Alfred Brendel (born January 5, 1931) is an Austrian pianist, born in Czechoslovakia. He is widely regarded as one of the great classical pianists of the second half of the 20th century.

Brendel was born in Vízmberk, Czechoslovakia, now Loučná nad Desnou Czech Republic, to a non-musical family. They moved to Zagreb when Brendel was six, and later to Graz, where they lived during World War II, towards the end of which the 14 year old Brendel was sent to Yugoslavia to dig trenches. However, he caught frostbite and was taken to hospital. Throughout his childhood, Brendel had occasional piano lessons, but otherwise little formal music education.

After the war, Brendel composed music, as well as continuing to play the piano and paint. However, he never had any more formal piano lessons and although he attended masterclasses with Edwin Fischer and Eduard Steuermann, he is largely self-taught.

Brendel gave his first public recital in Graz at the age of 17.[1] He called it “The Fugue In Piano Literature”, and as well as fugal works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms and Franz Liszt, it included some of Brendel’s own compositions. However, he gave up composing shortly after this to concentrate on the piano. In 1949 he won 4th prize in the Ferruccio Busoni Piano Competition in Bolzano, Italy and moved to Vienna the following year. At the age of 21, he made his first record, Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 5. He went on to make a string of other records, including three complete sets of the Ludwig van Beethoven piano sonatas (one on Vox Records and two on Philips Records). He has also recorded works by Liszt, Brahms (including Brahms’ Concertos), Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert. Unlike virtually all classical pianists, he has recorded very little Chopin other than the Polonaises.

Brendel recorded extensively for the Vox label — particularly his first set of the Beethoven sonatas — but secured a major recording contract only in the 1970s, nor did he play much outside Austria. His breakthrough came after a recital of Beethoven at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, the day after which three major record labels called his agent. Around the same time he moved to London, where he still resides. Since the 1970s, Brendel has recorded for Philips Classics Records.

Brendel is regarded as one of the most thoughtful interpreters of classical Germanic works by such composers as Beethoven, Schubert and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He has recorded the complete piano music of Beethoven. He plays relatively few 20th century works, but is closely associated with Arnold Schoenberg’s Piano Concerto. In recent years, however, he has stopped playing many of the most physically demanding pieces in the repertoire, such as the Hammerklavier Sonata of Beethoven, owing to problems with arthritis.

Critical reaction to Brendel’s playing has been mixed. While he has been lauded by Michael Steinberg as “the new Schnabel”, critic Harold C. Schonberg noted that some critics and specialists accused the pianist of “pedanticism.”. Brendel’s playing is sometimes described as being analytic, and he has said that he believes the primary job of the pianist is to respect the composer’s wishes without showing off himself, or adding his own spin on the music. “I am responsible to the composer, and particularly to the piece,” he has said. As well as his former mentor and teacher, Edwin Fischer, he cites Alfred Cortot, Wilhelm Kempff, and the conductors Bruno Walter and Wilhelm Furtwängler as particular influences.

In recent years, Brendel has worked with younger pianists such as Paul Lewis, Mark Gasser, Roberto Carnevale and Till Fellner and he has performed and recorded with his son Adrian Brendel, a cellist. He has also published poetry, which has been compared by Andrew Motion to Miroslav Holub in style.

Brendel resides in London.

Source: Last.FM

Ludovico Einaudi (born 23 November 1955 in Turin) is a modern-day Italian composer and pianist particularly noted for the use of developing melodious phrases in his piano compositions.

He began his musical training at the Conservatorio Verdi in Milan, gaining a diploma in composition. Later, he studied with Luciano Berio. In 1982, he gained a scholarship to the Tanglewood Music Festival. He currently resides on a vineyard in the Italian region of Piemonte.

Although Einaudi would prefer not to be labeled as any particular type of composer, he is generally considered a Minimalist.

“In general I don’t like definitions, but ‘Minimalist’ is a term that means elegance and openness, so I would prefer to be called a Minimalist than something else.”, Einaudi

Ludovic Einaudi has been widely promoted by ClassicFM.

Source: Last.FM

Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (Frédéric François Chopin), (1st March 1810 – 17th October 1849) is one of the most famous, influential, and admired composers and virtuoso pianists of the Romantic era, and is Poland’s most beloved composer.

He was born of Polish and French parentage in the village of Żelazowa Wola, Poland. In Warsaw he was hailed as a child prodigy and was the “second Mozart” for his piano and composition skill, for which the composer Robert Schumann complimented the talented pianist, “Hats off, gentlemen, a genius!” Due to the political situation in Poland, he left his country for France at the age of 20. There he composed his two piano concertos with their patriotic Polish themes and rhythms, based on traditional polish dances. He never returned to Poland but after his death his sister Ludwika took his heart to Poland – in accordance with his last will, where it was placed inside a pillar of the Holy Cross Church at Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street.

In Paris, he made a career as a performer and teacher as well as a composer, and he adopted the French variant of his name, “Frédéric-François”. In 1836 he met the French writer George Sand, with whom he had a relationship for nine years until 1847. He suffered poor health for much of his life and this forced him to give up performing and teaching shortly before he died.

His compositions, which are almost exclusively for the piano, such as the Funeral March piano sonata and the twenty-seven études (op. 10 and op.25, plus a further set of three without opus numbers), are widely considered to be amongst the pinnacles of the piano repertoire. Although some of his music is among the most technically demanding for the instrument, Chopin’s style emphasizes poetry, nuance and expressive depth, rather than mere technical display. He is often cited as one of the mainstays ofromanticism in nineteenth-century classical music.

Source: Last.FM

I’ve been walking in the same way as I did
Missing out the cracks in the pavement
And tutting my heel and strutting my feet
“Is there anything I can do for you dear? Is there anyone I can call?”
“No and thank you, please Madam. I ain’t lost, just wandering”

Round my hometown
Memories are fresh
Round my hometown
Ooh the people I’ve met
Are the wonders of my world
Are the wonders of my world
Are the wonders of this world
Are the wonders of my world

I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaque
I love to see everybody in short skirts, shorts and shades
I like it in the city when two worlds collide
You get the people and the government
Everybody taking different sides

Shows that we ain’t gonna stand shit
Shows that we are united
Shows that we ain’t gonna take it
Shows that we ain’t gonna stand shit
Shows that we are united

Round my hometown
Memories are fresh
Round my hometown
Ooh the people I’ve met

Are the wonders of my world
Are the wonders of my world
Are the wonders of this world
Are the wonders of my world

You fingertips across my skin
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images

You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick

I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you’d want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I’m trying not to think about you
Can’t you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should’ve known you’d bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images

And when you left you kissed my lips
You told me you’d never ever forget these images, no

I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you’d want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I’m trying not to think about you
Can’t you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should’ve known you’d bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you’re gone and I’m haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that easy for you
To walk right in and out of my life?

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I’m trying not to think about you
Can’t you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
I should’ve known you’d bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

Under your spell again.
I can’t say no to you.
Crave my heart and it’s bleeding in your hand.
I can’t say no to you.

Shouldn’t let you torture me so sweetly.
Now I can’t let go of this dream.
I can’t breathe but I feel…

Good enough,
I feel good enough for you.

Drink up sweet decadence.
I can’t say no to you,
And I’ve completely lost myself, and I don’t mind.
I can’t say no to you.

Shouldn’t let you conquer me completely.
Now I can’t let go of this dream.
Can’t believe that I feel…

Good enough,
I feel good enough.
It’s been such a long time coming, but I feel good.

And I’m still waiting for the rain to fall.
Pour real life down on me.
‘Cause I can’t hold on to anything this good enough.
Am I good enough for you to love me too?

So take care what you ask of me,
’cause I can’t say no.

Over the years, Erik Satie would be described as a precursor of movements and styles as varied as impressionism, neo-classicism, dada, surrealism, conceptual art, minimalism and ambient music. As taking the first steps towards techniques such as prepared piano and music-to-film synchronisation, Satie became one of the first musicians to perform a cameo appearance in the 1924 film, Entr’acte, by the French filmmaker René Clair.

Satie appears to have been the avant-garde to half of the avant-garde movements of the 20th century. He was in contact with Tristan Tzara, the initiator of the Dada movement. He got to know the other Dadaists, such as Francis Picabia (later to become a Surrealist), André Derain, Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray.

Satie contributed to the Dadaist publication 391. In the first months of 1922, he was surprised to find himself entangled in the argument between Tzara and André Breton. Satie originally sides with Tzara, but manages to maintain friendly relations with most players in both camps.

Eccentric yet visionary French composer, Erik Satie is today regarded as a key modernist composer. As well as influencing contemporaries such as Claude Debussy, who orchestrated some of his piano works, and Maurice Ravel, his tendency towards simplicity and repetition continue to inform modern avant-garde genres.

Source: Last.FM

Over the years, Erik Satie would be described as a precursor of movements and styles as varied as impressionism, neo-classicism, dada, surrealism, conceptual art, minimalism and ambient music. As taking the first steps towards techniques such as prepared piano and music-to-film synchronisation, Satie became one of the first musicians to perform a cameo appearance in the 1924 film, Entr’acte, by the French filmmaker René Clair.

Satie appears to have been the avant-garde to half of the avant-garde movements of the 20th century. He was in contact with Tristan Tzara, the initiator of the Dada movement. He got to know the other Dadaists, such as Francis Picabia (later to become a Surrealist), André Derain, Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray.

Satie contributed to the Dadaist publication 391. In the first months of 1922, he was surprised to find himself entangled in the argument between Tzara and André Breton. Satie originally sides with Tzara, but manages to maintain friendly relations with most players in both camps.

Eccentric yet visionary French composer, Erik Satie is today regarded as a key modernist composer. As well as influencing contemporaries such as Claude Debussy, who orchestrated some of his piano works, and Maurice Ravel, his tendency towards simplicity and repetition continue to inform modern avant-garde genres.

Source: Last.FM

Fabrizio Paterlini’s music has been defined as ambient, minimalist, graceful, sweet and relaxing: “a glass of red wine on a summer evening”, as he himself defines it. Born in Mantua, Fabrizio started playing the piano at the age of 6. After many years studying classical music, he started perfoming with a number of bands, playing everything from progressive to hard rock, from jazz to pop. It was not until the end of the 90s that he decided to explore new musical paths, concentrating on the piano, the instrument that best expresses his inner world.

Sources: Last.FM

Ludovico Einaudi (born 23 November 1955 in Turin) is a modern-day Italian composer and pianist particularly noted for the use of developing melodious phrases in his piano compositions.

He is sometimes referred to as Minimalist, even though he would prefer not to be labeled as any particular type of genre.

Albums:

Sources: last.fm, Wikipedia, Ludovico Einaudi