Clarence Ford talks to piano virtuoso Isaac van der Merwe, who shares the intricacies of his craft and reveals the parallels between music and life. He reflects on the importance of embracing imperfection and the role of practice in mastering his instrument.

Isaac van der Merwe chose the pieces below if listeners want to experience the classical music that moves him.

In Isaac's own words: Putting 'classical music' into Spotify doesn't really work; you get some pretty random stuff. Recordings from my heroes, playing that inspires me, of my favourite pieces. And if Cape Talk has some sort of Linktree or an equivalent/some bit of your site where this could go, we can put links to them there. They are on YouTube (Classical music was never written to be recorded and spat out by a speaker. It was written by people to be played by people for people. So the live recordings/recordings of performances are generally my favourite... imperfect, raw, daring, greater magic).

Live recordings I love 

Something new: 

Yunchan Lim (just 18 years old) gives his winning performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto in the finals of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: 

https://youtu.be/DPJL488cfRw?si=JGntkyBJMbZwirs_ 

Something old: 

Wilhelm Furtwängler conducts the Berlin Philharmonic in a performance of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony (1947): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMJYjPKaLEY 

Something short & sweet: 

Vladimir Horowitz plays Träumerei (Dreaming) from Schumann’s suite Kinderszenen (Scenes of Childhood) in his legendary 1986 Moscow recital, having returned to his home country for the first time in 61 years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z82w0l6kwE  

Bonus – recordings of Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) himself playing: 

Rachmaninoff plays his own arrangement of Kreisler's Liebesleid (Love’s Sorrow): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wODzXCuVHg 

Rachmaninoff plays Chopin’s Waltz in C-sharp minor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-VWPXZYpY 

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Clarence Ford talks to piano virtuoso Isaac van der Merwe, who shares the intricacies of his craft and reveals the parallels between music and life. He reflects on the importance of embracing imperfection and the role of practice in mastering his instrument.
Isaac van der Merwe chose the pieces below if listeners want to experience the classical music that moves him.
In Isaac's own words: Putting 'classical music' into Spotify doesn't really work; you get some pretty random stuff. Recordings from my heroes, playing that inspires me, of my favourite pieces. And if Cape Talk has some sort of Linktree or an equivalent/some bit of your site where this could go, we can put links to them there. They are on YouTube (Classical music was never written to be recorded and spat out by a speaker. It was written by people to be played by people for people. So the live recordings/recordings of performances are generally my favourite... imperfect, raw, daring, greater magic).
Live&nbsp;recordings I love&nbsp;
Something new:&nbsp;
Yunchan Lim (just 18 years old) gives his winning performance of Rachmaninoff&rsquo;s Third Piano Concerto in the finals of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://youtu.be/DPJL488cfRw?si%3DJGntkyBJMbZwirs_&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1786048948599540&amp;usg=AOvVaw2BwHa0Q1n-Np6WjBvhoR1Y" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">https://youtu.be/DPJL488cfRw?si=JGntkyBJMbZwirs_</a>&nbsp;
Something old:&nbsp;
Wilhelm Furtw&auml;ngler conducts the Berlin Philharmonic in a performance of Beethoven&rsquo;s 5th Symphony (1947):&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DPMJYjPKaLEY&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1786048948599849&amp;usg=AOvVaw3L5dGqUHKRPpD4qohpWiAh" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMJYjPKaLEY</a>&nbsp;
Something short &amp; sweet:&nbsp;
Vladimir Horowitz plays&nbsp;Tr&auml;umerei&nbsp;(Dreaming) from Schumann&rsquo;s suite&nbsp;Kinderszenen&nbsp;(Scenes of Childhood) in his legendary 1986 Moscow recital, having returned to his home country for the first time in 61 years:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3D6z82w0l6kwE&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1786048948600254&amp;usg=AOvVaw2xnLe2k_6FD6b2QSVPsboG" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z82w0l6kwE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Bonus &ndash; recordings of Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) himself playing:&nbsp;
Rachmaninoff plays his own arrangement of Kreisler's&nbsp;Liebesleid&nbsp;(Love&rsquo;s Sorrow):&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3D2wODzXCuVHg&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1786048948600566&amp;usg=AOvVaw1uop4T7FqupIUAQ2DARCUZ" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wODzXCuVHg</a>&nbsp;
Rachmaninoff plays Chopin&rsquo;s Waltz in C-sharp minor:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DFj-VWPXZYpY&amp;sa=D&amp;source=editors&amp;ust=1786048948600719&amp;usg=AOvVaw32gJUCGMc0G7w3ETO2U1ru" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="5">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj-VWPXZYpY</a>&nbsp;
*************************************************************************************************************
Thank you for listening to a podcast from Views &amp; News with Clarence Ford&nbsp;
Listen live&nbsp;on Primedia+&nbsp;weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 (SA Time)&nbsp;to Views and News with Clarence Ford broadcast on CapeTalk&nbsp;<a href="https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk">https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk</a>&nbsp;
For more from the show, go to <a href="https://buff.ly/erjiQj2">https://buff.ly/erjiQj2</a>&nbsp;or find all the catch-up podcasts here&nbsp;<a href="https://buff.ly/BdpaXRn">https://buff.ly/BdpaXRn</a>&nbsp;
Subscribe to the CapeTalk&nbsp;Daily and&nbsp;Weekly&nbsp;Newsletters&nbsp;<a href="https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5">https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; Follow us on social media:&nbsp; &nbsp; CapeTalk on Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk">https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk</a>&nbsp; CapeTalk on TikTok:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk">https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk</a>&nbsp; CapeTalk on Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/">https://www.instagram.com/</a>&nbsp; CapeTalk on X:&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CapeTalk">https://x.com/CapeTalk</a>&nbsp; CapeTalk on YouTube:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567">https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567</a>&nbsp;

‘Views and News with Clarence Ford’ shares and reflects a broad array of different perspectives. The show is inspirational, passionate and positive. Clarence and the team aim to leave listeners feeling both motivated and empowered.

Known for his love of jazz and a good game of golf, Clarrie brings his unique flavour to this show. Some new features include ‘Heritage Hour’ every Wednesday between 10 and 11 am, The Masterclass on Fridays at 11 am as well as a segment exploring music trivia. Another new addition is ‘The Unexplained’ segment on Mondays at 10:35. Fan favourite ‘The Naked Scientist’ will continue on Fridays at 9:30 am.

Listen to Views and News with Clarence Ford, weekdays 9 to 12 am on 567 medium wave (AM) or streaming online at www.capetalk.co.za.

#JoinTheConversationFollow Clarence on Twitter: @clarenceford1

‘Views and News with Clarence Ford’ shares and reflects a broad array of different perspectives. The show is inspirational, passionate and positive. Clarence and the team aim to leave listeners feeling both motivated and empowered.
Known for his love of jazz and a good game of golf, Clarrie brings his unique flavour to this show. Some new features include ‘Heritage Hour’ every Wednesday between 10 and 11 am, The Masterclass on Fridays at 11 am as well as a segment exploring music trivia. Another new addition is ‘The Unexplained’ segment on Mondays at 10:35. Fan favourite ‘The Naked Scientist’ will continue on Fridays at 9:30 am.
Listen to Views and News with Clarence Ford, weekdays 9 to 12 am on 567 medium wave (AM) or streaming online at www.capetalk.co.za.
#JoinTheConversation Follow Clarence on Twitter: @clarenceford1

Views and News with Clarence Ford

Front Row Sessions: Clarence Ford in conversation with piano virtuoso Isaac van der Merwe

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5dcefa8e-00a9-4595-8ce1-a4ab0080f142/clips/2b56e949-2021-4547-afcf-b49f00a7c700/transcript