Slippedisc comfort zone (5): Fallen idol
mainDino Ciani was the foremost Italian pianist of his time, a hypnotic performer.
He died in a Rome road accident in March 1974, aged 32.
Hi recordings are few, and irresistible.
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This is stunning, singing,
transcendent. Grazie, Mr.
Lebrecht for this treasure.
Fine sets of the Debussy Préludes I/II on DG (Presto has reissued them on CDs)
Absolutely gorgeous playing and interpretation.
Dino Ciani, who was truly one of the greats, studied for time with Cortot. Ciani’s recording on DGG of both books of the Debussy preludes is second to none.
His death at such a young age is one of the great tragedies of music.
I consider his recordings of the Debussy Preludes among the best. They are straightforward, unmannered interpretations.
One of Dino Ciani’s early teachers was my friend Bianca Rodinis-Pollak, born in Gabriele D’Annunnzio’s city of Trieste. She was crushed by his death.
Dino Ciani, Dinu Lipatti, and William Kapell died in their thirties, leaving notable recordings of Chopin’s third sonata. Lipatti and Ciani studied with Alfed Cortot, who himself recorded it twice and made a late version of the Largo. I remember Rubinstein’s classic recording, and an exquisite Largo from Moriz Rosenthal. Also a live Moiseiwitsch from a tour in Texas, where I heard him for the only time. I first heard the third sonata from Abbey Simon, Kapell’s contemporary, and heard him play it again a lifetime later.
I despair of finding anyone else who is reminded of Delius in the Largo’s “B” section, maybe just a little?