Discoveries At Walt Disney Concert Hall: Yefim Bronfman

NPR Music has just added its newest set of programs from their series, Discoveries at Disney. Yefim Bronfman, Los Lobos, Neko Case, the Venice Baroque Orchestra, McCoy Tyner and a Horace Silver tribute are included in this recent PRX upload.

Why play this program instead of a CD? It's live, it's recent and it demonstrates how pianist Yefim Bronfman and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic are at the absolute top of the classical music performing hierarchy with their Rachmaninoff, Haydn and Schubert program. And, it may also be a convincing and qualified way to shake up and bring an element of surprise to your local shift.

The LAPO members, picked out of the orchestra, do not sound like a "pick up" group. Their performance of excerpts from Haydn's String Quartet "The Rider" is polished and beautifully crisp. Bronfman and the LAPO's Schubert Trio performance merges an energetic force with a polished air to create all of the romantic urge necessary to tell Schubert's story. The sometimes undervalued or forgotten second movement receives an especially poignant and grabbing performance.

Bronfman plays the Rachmaninoff: Prelude in D Major Opus 23, No. 4 during the program's cutaway segment - his playing here is so fine, I urge you not cut away.

The music to talk ratio is better than 90 - 10, and just about every word is in the proper place - most notably Bronfman's personal and memorable nutshell summary of Schubert. Renee Montagne is the respectful and righteous host.

Appropriate for air during a day-time classical music shift as a change of pace and during any evening or weekend slot.