Index
The Composer-Pianists -
Marc-André Hamelin, piano Shostakovich : Violin & Cello
Concertos - Oistrakh / Mitropoulos / New
York Philharmonic Rostropovich / Ormandy / Philadelphia
Orchestra Morales : Missa pro
Defunctis - Paul McCreesh / Gabrielli Consort
The
Composer-Pianists
Marc-André Hamelin, piano Hyperion CDA
67050 **** In the liner notes to this astonishing album,
pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin deadpans, "I don't like playing difficult
music." Sure, sure. A quick listen to this dazzling new recording
confirms Hamelin's status as today's top interpreter of the world's
most challenging piano music. Hamelin has selected 17 short piano
compositions by nine of this century's greatest virtuoso pianists,
winnowing the soulful seed from the showy chaff.
While the Rachmaninov and Scriabin selections are well known,
this disc holds many delicious surprises, including Godowsky's
ethereal Toccata in G flat major, Alkan's witty transcription
of Haydn's "Twinkle, twinkle little star" movement from Symphony
No. 94, Feinberg's spooky lullaby Op. 19a, and his joyous
transcription of Bach's Schübler Chorale No. 6. Medtner's
delicate Improvisation No. 1 gives us a tempting foretaste of
Hamelin's projected edition of Medtner's complete piano music on the
Hyperion label.
Hamelin's own compositions are at least as impressive as the
other works on this disc. His Études were written in homage
to Godowsky and Alkan. Hamelin's Etude No. 9 (1990) after
Rossini's La Danza, is a catchy tarantella that wryly segues
into tough passages with cascades of thirds and sixths in the right
hand, double notes in the left hand, and unpredictable cross
rhythms. Étude No. 10 (1987) is a dark minor-key reinvention
of Chopin's black key étude Op. 10 No. 5 in G flat, like a brief
psychotic glimpse into Scriabin territory.
Hamelin's Étude No. 12 : Prelude and Fugue is his only
wholly original composition on the disc. A slow atmospheric prelude
with falling-water effects on the treble keys, climaxes in a
compulsive Bartokian fugue.
Shostakovich :
Violin & Cello Concertos Oistrakh / Mitropoulos / New
York Philharmonic Rostropovich / Ormandy / Philadelphia Orchestra
Sony MHK 63327 **** This is a treasurable coupling preserving two
historically momentous recordings. First, the American premiere of
Shostakovich's Violin Concerto, Op. 99, recorded in Carnegie
Hall on Jan. 2, 1956, just 3 months after its world premiere in the
Soviet Union. Russian violinist David Oistrakh plays like a god, and
Mitropoulos's New York Philharmonic is with him all the way. Even
more impressive is Shostakovich's Cello Concerto, Op. 107,
recorded in Philadelphia's Broadwood Hotel on Nov. 8, 1959 by
Mstslav Rostropovich in the composer's presence. The cellist's
precise motoric bowing in the Allegro is breathtaking.
Excellent recorded sound, beautiful archival photos, notes in
English, French and German.
Morales : Missa pro Defunctis
Paul McCreesh / Gabrielli Consort Archiv DG
457-597-2 **** Paul McCreesh has assembled a program of
music suitable for the 1598 funeral of King Philip of Spain in the
Toledo Cathedral. The Officium defunctorum: Invitatorium and
5-voice Missa pro Defunctis (1544) by Spanish composer
Cristobal de Morales are ravishingly sung by the Gabrielli Consort.
The acoustic of Brinkburn Priory, Weldon, England couldn't be more
sympathetic to this a capella choir. The result is one of the
most hypnotically gorgeous recordings in
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