Playing Music From the Masters

Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto Played on a Chinese Erhu

...sounds devastatingly lyrical

By Daniel Ross, Classic FM London

Tchaikovsky’s gorgeous violin concerto has long been one of the instrument’s greatest melodies. But it also works for other instruments…

image: http://assets6.classicfm.com/2016/33/tchaikovsky-violin-concerto-erhu-1471427558-article-0.jpg

The Erhu is more commonly used for traditional Chinese music and only occasionally ventures into Western music - but this exception is utterly beautiful.

For some reason, the lyrical themes of Tchaikovsky’s classic violin concerto in D lend themselves perfectly to the wispy tones of the Erhu, as this excellent rendition proves:

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The Hardest Piano Piece Ever Written

Stop what you’re doing and listen to the hardest piano piece ever written

By Elizabeth Davis, Classic FM London

Sorabji’s Opus Clavicembalisticum is thought by many to be the most difficult piece ever written for piano – it’s well beyond most pianist’s abilities.

image: http://assets9.classicfm.com/2016/33/opus-clavicembalisticum-sorabji-1471449566-article-0.jpg

Oh and it lasts for FOUR HOURS. So there’s that.

But one pianist, the legendary and unique John Ogdon, made this piece his calling card.

Here's John, deep in concentration at the piano:

image: http://assets.classicfm.com/2016/33/john-ogdon-1471449746.jpg

One YouTuber has combined John’s legendary recording of Sorabji’s completed ridiculous work with the score – so you can both see and hear the number of notes actually involved.

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Vittorio Monti - His Music and His Life

Vittorio Monti (6 January 1868 – 20 June 1922) 

was an Italian composer, violinist, and conductor. Monti was born in Naples where he studied violin and composition at the Conservatorio di San Pietro a Majella. Around 1900 he got an assignment as the conductor for the Lamoureux Orchestra in Paris, where he wrote several ballets and operettas, for example Noël de Pierrot.

His only famous work is his Csárdás, written around 1904 and played by almost every gypsy orchestra. It is played by many people today.

Vittorio Monti - His Music and His Life

Vittorio Monti (6 January 1868 – 20 June 1922) 

was an Italian composer, violinist, and conductor. Monti was born in Naples where he studied violin and composition at the Conservatorio di San Pietro a Majella. Around 1900 he got an assignment as the conductor for the Lamoureux Orchestra in Paris, where he wrote several ballets and operettas, for example Noël de Pierrot.

His only famous work is his Csárdás, written around 1904 and played by almost every gypsy orchestra. It is played by many people today.

Csárdás - Vittorio Monti (Violin & Piano)

Vittorio Monti, Csardas

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (piano cover)

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen