Douglas Murray at his best - Israel & Nuclear Iran

KISSIN ON MARXISM! Mr Kissin wrote, some little while ago, a remarkably eloquent reply to a member on the Forum of this website who challenged his views written within "A Letter Which Was Never Sent" to "T''.  The Maestro, generous as ever to this fans, spared some of  his most valuable time to make very clear his views on Karl Marx which I feel should be shared and made readily available for anyone to peruse;  therefore I have made the relevant thread on the Forum available so that if you click on the pic (above) it will enable direct access  to the 'conversation' in its entirety! Susanne James (Administrator) Email:  susannej39@gmail.com

The Top 10 Performances of 2011 By David Fleshler & Lawrence Budmen Click on Pic to Read in Full (South Florida Classical Review) 9. Yuri Bashmet and Evgeny Kissin in Shostakovich’s Viola Sonata Two Russian greats at the top of their game played Shostakovich’s Viola Sonata, the composer’s final testament, with probing intensity. The poignancy and dark angularity of this masterpiece emerged in an April performance of incredible power and immediacy, even in the vast space of the Arsht Center’s Knight Concert Hall, meeting Shostakovich’s tormented vision on its own terms. (LB)

A dialogue with Evgeny Kissin Posted on November 21, 2011 | Maryandmusic's Blog I was lucky to have won a free ticket for the concert: Kissin plays Liszt. Today I attended a public dialogue with Kissin at The University of Hong Kong. Kissin was easygoing and friendly. He talked slowly and tried his best to answer every question. He is a child prodigy, but not as proud as some others. "I think I play better over the years, as I hear more in music, and I want more of myself. " Life is indeed a journey of exploring oneself, and follow one’s heart to wherever it goes. In the Q&A session, a lady talked about human’s unrestricted potentials intellectually, and asked him if he had any plans about composition or conducting. Kissin was frank enough to say that he didn’t have any time for those. "We only have one lifetime. So I choose the things I’m best at." He said. He further said that living in the world created by those great composers, he didn’t even want to compose any works himself. "How many books can one read in one’s whole life?" He asked the insightful question. Well, if we suppose that one reads two books per week, and round up the number, one would be able to read 5,000 books in 50 years. It’s just a tip of the iceberg. Therefore, as Kissin put it, "it is a luxury to read all books one can get hold of." This applies to virtually everything in life. A very important part of growing up is to learn to make decisions, and to give up things that you are not too passionate about or you’re not too good at. I look forward to his performance on the day after tomorrow. Maryandmusic's Blog

What I Learnt from Evgeny Kissin Sydney Symphony — By Freya Franzen Few individual musicians experience what it’s like to be admired across the globe for the music they play. It’s true that great music transcends national borders, but when it comes to a solo classical music career, only a few talented people ever attain international acclaim. When I think of the soloist stars that have ruled the roost in my lifetime, names like Anne-Sophie Mutter, Gil Shaham, Truls Mørk and Alban Gerhardt always spring to mind. However, if I could name one luminary of our generation that all of us could learn a thing or two from, it would be Evgeny Kissin. For those who don’t know, Evgeny Kissin is a Russian pianist whom many people consider one of the world’s greatest musicians. On 15 September 2011, I got to play with Evgeny as part of the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. To state the obvious, it was an immense privilege and an experience that I will never forget, but the benefits of playing alongside experts of his caliber require a bit more explanation. Evgeny is a true perfectionist and music is his lifeblood; this appears to have dictated not only his rigorous practice ethics, but also the level at which he understands music. His performances are always masterfully spontaneous. When I performed with Evgeny, I couldn’t help but feel that his musical expression exquisitely described the ideas that Grieg and Chopin were trying to convey in their compositions. Sacrifice is central to Evgeny’s success. When you hear Evgeny play in person, you understand that his deftness hasn’t come effortlessly. He’s an exceptional talent and has been ever since his youth, but to scale the heights of the music world, you must forgo aspects of your life that others take for granted. I have little doubt that Evgeny’s superlative commitment to his art and the fame and demand for his time that this has created has indeed cost him real-life experiences. What I love about that though, is that he has taken ultimate control of his destiny; the packed out concert halls and endless list of accolades are his reward. How many of us get to experience that? Evgeny really made me think about music. Hearing his interpretations of the piano repertoire is more than just entertainment; it’s an awe-inspiring learning experience. Although there is not a lot a pianist can teach a violinist like me in terms of technique, masterclasses and live performances with expert performers like Evgeny are invaluable – they help you to understand the internal thought-processes that lead to the most beautiful sounds. Playing with Evgeny helped me to understand his interpretation of different forms of music, which gave me a unique yet exemplary perspective of how I should be thinking. It’s hard to even imagine being as good as Evgeny Kissin. Playing with him is one of those opportunities that money just can’t buy. -Freya- (28.09.11) Instant Encore

Master Pianist Brings Newness to the Canon September 26, 2011 12:00AM Picture: Keith Saunders Click on pic to read Article

Princely Splendour of a Master of Sound and Articulation Peter McCallum : September 24, 2011 Evgeny Kissin in rehearsal with the Sydney Symphony and conductor Vladimir Ashkenaszy Click on pic to read Article

Standing with Israel ♥ Standing for Light and Liberty "We extend our hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighbourliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land." (from the Proclamation of the Establishment of the State of Israel) Click on Pic | History of Israel Israel United We Stand! Robin Shepherd's Website Click Pic for Bioghraphy The Commentator The Commentator on Facebook