Flash: Marimba Miniatures, Claire Edwardes, Tall Poppies TP215

Originally a pianist, Claire Edwardes is now one of Australia’s most highly acclaimed percussionists. On her second recording for the Tall Poppies label, Edwardes has compiled a selection of 33 short pieces, some from her days as a fine pianist (Bach, Schumann, Shostakovich, Kabalevsky, Tchaikovsky, Bartok and Corea) and others are by Australian composers, some … Read more

Beethoven: The Late Piano Sonatas, Op 109, 110, 111, Pianist: Ian Holtham, ABC Classics 476 6183

Perhaps there are no other piano sonatas than these which have attracted such wide difference in interpretation. These sonatas written (1821-22) at a time when Beethoven was very ill and deafness had overtaken his life. He was also greatly obsessed with devotion to his nephew, Karl. Beethoven triumphs with these lasting testaments to the human … Read more

Johann Sebastian Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Pianist: Albert Landa, ABC Classics 476 4556

I never tire of listening to the “48” for they hold an incredible spiritual sense, deriving, I suspect, from Bach masterfully working in all 24 keys (12 major and 12 minor) with inspired polyphonic intricacy. Listening (and playing) these works can give an experience, not only to the soul and intellect, that is profound. Australian … Read more