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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