I was lucky enough to see Nojima live twice around this time. He came to our local community college (El Camino in Torrance) once and his program included this suite. These are priceless recordings you've shared - thanks so much! I know now that I didn't just imagine how incredible his performances were.
Darryl...Nojima came to El Camino twice (maybe 3 times?), once to play the Tchaikovsky concerto. His playing was magic, had "color", totally enchanted me. Later at UCLA Royce Hall I saw him again & went backstage to pay homage. A very special artist that I will never forget.....his "live" sound production was unique & made a lasting impression on me..At one El Camino recital I believe I saw Abram Chasins (one of Nojima's teachers) in the audience. Nojima appeared on Leonid Hambro's radio show the afternoon of the UCLA recital, interviewed & played piano. In those days I went to every piano event in L A County. There were many such artists years ago, none any more....sigh.
El Camino was a remarkable place to hear classical music. I attended an all Beethoven concert there given by Claudio Arrau in 1976 where he performed the Appasionata and Ops. 109-111, It was so poorly attended that the organizers rounded up students on campus to fill the seats. A noble gesture but the students didn't know that they weren't supposed to applaud at the end of each movement as if it were a jazz solo. The clapping irked poor Arrau, who started lifting a shoulder and turning his face away at the end of each segment to prevent losing his concentration. Still, a great, memorable concert.
Absolutely marvellous, such refinement in pedaling, touch, rhythm and dynamics! I haven't heard such a stunning live version of the "Miroirs" since I listened to S. Richter!
thank you for sharing. I've been looking for his Ravel.
RIP Minoru Nojima
Astonishing, amazing playing. Oh, I wish I could have heard him live…
rare gift of superb imagination . bravo
Phenomenal
Beautiful
Basically, Moths is an enigma that few have solved. Bravo!
I was lucky enough to see Nojima live twice around this time. He came to our local community college (El Camino in Torrance) once and his program included this suite. These are priceless recordings you've shared - thanks so much! I know now that I didn't just imagine how incredible his performances were.
Darryl...Nojima came to El Camino twice (maybe 3 times?), once to play the Tchaikovsky concerto. His playing was magic, had "color", totally enchanted me. Later at UCLA Royce Hall I saw him again & went backstage to pay homage. A very special artist that I will never forget.....his "live" sound production was unique & made a lasting impression on me..At one El Camino recital I believe I saw Abram Chasins (one of Nojima's teachers) in the audience. Nojima appeared on Leonid Hambro's radio show the afternoon of the UCLA recital, interviewed & played piano. In those days I went to every piano event in L A County. There were many such artists years ago, none any more....sigh.
An artist like this has played in LA a few times in the last year or two: Vadym Kholodenko. Try to go if he comes around again; you won't regret it.
El Camino was a remarkable place to hear classical music. I attended an all Beethoven concert there given by Claudio Arrau in 1976 where he performed the Appasionata and Ops. 109-111, It was so poorly attended that the organizers rounded up students on campus to fill the seats. A noble gesture but the students didn't know that they weren't supposed to applaud at the end of each movement as if it were a jazz solo. The clapping irked poor Arrau, who started lifting a shoulder and turning his face away at the end of each segment to prevent losing his concentration. Still, a great, memorable concert.
Just Incredible...
Absolutely marvellous, such refinement in pedaling, touch, rhythm and dynamics! I haven't heard such a stunning live version of the "Miroirs" since I listened to S. Richter!