Hello all–after many years, here I am again! Trumofo convinced me to return. Only, I couldn’t log back into my original account with stats again, no matter what I tried. So, here is the second version of ivankozlovsky…
Hope you’re all well.
In the photo, I’m posing with my teacher, Sergei Babayan
The interview with Ashkenazy–oh man I hope soon. We’ve filmed 63 episodes so far now and released 49 to date–which means we still have a huge backlog… eek.
Mr. Smaug–I don’t know him but would love to be connected sometime
I’ll be looking forward to Ashkenazy as well, I actually don’t think I’ve ever heard an interview with him, though I know he’s supposed to be a highly amicable person. Can you share any of the other upcoming names?
As to his recordings… Have you heard the interview Martin Meyer did with Horowitz? It’s a bootleg from Horowitz’s own living room as it were, so for once Horowitz opens up and shares some opinions on contemporary pianists. I’m relying on a 15 year old memory now, but he essentially says Ashkenazy was a brilliant pianist as he came out of Russia, and then he met Barenboim, who ruined everything. No comment on that, but I kind of agree. It’s the early Ashkenazy which is the good Ashkenazy IMO.
I heard Kissin in 1997 in recital in Chicago–it was a fascinating experience. I felt he was both bored and nervous during the actual recital. I don’t remember all the pieces–I remember Bach/Busoni, Kreisleriana (very boring) and Schumann Toccata (very sloppy but who cares). Then he gave five encores–he came alive during those in a way he hadn’t before. It was incredibly exciting. There was finale to Weber C major sonata, Schumann Intermezzo from Faschingsschwank, Schubert/Tausig March Militaire, Rage over a lost penny, then something else I forgot. But I was thunderstruck. I think he was in his 20s.