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A Spectral Atmosphere

Murray McLachlan plays
Shostakovich and friends -
recommended by
HOWARD SMITH

'... an outright triumph for the label and for McLachlan.'

Russian Piano Music Vol 1 - Shostakovich and Comrades. © 2009 Diversions LLC

Fifty years ago the same 'familiar' British pianists' names cropped up repeatedly. Notably Denis Matthews (1919-1988), émigré Lamar Crowson (1926-1998), Susan Bradshaw, (1932-2005), Peter Katin (born 1930), Colin Horsely (born 1920), Bernard Roberts (born 1933 in Manchester), Kathleen Long (1896-1968) etc.

Then there were England's peerless four, viz Dame Myra Hess (1890-1965), Solomon (1902-1988), Clifford Curzon (1907-1982) and John Ogdon (1937-1989).

But now the land is swarming with a whole generation of excellent newcomers. Their heightened efflorescence appears to date (approx) to the demise of sublimely gifted East-Midlands virtuoso, John Ogdon...

Copyright © 21 February 2010 Howard Smith,
Masterton, New Zealand

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CD INFORMATION: SHOSTAKOVICH AND COMRADES

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH

DMITRI KABALEVSKY

RONALD STEVENSON

DIVINE ART LTD

RUSSIA

SCOTLAND

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