FELICJA BLUMENTHAL.

It is quite amazing that this wonderful pianist is not better known.  Her recordings are simply sensational and she has to be one of the most powerful performers I have heard on disc, certainly of the power and calibre of the mighty Dames, Myra Hess and Moura Lympany.

In the photograph here she is pictured with the Russian composer, Dmitri Shostakovich.  This is quite fitting as she was something of a champion of contemporary repertoire.  Furthermore she also made something of a name for herself in the recording of little known works, many of which are available on the Brana label; www.branarecords.com

Amidst her recordings there are mighty performances of the 2nd Concerto of Rachmaninoff and the 1st of Tchaikovsky, and her performances of the the 2nd Concerto of Chopin along with the 4 Scherzi are amongst the best performances I have heard.

The real gem in her recorded catalogue however, has to be the Villa Lobos performances, the 5th Concerto and the Brachianas Brasileiras no. 3 for piano and orchestra.  The 5th Concerto is conducted by the composer, and I would hazard a guess that he rather enjoyed the event!

I hope that in a short time I might be able to find out a little more about Felicja Blumenthal, in the meantime, if you by only one CD this year, you could do a lot worse than to purchase one of hers!