This week's Learning to Listen focuses on the piano; that's why Alison Young welcomes special guest, pianist Natasha Paremski.
When Alison asks Natasha how the piano works, Natasha says, "You push down a key and sound comes out." That's completely accurate, but the years of practice on scales and arpeggios, and pedaling and finding just the right nuance when pushing down that key takes a lifetime of dedication. Natasha shares her top five favorite pieces and players as well as play for us a rarely heard little gem by one of the greatest pianists of all time, Sergei Rachmaninoff.
On this week's show, we'll learn more about the piano and hear some stunning playing — including that work by Rachmaninov, recorded during a concert at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.
Program Playlist
Johann Sebastian Bach
Goldberg Variations: Aria
Simone Dinnerstein, piano
Peter Tchaikovsky
Piano Concerto No. 1: 1st movement
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Fabiel Gabel, conductor
Natasha Paremski, piano
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Etude Tableau
Natasha Paremski, piano
Recorded live at Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis
Robert Schumann
Scenes from Childhood (Kinderszenen)
Martha Argerich, piano
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 20: 3rd Movement
English Chamber Orchestra/Jeffrey Tate, conductor
Mitsuko Uchida, piano
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