Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau on teaching himself to read music before he could read words at age four
Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
One of the great pianists of his time, known for his interpretations of the classical repertoire.
On the island
Claudio Arrau on teaching himself to read music before he could read words at age four
Eight records
Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944Favourite
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler
It's a record that I have always cherished and I consider Mr. Furtwinger to be maybe the greatest musical interpreter of all time.
La flûte enchantée (from Shéhérazade)
Uh in the first place I think it's one of Ravel's greatest works and uh it is beautifully sung in a way that one always dreams of and wishes for.
Los requiebros (from Goyescas)
whom I consider a wonderful, sensitive and extremely musical pianist from Spain.
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 (second movement)
I consider it to be one of the greatest piano recordings ever made.
Dorothy Dow with the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York conducted by Dimitri Mitropoulos
Well, it is a work that I have always liked very much and um which I consider very important for the development of modern music.
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf with Edwin Fischer
what I think is one of the greatest examples of how a lead should be interpreted.
Piano Sonata in A major, D. 959 (fourth movement)
whom I have worshipped deeply all my life.
String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132 (third movement: Heiliger Dankgesang)
one of the loftiest musical conceptions ever written.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:46Do you think you could endure the loneliness of being an exile?
But I think I could. It wouldn't frighten me.
Presenter asks
1:32How did you set about choosing your eight records for the island? Did you choose them for personal nostalgia or emotional appeal?
I don't think so. I think I chose them for what I considered to be summits of musical interpretation.
Presenter asks
3:32You showed your musical talent at a very early age, didn't you?
At the age of four I felt a tremendous urge to approach the piano and I even taught myself to read music before I could read words.
Presenter asks
9:00Mr. Arrow, you have the reputation of having a phenomenal musical memory. Would you say that's true?
The keepsakes
The luxury
Early Chinese statuette of a court lady (Wei era)
which is particularly beautiful and belongs to my own collection.
Well, I memorize very easily and retain things for a long time.
Presenter asks
9:40Have you any musical ambition as yet unfulfilled?
Yes. I would like to play much more modern music than I have done up to now.
Presenter asks
11:22How do you think you'd be able to look after yourself on a desert island?
I'm afraid I would be lost. I would starve. and would absolutely not know what to do.
“I think I chose them for what I considered to be summits of musical interpretation.”
“At the age of four I felt a tremendous urge to approach the piano and I even taught myself to read music before I could read words.”
“I'm afraid I would be lost. I would starve. and would absolutely not know what to do.”
“Any artist who is alive develops all the time and what he thought was good a week ago is bad a week later.”