Schubert, Kurtág, Alan
As my month of recitals is about to begin, one connection between the works on the program which I didn’t write about has been on my mind: both the Schubert and the Kurtág were introduced to me by Alan Marks.
Alan and my mother were frequent recital partners until his untimely death in 1995. He lived in Berlin, so I didn’t see that much of him; the memories I do have of him are of an uncommonly warm and inquisitive musician — his interests (and talents) ranged from the most intimate corners of the chamber music literature, to the most virtuosic works of Liszt, to the thorniest new music, with stopovers for musical theater and curiosities. (A performance of Schubert’s Winterreise — without a singer! – springs to mind.)
I remember well the arrival in the mail of a selection of the Játékok, with as many pages of instructions as notes. I was probably twelve at the time, and wasn’t entirely sure what to make of them (although I do recall being instantly delighted to know there was a piece of music entitled “Phone Numbers of our Loved Ones”), but it marked my first acquaintance with music which I find more and more compelling by the day, and I’m sure that the energy of Alan’s advocacy for the music was what set me on that path.
Alan’s greatest musical love, though, was Schubert, and not long before he died, he performed a cycle of the 11 completed sonatas — and the unfinished C Major — in Berlin. These wonderful performances were released, virtually unedited, as recordings, and they marked my first exposure to nearly all the sonatas. (When I think of how taken I was with the C Major even then, I can’t understand why it’s taken me 15 years to get around to playing it.)
Music is a very powerful thing, of course, and one of its greatest and most mysterious powers is to bring back people who are sadly in our past. I am unable to play Schubert and Kurtág without them evoking memories of Alan; while it was a great piece of luck to be introduced to them by him, I am equally lucky that they have kept him so vividly in my memory.
April 1st, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Thank you for appearing on In Tune––and what was that like? For us in New York it is the best way to keep up with events in the musical world and we are always grateful when an articulate American voice appears! I hope to see/listen to you in Schenectady! Nicholas Adams
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:36 am
I too enjoyed your interview on In Tune (BBC Radio 3). Fluent and with plenty of good ideas.
April 6th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Hi, Jonathan,
We were very excited to learn this weekend that you will be back in the Bay Area for a recital on April 18. Then we were disheartened to realize we have an unavoidable conflict that date which means we cannot hear you on Saturday night. Last time you were in this area, I recall you mentioned having friends in Sonoma County….we are wondering if it is possible you might stay over on the 19th before leaving for Ft. Collins. If so, we are wondering, too, if it would possible to see you, albeit just for a few minutes at least to re-connect with you. And, indeed, if you have more time, perhaps we could take you wine-tasting in Dry Creek or Alexander Valley (both near Santa Rosa). Finally, if you are staying over in San Francisco on Sunday, is it possible we could join you…again for a few minutes at least if you are already committed.
Congratulations on what appears to be a sky-rocketing career. Have enjoyed reading some of your blogs.
Perhaps it is presumptious for us to think you remember us……you are so busy….but Marty was your driver for your Santa Rosa Symphony gig in 2006 and we both enjoyed hearing you in a Santa Rosa recital a few months later.
Fondest regards,
Marty Hamilton and Maria Lucidi
April 15th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Your recital at Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia April 7 was a delight. I fully understood the forfeiture of “interruption” between the Kurtag selections and the Schubert C Major. I can only say it was “spiritual” for lack of a better word. I am curious why you substituted the D-flat Chopin Nocturne for the E Major Nocturne although I felt at the time it was a wonderful foil in which to bring together the four Chopin selections as a unit with reminiscences back to the Barcarolle and some flights into the Mazurkas — leading to the fourth Ballade -(maybe it was just me). I am much looking forward to hearing your Beethoven 3rd in Philadelphia in a couple of weeks as well as to an interview with you April 25 (arranged through your management) Although I obviously have an interview “agenda” of sorts, I’m curious if you might have some topics you particularly want to bring forward?
Barbara TT
April 16th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Mr. Biss
Your playing last night (Union/Schenectady) was truly wonderful. I hadn’t read or known about your blog until after arriving at the hall, so the applause-free segue from Kurtag to Schubert was an unanticipated thrill, like tumbling through the ground, Alice-like, into Schubertland. There is no place I’d rather be!
I hope you do not still rue the tiny incident at the end of the Ballade, or mind my mentioning it, but your recovery itself was a marvel of stamina and cool. After so much exquisitely crafted, committed music making, I was a little relieved, frankly, to be reminded that you are, after all, human.
I look forward eagerly to hearing you again.
Best wishes, health and happiness,
April 26th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Jonathan,
Thank you for your thrilling performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor last night at the Kimmel Center in Philadelpha.
I am now listening to your CD of Mozart’s Piano Concertos 21 & 22.
It’s amazing to think that someone so young has so much talent. I look forward to your next visit with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
All the best for your future.
May 7th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Good luck with the Grieg in Royal Festival Hall on Sunday. I’ve been looking forward to this concert for months, can’t believe the day is finally near! Hope you will have a good time in London. Best wishes, Ace Banana.
May 9th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
And of course that meant to say “the Schumann”…
May 22nd, 2009 at 9:27 am
Your blog has been infested with a big block of links for Viagra at the top of the page.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Those Viagra links are still there (or they came back again).