A Conversation with Gerald Kingsley

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A conversation with Piano Files host Mark Ainley and guest Gerald Kingsley, a pupil in his youth of the great pianist Edwin Fischer and friend of composer Nikolai Medtner.

In this fascinating discussion, Kingsley shares his experiences meeting and studying with Edwin Fischer while exploring the great pianist-conductor's approach to music-making and teaching, as well as his views on interpretation. Kingsley also shares details of his experiences spending time with Nikolai Medtner in the last year of the composer's life.

Also presented are details of some of the concerts Kingsley attended featuring performances by Furtwängler, Flagstad, Toscanini, and others and other encounters with legendary musicians such as Horowitz, Backhaus, and Moiseiwitsch. Interspersed are recordings of some of the performances discussed in the conversation.

A truly insightful and enlightening musical exploration!

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Featuring the following recordings:

Bach: Prelude No.1 in C Major, BWV 846
Edwin Fischer, piano
Transferred from original HMV 78 by Tom Jardine

Bach: Concerto for Three Keyboards BWV 1064, 1st movement (excerpt)
with Edwin Fischer, Ronald Smith, and Denis Matthews, piano
Philharmonia Orchestra
EMI Classics

Schubert: Die Junge Nonne, D 82 (opening)
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, soprano
Edwin Fischer, piano
EMI Classics

Brahms: Violin Sonata No.3 (3rd movement excerpt)
Gioconda de Vito, violin
Edwin Fischer, piano
EMI Classics

Bach: Fantasie & Fugue in A Minor BWV 904 (excerpt)
Edwin Fischer, piano
EMI Classics

Beethoven: Emperor Concerto (2nd movement excerpt)
Edwin Fischer, piano
Wilhelm Furtwängler conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra
EMI Classics

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F Major BWV 1047 (1st movement excerpt)
Edwin Fischer conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra
EMI Classics

Schumann: Etudes Symphoniques, Variation Op. Posth No.5
Alfred Cortot, piano
EMI France - 40th Anniversary Edition

Strauss: Four Last Songs - Frühling (opening)
Kirsten Flagstad
Wilhelm Furtwängler conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra
World premiere performance in 1950
Testament SBT 1410

Medtner: Piano Concerto No.2 (1st movement, opening)
Nikolai Medtner, piano
Issay Dobrowen conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra
St Laurent Studio YSL 005

Medtner: Fairy Tale in F Minor Op.42 No.1 (opening)
Benno Moiseiwitsch, piano
Naxos Historical- Great Pianists: Moiseiwitsch 7

Medtner: Lieder, Op. 46 No. 6: Die Quelle
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, soprano
Nikolai Medtner, piano
EMI Classics

Chopin: Piano Sonata No.3 in B Minor Op.58 (4th movement, opening)
Dinu Lipatti, piano
APR 6032

Brahms: Symphony No.4 (1st movement, opening)
Arturo Toscanini conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra
Testament SBT 3167

Bach: Concerto No.5 in F Minor, 2nd movement
Edwin Fischer with the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
(private source)