Murray Perahia, The Lyrical Poet of the Piano.

Born on April 19, 1947, in Bronx, New York. He began taking lessons at the age of four, he gave his first real concert at the age of 17.
Perahia is sometimes considered a more intellectual than emotional pianist and has primarily concentrated on Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Schubert, Schumann and Beethoven, as well as performing chamber music. There is also great recordings of Bartok, Liszt, Franck, Mendelsohn, Grieg and Scarlatti.
In more than 40 years he has given us a great number of records to treasure. I had the luck early to get a record of his, and have followed him in nearly 40 years. The first record was the sonatas no 2 & 3 by Chopin. They are still the miracle to play.

Perahia is Perahia as Schubert is Schubert - what else can be said?

I can't remember a dull moment in any of his records, they are mostly milestones in musicmaking. 

So this recordlist is just what I hear most often.

J.S. Bach:Where it all starts, and a point to return to very often. Perahia Bach playing is a pleasure, and I try to select them all.

The poet can be a lion too, these Beethoven records is just great:

This Chopin is still in my toplist.

And he is still going strong,

 

Some of my favourite movies

A father try so save his son and wife from gestapo. And he try to tell his child that it is only a game.
All three live in their roles, and Begnini shows his great humanity as producer and actor.














Another italien great. Giuseppe Tornatore is master of this film and two other great favourites: Malena and Cinema Paradise. I like this story very much, it could have happened! And I understand why the pianist not will leave HIS world.
I enjoy the scene with the piano battle.

And a third italien master "Vittorio De Sica". An older movie with a real social story. People fight to make the day for their family. 

And more Roberto Begnini. Here in great trio play with Tom Waits and John Lurie.
They acts as they play music, timing and rhytm is pure music.
I love the music of Waits and Lurie and the good humor from Begnini. The great is when he (Begnini) prepare a dinner in the jungle. I have to see this movie three times a year.
Jim Jarmusch is a great creator of movies.

 And here an deeply moving and scaring movie from WW2. Ivans Childhood in the cruel war. A must see, we must not forget what happens to humans in war.
And it is a great movie from a genius.

And here a true story from the nazy crimes in Poland. In this horror years there is a few momenst of humanity, and this can be that very little chance to survive. Wladyslaw Szpilman.did, his family did not.
A must see.
A movie from Roman Polanski.

http://www.szpilman.net/