Opus clavicembalisticum by the British composer Kaikhosru Sorabji is probably the longest piano piece of all time (repetitive works not included). This gigantic work, in which the Hammerklavi sonata is child's play, takes about the same length as a Wagner opera. Opus clavicembalisticum was first performed by the composer in 1930. For a long time this was the only performance, because Sorabji, who
… cared about public recognition, withdrew completely from the stage. For a long time, few pianists were allowed to play this music. It was therefore a great surprise when the pianist Geoffrey Douglas Madge, active in the Netherlands, managed to play and record this music with Sorabji's permission. Fortunately, a performance played by Madge has recently become available on the Bis label. Incidentally, this is not a re-release of the recordings made in Utrecht from 1982 (which were released on LP at the time), but a live recording that was made in 1983 in Chicago. (HJ)more
