Did anyone hear the player piano concert on R3 tonight? It was a most enjoyable and informative concert featuring expert pianolist Rex Lawson. Gabriel Jackson's Airplane Cantata is a most original piece. How clever of you, Gabriel, to write idiomatically for the pianola! And the BBC Singers did what they are best at....giving new and somewhat challenging works a good showing.
My only disappointment was the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes at the end...spoiled by the soprano line reverting to type, i.e. shrieking anything above an F. Maybe the pianola accompaniment didn't work so well here either...however clever the 'player' there is inevitable lack of subtlety.
But a great evening's entertainment, greatly enhanced by Radio 3's best presenter Catherine Bott (a closet pianolist!)
My only disappointment was the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes at the end...spoiled by the soprano line reverting to type, i.e. shrieking anything above an F. Maybe the pianola accompaniment didn't work so well here either...however clever the 'player' there is inevitable lack of subtlety.
But a great evening's entertainment, greatly enhanced by Radio 3's best presenter Catherine Bott (a closet pianolist!)
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