you did a splendid job in depicting my grandfather, the artist
and the person. I also think you played his works very well,
both interpretively and managing to present his complex, contrapuntal, technically difficult music with an ease that belies the extraordinary demands required to make this music sound facile and musical.
And so I wish you much success in your project and
thank you for your devotion to my grandfather’s music, and your wish to bring this extraordinary musical genius deservedly back to the attention of the musical world.
Many bravos to Antonio Iturrioz for giving us this wonderfully informative and much-needed documentary on one of our under appreciated and greatest musicians, Leopold Godowsky. It allows us to again remember the legendary life and career of this brilliantly unique pianist, composer and arranger, and his immeasurably important contributions to the world of music.
From miniature to magnitude you have explored in film and through music the contrapuntal and technical mastery of the Poet of the Piano -- Leopold Godowsky -- pure melody.
I salute you and thank you !
Antonio Iturrioz has performed a wonderful service to music lovers in general and pianophiles in particular, by producing this lovingly researched film.
Antonio Iturrioz’s film gives us the highlights of Godowsky’s busy, peripatetic, career, shares his thoughts about music and life, and neatly summarizes his achievements as pianist, arranger, composer and teacher. The resulting portrait reveals why Godowsky stood out even in a Golden Age of Romantic piano playing. The film is generously illustrated with archival photographs, documents and scores, and unfolds against a backdrop of Godowsky’s own luxuriant, highly original and legendarily difficult music.
This dvd is a must for any serious pianist. The historical information given by Mr. Iturrioz would have been sufficient reason to acquire the DVD, but the playing and tasteful understanding of Godowsky's music as well makes this an ultimately satisfying experience. Bravo Mr. Iturrioz and Mr. Godowsky!
This excellent film will immediately inspire any serious musician, as it did myself, to play Godowsky's marvelous music, which all too few pianists play.
I enjoyed your Godowsky film very much. You did a great job of putting it all together. A splendid accomplishment!
|