My friend Miss Cari Ann Shim Sham asked today via Facebook status update: "What's your favorite piece of classical music?"
I don't even need to bat an eye to answer that one. Chopin's Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23. Hands down. Lights out. Game over. For some reason, this gorgeous piece speaks to me, fills my heart with ache and longing, makes me all swoon-googly. Don't roll your eyes at me. I defy you not to be swoon-googly at about the 5:50 mark...
So I thought I'd share it with you on this holiday/not-a-holiday Monday morning.
This is the master Vladimir Horowitz live at Carnegie Hall from his famous television debut in 1968, aired by CBS. The opening of the clip is a little fussy, but its A-OK once the piece starts and the audio hasn't been remastered, but very few pianists have lived this piece quite like Horowitz did. Enjoy.
Tough one, and I think it depends on my mood.
ReplyDeleteFor total angst and sorrow and wallowing in self-pity, it has to be Barber's 'Adagio for Strings'
Also love 'The Four Seasons', Beetoven's 'Pathetique' and, finally for really soul-stirring pump-up-the-volume stuff - Mozart's Requiem
master horowitz - he never disappoints. :)
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