The Piano Files
@thepianofiles.bsky.social
The best piano recordings of the past 100+ years, curated by Mark Ainley.
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Henri Gil-Marchex was born 133 years ago. Never heard of him? Many haven't. He lived until 1970 but only made discs in 1927 that were never reissued until a decade ago. Ravel admired him & he was the 1st French pianist to tour & give conferences in Japan. Page with incredible recordings linked below
December 16, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Henri Gil-Marchex was born 133 years ago. Never heard of him? Many haven't. He lived until 1970 but only made discs in 1927 that were never reissued until a decade ago. Ravel admired him & he was the 1st French pianist to tour & give conferences in Japan. Page with incredible recordings linked below
Natan Brand died December 10, 1990 at the tragically young age of 46. Posthumous CDs of private recordings saw pianophiles mesmerized by his big-scale & highly personal pianism. A number of incredible recordings today, including unreleased audio & film his widow provided me. Link in comments.
December 13, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Natan Brand died December 10, 1990 at the tragically young age of 46. Posthumous CDs of private recordings saw pianophiles mesmerized by his big-scale & highly personal pianism. A number of incredible recordings today, including unreleased audio & film his widow provided me. Link in comments.
December 7 marked the 65th anniversary of Clara Haskil's premature death at 65. Like many pianists, her repertoire was far broader than the Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann for which she was remembered. Liszt? Brahms? Rachmaninoff? Hear for yourself via the link in the comments.
December 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
December 7 marked the 65th anniversary of Clara Haskil's premature death at 65. Like many pianists, her repertoire was far broader than the Mozart, Beethoven, and Schumann for which she was remembered. Liszt? Brahms? Rachmaninoff? Hear for yourself via the link in the comments.
The forgotten Danish pianist Arne Skjold Rasmussen died 45 years ago. Out of print for decades, his 1950s Tono recordings are available thanks to Danacord, who have also released his 1960 BBC broadcasts of Nielsen piano music. Quite a wonderful artist - link in comments thread.
December 5, 2025 at 4:47 AM
The forgotten Danish pianist Arne Skjold Rasmussen died 45 years ago. Out of print for decades, his 1950s Tono recordings are available thanks to Danacord, who have also released his 1960 BBC broadcasts of Nielsen piano music. Quite a wonderful artist - link in comments thread.
Dinu Lipatti died 75 years ago today at the age of 33. I've written a chapter to a new Romanian book and the English version is now on my website: an exploration exposing some of the myths that continue to circulate about him, plus the ongoing discovery of recordings & more. Link in comments.
December 2, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Dinu Lipatti died 75 years ago today at the age of 33. I've written a chapter to a new Romanian book and the English version is now on my website: an exploration exposing some of the myths that continue to circulate about him, plus the ongoing discovery of recordings & more. Link in comments.
Earl Wild was born 110 years ago today (I was born the same day but MANY years later!). For his 90th birthday he played a superb recital at Carnegie Hall, despite serious health challenges the preceding year. That remarkable performance is linked in the comments (with some relevant details).
November 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Earl Wild was born 110 years ago today (I was born the same day but MANY years later!). For his 90th birthday he played a superb recital at Carnegie Hall, despite serious health challenges the preceding year. That remarkable performance is linked in the comments (with some relevant details).
November 19 was the anniversary Géza Anda's birth. While best known for his 1960s Mozart & Bartók recordings on DG, his 40s & 50s discs & broadcasts offer even more stupendous pianism - almost a completely different pianist. Stunning examples linked in the post in the comments.
November 21, 2025 at 8:50 PM
November 19 was the anniversary Géza Anda's birth. While best known for his 1960s Mozart & Bartók recordings on DG, his 40s & 50s discs & broadcasts offer even more stupendous pianism - almost a completely different pianist. Stunning examples linked in the post in the comments.
Marcelle Meyer died prematurely 67 years ago, leaving behind a rich recorded output that was out of the catalogue for a quarter century before slowly returning & revealing among the most stupendous of pianists. Today: my detailed feature about her legacy & two 1950s Italian broadcasts.
November 18, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Marcelle Meyer died prematurely 67 years ago, leaving behind a rich recorded output that was out of the catalogue for a quarter century before slowly returning & revealing among the most stupendous of pianists. Today: my detailed feature about her legacy & two 1950s Italian broadcasts.
Jorge Bolet was born 111 years ago. He was never at his best in studio recordings, though some of his earlier discs are superb, among them the world premiere of Prokofiev's 2nd Concerto (Richter & Gilels loved it). That and some live appearances in today's tribute, linked below.
November 16, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Jorge Bolet was born 111 years ago. He was never at his best in studio recordings, though some of his earlier discs are superb, among them the world premiere of Prokofiev's 2nd Concerto (Richter & Gilels loved it). That and some live appearances in today's tribute, linked below.
A dream come true: film footage of Simon Barere on TV in 1950 has surfaced and it's extraordinary. He plays an abridged version of the Gounod-Liszt Faust Waltz with his legendary dazzling technique & great lyricism - and the unmoving face of Horowitz, Moiseiwitsch & other greats. Link in comments!
November 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
A dream come true: film footage of Simon Barere on TV in 1950 has surfaced and it's extraordinary. He plays an abridged version of the Gounod-Liszt Faust Waltz with his legendary dazzling technique & great lyricism - and the unmoving face of Horowitz, Moiseiwitsch & other greats. Link in comments!
Danish pianist Victor Schiøler studied with Friedman & Schnabel, taught Victor Borge, and produced hours of superb recordings. His 1956 Chopin Preludes remained unpublished, and extensive searches finally uncovered a pressing uncatalogued in the archive - and WOW! Check the link in the comments!
November 8, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Danish pianist Victor Schiøler studied with Friedman & Schnabel, taught Victor Borge, and produced hours of superb recordings. His 1956 Chopin Preludes remained unpublished, and extensive searches finally uncovered a pressing uncatalogued in the archive - and WOW! Check the link in the comments!
Walter Gieseking was born 130 years ago today. He recorded extensively but had a far greater repertoire than even his ample discography suggests, and many live recordings find him in even better form. An array of these today - and the promise of more coming soon. Link in comments thread.
November 5, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Walter Gieseking was born 130 years ago today. He recorded extensively but had a far greater repertoire than even his ample discography suggests, and many live recordings find him in even better form. An array of these today - and the promise of more coming soon. Link in comments thread.
Mieczysław Münz was born October 31, 1900 - 125 years ago. He retired from public performance in 1941 due to focal dystonia, remaining a revered teacher for over 30 more years. A detailed biographical tribute & rare extant recordings of the master in today's post: check the comments thread for link.
November 1, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Mieczysław Münz was born October 31, 1900 - 125 years ago. He retired from public performance in 1941 due to focal dystonia, remaining a revered teacher for over 30 more years. A detailed biographical tribute & rare extant recordings of the master in today's post: check the comments thread for link.
American pianist William Kapell died tragically young at 31 in a plane crash on this date in 1953. Fortunately he left behind many recordings, both live & 'official', and more continues to come to light. A number of these in today's shared links: check the comments for the share.
October 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
American pianist William Kapell died tragically young at 31 in a plane crash on this date in 1953. Fortunately he left behind many recordings, both live & 'official', and more continues to come to light. A number of these in today's shared links: check the comments for the share.
The recording of György Cziffra playing Bartók's 2nd Piano Concerto seems not to be from the Budapest concert on the eve of the Hungarian Revolution, and some of the pianist's own claims are known to be inaccurate - but what a performance! Details & recording in today's linked post.
October 24, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The recording of György Cziffra playing Bartók's 2nd Piano Concerto seems not to be from the Budapest concert on the eve of the Hungarian Revolution, and some of the pianist's own claims are known to be inaccurate - but what a performance! Details & recording in today's linked post.
Celebrating the birth of Franz Liszt (on this day in 1811) with some filmed lectures by his extraordinary biographer Alan Walker, who spent 25 years producing a 3-volume biography. Linked in the comments, 3 video presentations and recordings by some of Liszt's pupils & friends.
October 22, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Celebrating the birth of Franz Liszt (on this day in 1811) with some filmed lectures by his extraordinary biographer Alan Walker, who spent 25 years producing a 3-volume biography. Linked in the comments, 3 video presentations and recordings by some of Liszt's pupils & friends.
Nelson Freire would have celebrated his 81st birthday today but he sadly left us prematurely 4 years ago. I think he was not just great, but truly GREAT - far more than most recognize. In the comments, my tribute upon his death with many recordings, plus a recent discovery from when he was only 19.
October 19, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Nelson Freire would have celebrated his 81st birthday today but he sadly left us prematurely 4 years ago. I think he was not just great, but truly GREAT - far more than most recognize. In the comments, my tribute upon his death with many recordings, plus a recent discovery from when he was only 19.
There are two unoffical concert recordings of Vladimir Horowitz & Bruno Walter, a 1936 Amsterdam Brahms D Minor (which the pianist then dropped from his repertoire) and a 1948 New York Tchaikovsky 1st - both absolutely superb. Both are linked in the comments with key background details.
October 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM
There are two unoffical concert recordings of Vladimir Horowitz & Bruno Walter, a 1936 Amsterdam Brahms D Minor (which the pianist then dropped from his repertoire) and a 1948 New York Tchaikovsky 1st - both absolutely superb. Both are linked in the comments with key background details.
French pianist Agnelle Bundervoët was born 103 years ago. She produced 4 LPs in her native France before rheumatoid arthritis forced her to retire, but she continued to give radio broadcasts. Those collectors' LPs are now digitized & more broadcasts are available than ever before. Check comments.
October 13, 2025 at 1:46 AM
French pianist Agnelle Bundervoët was born 103 years ago. She produced 4 LPs in her native France before rheumatoid arthritis forced her to retire, but she continued to give radio broadcasts. Those collectors' LPs are now digitized & more broadcasts are available than ever before. Check comments.
October 9 this year was the 190th anniversary of the birth of Camille Saint-Saëns. It is incredible that we have recordings made by a composer-pianist born in 1835. In tribute, a fantastic 1919 disc he made & the reference recording of his concertos by a pianist he coached. Link in comments.
October 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
October 9 this year was the 190th anniversary of the birth of Camille Saint-Saëns. It is incredible that we have recordings made by a composer-pianist born in 1835. In tribute, a fantastic 1919 disc he made & the reference recording of his concertos by a pianist he coached. Link in comments.
Hungarian pianist Peter Frankl was born 90 years ago, on October 2, 1935. He has had a long & distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. I have crafted a tribute page to the artist with solo, chamber, and live concerto performances, and an insightful interview. Link below.
October 3, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Hungarian pianist Peter Frankl was born 90 years ago, on October 2, 1935. He has had a long & distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. I have crafted a tribute page to the artist with solo, chamber, and live concerto performances, and an insightful interview. Link below.
A belated birthday tribute to Alfred Cortot, born September 26, 1877: a pianist who fortunately recorded extensively, though not always with full precision - but always with imagination! In this tribute, his daring Chopin Etudes and evocative Schumann... and exquisite Beethoven. Link in comments.
September 30, 2025 at 10:52 PM
A belated birthday tribute to Alfred Cortot, born September 26, 1877: a pianist who fortunately recorded extensively, though not always with full precision - but always with imagination! In this tribute, his daring Chopin Etudes and evocative Schumann... and exquisite Beethoven. Link in comments.
George Gershwin was born 127 years ago. I love that both Ravel & Boulanger didn't want to teach him because he was already a uniquely creative genius. It is lamentable that he was not recorded and filmed more, but what we have is magnificent. Some historic audio & film linked in the comments today.
September 26, 2025 at 9:41 PM
George Gershwin was born 127 years ago. I love that both Ravel & Boulanger didn't want to teach him because he was already a uniquely creative genius. It is lamentable that he was not recorded and filmed more, but what we have is magnificent. Some historic audio & film linked in the comments today.
September 18 was the anniversary of the birth in 1872 of Carl Friedberg, who trained with Clara Schumann and was coached by Brahms. We have both live & studio recordings of him late in life, plus samples of his teaching - a phenomenally insightful musician whose recordings are miraculous!
September 20, 2025 at 7:35 PM
September 18 was the anniversary of the birth in 1872 of Carl Friedberg, who trained with Clara Schumann and was coached by Brahms. We have both live & studio recordings of him late in life, plus samples of his teaching - a phenomenally insightful musician whose recordings are miraculous!
Dinu Lipatti played his now legendary final recital in Besançon 75 years ago, on September 16, 1950. The performance was not aired live as his condition was unstable (in fact he nearly canceled) and fortunately the bulk of the recital was preserved and issued. Details & audio via link in comments.
September 16, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Dinu Lipatti played his now legendary final recital in Besançon 75 years ago, on September 16, 1950. The performance was not aired live as his condition was unstable (in fact he nearly canceled) and fortunately the bulk of the recital was preserved and issued. Details & audio via link in comments.