David Dalle
Thursday August 3rd, 2017 with David Dalle
Wonderful Cuban-Algerian-Jewish and Cuban-Flamenco collaborations. One of my favourite works by Brahms. Syrian clarinettist Kinan Azmeh.

Today's show could also be called Three Old Pianists. Three phenomenal pianists from three very different parts of the world. We will hear from three phenomenal recordings from Sviatoslav Richter (1915-1997), Bebo Valdes (1918-2013), and Maurice el Medioni (b.1928). The first two are fascinating Cuban fusions. Cuban Bebo Valdes recorded an album with the Flamenco singer Diego "El Cigala" featuring several Cuban musical guests, but centered primarily on the piano of Bebo Valdes and the Flamenco singer Cigala. The second album features Algerian Jew Maurice el Medioni playing with Cuban drummer Roberto Rodriguez with some Cuban trumpet, tres, and Algerian percussion. The mix of el Medioni's Arabic piano and Cuban improvisation is intoxicating. The third is the great Russian Sviatoslav Richter, one of my very very favourite pianists in a live recording with three members from the Borodin Quartet of Brahms' 2nd Piano Quartet. This symphonic-scaled chamber work of a young 28 year old Brahms is my favourite chamber work of his. A glorious masterpiece brimming with exuberance, lyricism, and joy. It is also being performed this evening at the Ottawa Chamberfest: http://www.chamberfest.com/concerts/2017-0803-04/