Blast from the Past: pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
Please forgive the recent breaks in manic blogging; I slipped away for the holidays and am only now returning to reality, ready again to expound, pontificate and whine with regularity.
I happened to noticed that three eminent pianists share a January 5th birthday: Alfred Brendel, Maurizio Pollini and one no longer with us, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. And thinking about the latter instantly suggested the next candidate for my internationally clamored-for Blast from the Past feature.
Talk about your patrician artists. Michelangeli was the epitome of the musical aristocrat, a pianist who maintained extraordinary standards of stylistic integrity and taste. His playing could reach a level of exquisite poetry, with a wealth of subtle coloring and perfectly judged rubato (that art of rhythmic elasticity seems in particularly short supply today). Michelangeli, who died in 1995, was, like the other true keyboard giants, in a class by himself. Here are just a few reasons why (the third Chopin clip starts with the last couple notes of another piece, but the performance I want to share starts a few seconds later):
Comments
I enjoyed reading your blog regarding Michelangeli Benedetti
I never understood why his name is not well known in the US. This was a pianist of immence integrity, who preached his parish. (music is a right for people who deserved it) and never charged for his classes. Pollini was one of his students.
There appear to be a renewed interest about this amazing pianist. His wife (Giluina) wrote a biography about him and tthere are at present 5 with unpublished clips of his concerts available in Italian only. The note perfect dynamic range, colours nuances he uses in even the most difficult composition is remarkable.
He also wrote a few Capellas as well.
David
Thanks very much for the comments and the encouraging prospect of renewed interest in this pianist. TIM
Posted by: David M Burke MD | August 6, 2010 3:05 PM