Today is one of those remarkable days, on which two masters of the same instrument happened to be born. (Another is February 2, which gave us both violinists Fritz Kreisler and Jascha Heifetz.) In addition to it being the anniversary of the birth of pianist-composer Sergei Rachmaninoff (in 1873), it is also the birthday of Ferruccio Dante Michelangelo Benvenuto Busoni (in 1866). Clearly, Ferruccio Busoni’s parents had great expectations for their boy!

“Music from Marlboro” is on hiatus from WWFM – The Classical Network for the duration of the COVID-19 lockdown. However, it’s still possible to enjoy great Marlboro performances on recordings. Here’s a jawdropping performance of Busoni’s “Fantasia contrappuntistica,” a vertiginous knucklebuster played with elan by 16 year-old Peter Serkin and 20 year-old Richard Goode.

Marlboro School of Music and Festival: Official Page