James Rhodes: Dive In

“I have always felt that attempting to enter the world of classical music is far, far too complicated,” James Rhodes tells Apple Music Classical. With his unique blend of brilliant pianism and an engagingly candid stage presence, the Spanish-based British pianist has introduced whole generations to the wonders of classical music. And yet he still acknowledges that getting into classical can be a bewildering challenge. “How the hell do you know where to start?” he asks. “You’re met with an ocean of choices, and even if you know the name of the piece you want to start with, there are 82 different recordings of said piece to choose from.” Rhodes’ solution isn’t just to suggest run-of-the-mill classics. His playlist is a thoughtful selection of pieces that have captured his heart and mind—with a hope that they’ll capture yours, too. “Here’s a two-and-a-half-hour-long playlist filled with not just astonishing, essential and life-changing pieces,” he adds, “but also each performed by, in my opinion, the best musicians for the job.” We begin with the exuberance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by Andrei Gavrilov with, says Rhodes, “an energy that is palpable, visceral and unforgettable”. There’s Glenn Gould playing Bach keyboard concerto (“Don’t you dare tell me there is a finer recording”), and a recording of sublime Beethoven by two iconic musicians, cellist Mischa Maisky and pianist Martha Argerich. After a spellbinding Scriabin Piano Concerto, we come to the opening movement of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7. “It will quite possibly become a before-and-after moment in your life,” Rhodes insists. “Sit quietly, phone off, and allow yourself 20 minutes to submerge yourself in this opening movement. Feel the feelings it inspires, cry and shout and feel the goosebumps, and realise that there are more important things than social media, advertising, work deadlines and reality TV. Get into the pure, honest, bare truth of things just by listening.” Armenia beckons courtesy of Alexander Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto, 16 minutes of pure exuberance that deserves far wider popularity than it currently enjoys. “My god, there is so much joy missing right now,” says Rhodes, “how could you not give yourself this small pleasure?” The sentiment is similar for US composer Aaron Copland’s “magical and criminally underplayed” Clarinet Concerto, completed just a year earlier in 1949. In between Bach and Mendelssohn, Rhodes invites you to seek out a prelude by Rameau conducted by Teodor Currentzis. “Currentzis changed my life forever and I owe him everything,” he says. “My big hope is that you will hear his one track and start going down a rabbit hole that will lead to the kind of spiritual awakening that only someone like Currentzis can inspire.” We end on one of the greatest pieces of piano music ever composed, played by one of the true giants of the keyboard. “Krystian Zimerman playing Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 is the benchmark that all other pianists aspire to even now, almost 40 years since he recorded it,” says Rhodes. “Don’t @ me about this, you know I’m right.”