When Nelson Freire was the new Arrau
mainRare studio footage from 1965.
Nelson has not been heard for a year since undergoing surgery on his right arm, following a fall.
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He was scheduled to play at the Festival Hall in February but I don’t know what is happening now.
Hopefully we both will be at the Philharmonie in Paris on April 16.
I am sorry to hear about it. It is deeply frustrating mostly because of his wonderful performances all his life. I saw him few times when I was living in São Paulo. Wish you fast recovery. All the best.
Why should any musician be the “new” anyone? Can they not just be themselves?
When Birgit Nilsson was asked what she thought of being called “the next Flagstad,” she replied that she was more interested in being the first Nilsson.
I think most performers feel that way; pretty sure it’s a publicist thing: try to get people interested by calling them “the new [someone already famous];” it’s OK if they’re old or even dead, as long as they’re famous.*
* (but not famous for the wrong reasons: it probably wouldn’t be a great idea to call a phenomenal young conductor “the next James Levine.”)
Thank you for this wonderful historical reminiscence! Such mastery from a young genius. Indeed, that comfortable authority and gorgeous Arrau sound, Rubinstein’s grandness and expansive repertoire, and even dashing off some Horowitzian specialties. That was a special period with such great young talents like Kapell, Fleischer, Cliburn, etc.! Wow!
“WHEN NELSON FREIRE WAS THE NEW ARRAU”
Oh, mercy me – this laughable statement is the equivalent of saying “When Beethoven was the new Mozart”.
Nelson Freire was NEVER “the new Arrau”.
Claudio Arrau was a genius pianist and musician, and is and was irreplaceable.
Freire is now and always was his own man. And he is a wonderful pianist and musician who I wish nothing but the best for.
I was never crazy about Arrau. There are many great pianists, but that doesn’t make them great musicians.
“I was never crazy about Arrau.”
– Whatever.
“There are many great pianists, but that doesn’t make them great musicians.”
– This statement is true.
Marvellous. There is so much to admire here. Yes the natural virtuosity (those octaves!) but also the musicianship, the restraint, his stillness at the keyboard and the way not a muscle in his face moves. I think they were taught that way back then.
Thanks for upload. Not in the least like Arrau to my ears!
“South American” + “plays piano” = “Arrau,” apparently.
A shame and hope he has a speedy recovery. A wonderful musician.
I still remember the excitement when his recording of the Tchaikovsky concerto with Kempe came out almost 50 years ago – “a cockeyed sensation” was the quote on the LP. Then he seemed to disappear. Still one of my favorite recordings.
He’s made more than 15 Decca CDs in recent years