There are about as many new pianists as there are new species of plants and animals being discovered. And then there are the Simone Dinnersteins.
I first heard about Simone Dinnerstein on the “recommended for you” section of my eMusic welcome page. I had recently had a hankering for some Bach keyboard works, and as fate would have it, her recording of the old guy’s Fifth French Suite popped up. “Who is this?” I thought to myself. I had never heard of her before, and after reading her bio it didn’t take long for me to realize why, or why I should have every recording she’s made.
There are very few people in the world of classical music as perseverant and tenacious as Dinnerstein. Like any other classical pianist in the lot of them all, she’s had a critically acclaimed recording made of the standard repertoire and a début at Carnegie Hall. Unlike other classical pianists, she recorded and raised the funds for her concert - in her spare time from being a piano teacher – by herself.
That’s not why you should listen to her though. You should listen to her because her interpretations of Bach’s music are among the freshest available. She performed tonight at Opperman Music Hall, with a program culminating in a performance of the Bach Fifth Suite. From the first note of the allemande, I sensed that something was different, even from the recording; by the time she’d finished the last strain of her flowing and energetic gigue, I was convinced that no other pianist I’d heard showed such an ability to interpret Bach’s music in such a personal yet refined way. And to speak of her technique, she’s not exactly lacking: her agility is only matched by her attention and sensitivity to style.
Between her ability to fund her way to the top of the classical music world and then have the musicianship to stay there, Simone Dinnerstein is certainly a pianists that you will want to listen to. After having heard this phenomenal pianist live, I know that her recording and interpretation of the Bach suite will stay in my favorites for quite some time.
Zachary, There are so many glowing comments about Simone’s work as an artist, but I find yours so very important as it is based purely on your personal connection to her music making and nothing about you or your knowledge of the music–a direct hit of emotional and musical connection.
I experienced Simone the same way and that is why I signed her to the label. We are in challenging times in this beyond-crazy record business, but artists like Simone will thrive because they can connect and have something to say which is not about the past–while at the same time respecting everything they have learned from all that has come before.
Thank you for your honest acknowledgement of her artistry, and sorry that a record industry person actually responded–it really is personal as she does not need artificial promotion.
Thank you,
Bob Woods