Speaking of TESTAMENT CDs ...

[Lance]

This is a label I have cherished greatly, who licensed recordings from EMI/Warner, RCA, Decca and some other labels. Over the years I've collected over 250 of their CDs and was happy to have them all. The question is: I haven't seen anything new from Testament of late. Are they still in business?

[Holden Fourth]

I've just checked their website and it looks as if they are still going strong with new releases advertised, etc.

https://testament.co.uk/

[Lance]

Hmm ... I looked around Testament's site and found they are issuing LPs, but could not find any brand new issues and I was always looking. It's probably been quite a few years since I've acquired anything on the label. Maybe I missed something looking at their site but appreciate your checking this out for me!

[Febnyc]

Lance - your reference to the Testament label jogged me to listen, for the umpteenth time, to one of my top piano recordings: Solomon performing Chopin (SBT 1030). I'm sure you have it - if not, you're missing some awfully fine piano playing.

[Holden Fourth]

Lance - your reference to the Testament label jogged me to listen, for the umpteenth time, to one of my top piano recordings: Solomon performing Chopin (SBT 1030). I'm sure you have it - if not, you're missing some awfully fine piano playing.

This is one of two of the best Chopin recordings I've ever heard. (The other is Sokolov's all Chopin live recital in Amsterdam in 2005) It's also a Desert Island disc for me.

[Febnyc]

This is one of two of the best Chopin recordings I've ever heard. (The other is Sokolov's all Chopin live recital in Amsterdam in 2005) It's also a Desert Island disc for me.

It would be on my desert island also.

[Rach3]

This is one of two of the best Chopin recordings I've ever heard. (The other is Sokolov's all Chopin live recital in Amsterdam in 2005) It's also a Desert Island disc for me.

It would be on my desert island also.

We're gonna' need a bigger island.

[Lance]

Yes, I wouldn't be without that Solomon disc. He is among my top pianists ... sheer musicianship and heart with no sugar, just the real thing! Thanks for the recommendation, but if it's Solomon, Moiseiwitsch, Rubinstein, Horowitz, Hess, Fischer and countless others, I've broken my neck to get it! If you have a chance, listen to his Beethoven Sonata No. 32 - he recorded it twice (first one appeared on an RCA LP) and is a showstopper, but both are outstanding and both (I believe) have made it to CD.

Lance - your reference to the Testament label jogged me to listen, for the umpteenth time, to one of my top piano recordings: Solomon performing Chopin (SBT 1030). I'm sure you have it - if not, you're missing some awfully fine piano playing.

[barney]

This is one of two of the best Chopin recordings I've ever heard. (The other is Sokolov's all Chopin live recital in Amsterdam in 2005) It's also a Desert Island disc for me.

It would be on my desert island also.

We're gonna' need a bigger island.

Australia?

[Holden Fourth]

When most people think of Solomon they associate him with the classical and early romantic repertoire (Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, etc). So when you tell people that you need to listen to this disc they frequently don't bother.

However, if you look at Solomon's life as a pianist you can understand where these performances come from.

Brian Crimp wrote a biography of Solomon called "Solo" that is fascinating reading and will give you an understanding of why Solomon is so accomplished in these works.

[Lance]

Indeed, it is! I've had that from APR (Appian) since 1998. John Hurt, a compiler, also wrote a book entitled "Pianists for the Connoisseur" that offers bio information on Solomon, Michelangeli, Cortot, Weissenberg, Curzon, etc.

When most people think of Solomon they associate him with the classical and early romantic repertoire (Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, etc). So when you tell people that you need to listen to this disc they frequently don't bother.

However, if you look at Solomon's life as a pianist you can understand where these performances come from.

Brian Crimp wrote a biography of Solomon called "Solo" that is fascinating reading and will give you an understanding of why Solomon is so accomplished in these works.