls by Chopin. This happens to be the first number I ever learned to play while my sister taught me the piano.
Farewell of Boris (from Boris Godunov)
I would like to be transport it even for a short mile for the country where I was born. And Musonsky was much more Russian composer than any rational composers has enjoyed the Western culture. He was hardly cultural. But he was the man and composer of the soil, as you're typically Russian.
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation 18 (or last variations)
One person was a great friend of mine. I admired more than anyone as a man as a composer and this again is ... I would like to hear the end of his rhapsody played by him. He was of course the greatest pianist to my mind.
Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream (transcription)
a recording mind. A transcription by the Manila, of which I am very proud. ... I was asked to record my head session. ... I started. Four and a half minutes. But there's not a moment's respite. When I finished I put up my two hams. And this is the result.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:59How long ago did you make your first record?
Well, that was about 1915.
Presenter asks
1:09How do you feel about the prospect of being dumped alone on a desert island?
I'm not looking forward to it at all.
Presenter asks
1:22How have you set about choosing these eight records that might make life a little bit better?
Well, since you sort of intend to kidnap me I gave it a little thought and I decided I would rather choose some records that bring me into spiritual communion with friends that recorded them or composed them or lived in parts of the world which has a special nostalgic memory.
Presenter asks
7:36You were born in Russia, is that right?
Yes. Where but South, Odessa, a lovely town in ... Well, I left it about fifty-four years ago, but I still have most lovely memories of the town.
The keepsakes
The book
Not recorded.
The luxury
I was thinking about a roulette table... That would be great time for me to look forward to discovering something and forgetting the days and hours and years that I might be spending there.
Presenter asks
7:59Did you have many opportunities to hear music as a child? Were your parents musical?
Uh parents? No, they were not active musicians, but always very fond of music. The only member in the family, we were seven brothers and two sisters. was one of my sisters that to play the piano. And for my sins. Somehow it was discovered. Always Tending is a fliveted. to the piano when she was practicing.
Presenter asks
12:39How much practice do you do? Do you do more now than you used to or less?
Ah well, I practice now as much as I can. Of course it's a little difficult when you travel, but even so I travel with a dummy piano. Frankly speaking I didn't like the piano at all until I started with music. And then I used to practice anything between six and eight hours a day. With no constants to interfere and even now I practice as much as I can when I'm at home.
“I'm not looking forward to it at all.”
“I would rather choose some records that bring me into spiritual communion with friends that recorded them or composed them or lived in parts of the world which has a special nostalgic memory.”
“I was expelled from Muslim. ... I was supposed to be very mischievous. And one day they discovered that the brick from the gate was on the floor. And I frivolously say that I did it.”
“I practice now as much as I can. Of course it's a little difficult when you travel, but even so I travel with a dummy piano. Frankly speaking I didn't like the piano at all until I started with music. And then I used to practice anything between six and eight hours a day.”
“I wouldn't do a thing if you must kidnap me there. You've got to provide me with a first-class cook.”