These are some of my favorite classical piano pieces performed by some of the greatest pianists I've heard, you'll love at least one. 

Krystian Zimerman Plays Beethoven Sonata No 8 In C Minor, Op 13 (Pathetique) (Complete)

Brahms Piano Concerto No.1, 1st movement

Chopin: Etude op25no12 "Ocean"

Rachmaninov - Prelude in G - Opus 32 No. 5

In 1933, after Alisha's mother dies, she is off to foster care, where she remains there until she is 12 years old.

A New Home

What Child Is This

While Bach was the end-all-be-all of the Baroque period, Chopin was the golden boy of the Romantic era. Just like the early Romantics rejected the cool objectivity of their predecessors, Chopin's music was all about expressing the self in all its various forms. In exploring new harmonic realms and tonal relationships, he had to come up with new forms to contain his highly individual creative messages. This resulted in his "character pieces" or piano miniatures - the shortest of which weighs in at just 16 measly measures. His Nocturnes, 19 in all, are particularly soulful and expressive, making them some of Chopin's most intimate pieces. Interestingly, Chopin has been wrongly credited with creating the genre of the romantic night piece. In fact, that honor goes to John Field, who composed 17 Nocturnes, the first three of which appeared when Chopin was just four years old. But don't let that take away from Chopin's supreme talent in the Nocturne genre. In short, Chopin was a true master of the Nocturne and his contributions to the genre will never be forgotten. Or at least until the next guy comes along and claims he invented it.

The Dublin-born Field was a pianist of wide acclaim throughout Europe. He was a student of Muzio Clementi and even worked in his piano shop. Field composed a ton of music, including eight piano concertos and 17 Nocturnes, the first three of which appeared in 1814 - when Chopin was just four years old. Most authors of books on Chopin try to downplay the influence of the Irish composer on the Polish master. Field may have invented the genre, but it was Chopin who really took it to the next level. You could say that Chopin took the essentials of the Nocturne and intensified them a thousandfold - like adding extra hot sauce to your already spicy burrito.

Even if you believe that Field invented the genre of the Nocturne, there's no denying that Chopin was a supreme practitioner in the field (pun intended). His piano style fully exploited the singing quality of the instrument and created a whole world of sonorities. He also used the sustaining pedal to amplify the piece's distinctive sonority, and his use of rubato contributed to the poetic ambiance. On a musical level, Chopin introduced the element of chromaticism into his harmonic structure, which influenced virtually all composers who came after him. Chopin's 19 Nocturnes are a real mixed bag - some are dreamy, some are tear-jerkers, and some are just plain stoic. The E-major Nocturne on this program is the 18th and final one that Chopin published in his lifetime (he did leave us with one more, but that was published posthumously). It's a real crowd-pleaser - it's got a nice, flowing melody and some fancy filigree, all held together by some sturdy chordal accompaniment. But don't worry, things don't stay calm for long - the left hand starts moving like crazy, and we get a new melody to go along with it. Then things get really interesting - we've got some syncopated, agitated music that really raises the tension. But don't worry, the main theme comes back to calm things down. And just when you think it's over, Chopin pulls out a little two-measure epilogue that some people might find a little unnecessary. But hey, who are we to question the master?

This is a live recording from Auer Hall at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music of one of Frederic Chopin's last works, the Nocturne in E major, op. 62, no. 2. 
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Piano: New York Steinway & Sons Model D

Frédéric Chopin Nocturne in E major, op. 62, no. 2

Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto for oboe and orchestra in a minor RV 461
Allegro ma non troppo
Magdalena Karolak - oboe
La Folia Barockorchester
released by Sony 2015

Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto for oboe and orchestra in a minor RV 461

Kathleen McDonald, flute
Pasquale Bianculli, guitar
  
  from "Hill of Slane - Psalms, Sonatas & Sojourns"

J.S. Bach - Sonata in E Minor, BWV 1034  IV. Allegro

Johann Strauss Jr: Artist's Life Waltzes Op.136. Ernö Rapée 1921 on Duo-Art 6447.
Recorded from digitally simulated reconstructed original reproducing piano roll Dec 31, 2018 and the rec.  updated Jan 14, 2023 by VViljanen, using on its replay and recording a modelled year 1896 Bechstein grand, reconfigured, revoiced and setup by VV
ANY KIND OF COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED.
Photo: Ernö Rapee (1891 -1945)  was Hungarian-born American symphonic conductor in the first half of the 20th Century whose prolific career spanned both classical and popular music. His most famous tenure was as the head conductor of the Radio City Symphony Orchestra, the resident orchestra of the Radio City Music Hall, whose music was also heard by millions over the air.
A virtuoso pianist, Rapée is also remembered for popular songs that he wrote in the late 1920s as photoplay music for silent films. When not conducting live orchestras, he supervised film scores for sound pictures, compiling a substantial list of films on which he worked as composer, arranger or musical director.
Basic Info* of the original piano roll:
ARTIST'S LIFE (Kunstler Leben), Waltz, Op. 136
Roll Number: 6447, 6447
Composer/Creator: Strauss
Pianist: Rapee
Roll System: Duo-Art
Country: US
Date: June, 1921
Category: classical, dance, popular
Original Price: $2.50 (Price after 1922)
'Info source: The Piano Player Group web page (by permission)

Artist Life Waltzes op.136

Johann Strauss Jr: Artist's Life Waltzes Op.136. Ernö Rapée 1921 on Duo-Art 6447

Archie Chen is a concert pianist, creator, and cultural leader whose music spans from the world’s great stages to the quantum unknown. Praised by the Irish Times for his “daring velocity” and “fiery temperament,” he has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Gewandhaus, and beyond — captivating audiences across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

As Executive Director of Holy Names Music Center in Spokane, Archie brings the same artistry and vision he brings to the keyboard: bold, creative, and committed to transformation. His recordings on Sony Classical and Carnegie Artists showcase not just technical brilliance but an alchemist’s touch — turning rhythm into resonance, matter into music.

This page is where it all comes together: live takes, studio sessions, and sound experiments. A space to step inside the frequency and hear music not just as notes, but as energy in motion.