Brendel A. - My Musical Life - Recorded Live in Prague 2019-2020

ALFRED BRENDEL - MY MUSICAL LIFE Recorded live in Prague 2019-2020

Alfred Brendel

Jan Bartoš – piano, Trio Incendio (Karolína Františová – piano, Filip Zaykov – violin, Vilém Petras – cello)

When, in December 2008, six decades into his illustrious career, Alfred Brendel bade farewell to an emotional Viennese audience, it was not a “full stop”, as it may have appeared at that moment. Rather a “semicolon”. With more time on his hands, the celebrated pianist went on to focus on other activities – writing (essays on music, poetry), giving lectures, leading masterclasses. In January 2021, Brendel will celebrate his 90th birthday, possessing profound knowledge and experience, as well as a great zest for learning new things. And also a sense of humour, which he has often turned against himself. Precious few artists have influenced the perception and performance of music as much as Brendel has. He was the first to have recorded the complete Beethoven piano works, he succeeded in bringing Franz Schubert’s music back to the concert stage, among other achievements. Of late, Brendel has often visited Prague to give lectures and masterclasses at the Rudolfinum, highlights of which are captured on the present DVD. Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert are the figures he, as a pianist, treasures most. The autobiographical lecture My Musical Life provides the viewer with a glimpse of the universe full of paradox that gave rise to the legend called Brendel – unveiling the sources of his inspiration, education and artistry, that formed his vision of the world. The DVD affords the rare opportunity to meet the living legend. A highly personal encounter with Alfred Brendel

Alfred Brendel’s quotes:

“I see my essays as, above all, the result of self-doubt, something no performer should do without, as a tool of self-criticism and an attempt at helping oneself.”

“As a pianist who writes, I’ve been called a ‘wild philosopher at the piano‘, while in America they’ve even classified me as an intellectual. That’s what one gets for publishing books, wearing glasses, and not playing Rachmaninoff.”

“Alongside my musical duties, my activities as a writer developed, becoming a second artistic existence of mine. My focus was on the topic of music until the poetry surprised me… There are several houses and doors within me. Anyone trying to find the Dadaists in my piano playing has entered through the wrong door.”

LECTURES

1. Alfred Brendel – My Musical Life 1:24:08

2. Beethoven’s Last Sonatas and his Late Style 1:03:07

Introduction - Work and Person - Op. 101 & 106 - The Last Three Sonatas - Final Piano Works

3. Playing Mozart 1:03:51

Introduction - Major and minor - Concerto in E flat major, K 271 - The Sonatas - Notation - Performance habits - Concerto in F major, K 459

MASTERCLASS

4. Franz Schubert - Piano Trio No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 99, D 898 0:43:20

I. Allegro moderato - II. Andante un poco mosso - III. Scherzo. Allegro - IV. Rondo. Allegro vivace