Taught by renowned instructor
Gary Graffman
Gary Graffman's RCA recording of Chopin's Four Ballades was released in 1959. 60 years later, Graffman listens back to his performances of the Ballades alongside tonebase Head of Piano Ben Laude. Filmed in his elegant apartment catty-corner to Carnegie Hall, Graffman relates the program he believes lies behind the Second Ballade, based on a poem by Adam Mickiewicz. Graffman then turns to the Fourth Ballade, regarded as the most sophisticated of the set, listening passage-by-passage and commenting on the intricacies Chopin's unfolding drama.
Episode 1: Lemon & Lime
Welcome to Happy Hour with Gary Graffman! In this first episode of a five-part series, Graffman welcomes tonebase Head of Piano Ben Laude into his private mini-bar, high above Carnegie Hall. Fueled by two of the many flavors in his repertoire of infused vodkas – Lemon and Lime – the conversation ranges from Graffman's early lessons with a chair-slamming Isabelle Vengerova to introducing George Szell to the wonders of Asian art.
Episode 2: Tangerine
Welcome to Happy Hour with Gary Graffman! In this second episode of the five-part series, Graffman continues his conversation with tonebase Head of Piano Ben Laude in his private mini-bar, high above Carnegie Hall. After tasting the next infused vodka flavor on Graffan's menu – Tangerine – the conversation ranges from George Szell's acerbic style to Fritz Reiner's coldness; Lenny Bernstein's many Manhattan residences to Rudolf Serkin's take on hearing a young Van Cliburn at the Leventritt Competition.
Episode 3: Pepper
Welcome to Happy Hour with Gary Graffman! In this third episode of the five-part series, Graffman continues his conversation with tonebase Head of Piano Ben Laude in his private mini-bar, high above Carnegie Hall. After tasting the next infused vodka flavor on Graffman's menu – Zanzibar pepper – the conversation ranges from Serkins and Horowitz's friendship to the European influence on American musical culture, before diving deeper into studying with Horowitz, featuring anecdotes about his compositions, his predilection for gossip, and his expansive repertoire.
Episode 4: Ginger
Welcome to Happy Hour with Gary Graffman! In this fourth episode of the five-part series, Graffman continues his conversation with tonebase Head of Piano Ben Laude in his private mini-bar, high above Carnegie Hall. After tasting the next infused vodka flavor on Graffman's menu – ginger – the conversation ranges from Horowitz's pedaling advice to the comical mishaps surrounding Graffman's recording of Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' for Woody Allen's film, 'Manhattan.'
Episode 5: Dill & Horseradish
Welcome to Happy Hour with Gary Graffman! In this fifth and final episode of the five-part series, Graffman continues his conversation with tonebase Head of Piano Ben Laude in his private mini-bar, high above Carnegie Hall. After tasting the last two infused vodka flavors on Graffman's menu – dill and horseradish – the conversation ranges from Graffman's younger years, hanging out with his friends Leon Fleisher and Eugene Istomin, to his even younger years, learning poker in Berlin at age 2 and living through the Great Depression.
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Unlock Course →Curtis Institute faculty member and the teacher of Lang Lang and Yuja Wang, Gary Graffman has been a major figure in the music world since his debut with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1947 at the age of eighteen.
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