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[font=Times New Roman][size=6][color=red][b]The Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto

series[/b][/color][/size]
[size=5]Volume [b]3[/b]: [b]Mendelssohn[/b] Concertos for Two Pianos[/size]
[size=3][i]Of the myriad Piano Concertos composed in the second half of the 19th
century all but a handful are forgotten. The survivors are played with a regula
rity that borders on the monotonous: pianists, promoters and record companies pl
ay it safe and opt for the familiar. Even a masterpiece can become an unwelcome
guest, especially when subjected to an unremarkable outing by yet another indiff
erent player, as happens so frequently today. How refreshing, then, to have the
dust brushed off forgotten specimens of 19th century piano concertos and rendere
d clean and polished for inspection again. Refreshing and rewarding, for they ar
e exactly the sort of pieces that make one wonder why we are forced to live off
such a limited concerto diet. How is it that such appealing, well-crafted, imagi
native works with their high spirits and luscious tunes could have vanished from
the repertoire? It is time for those who promote and play piano music to be mor
e adventurous and imaginative in their programming.[/i]
1991 Jeremy Nicholas[/size]
[img=http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/2387/concertosfortwopianosfrff4.jpg]
[size=5][color=red]Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy[/color][/size]
[size=3][color=#7f7f7e](Hamburg, February 3, 1809 - Leipzig, November 4, 1847)[/
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[b]Concerto in A flat major[/b] for two pianos (1824)
I. Allegro vivace [17:26]
II. Andante [9:45]
III. Allegro vivace [14:17]
[b]Concerto in E major[/b] for two pianos (1823)
I. Allegro vivace - Poco pi allegro [12:58]
II. Adagio non troppo [9:17]
III. Allegro [8:20][/size]
[size=4][b]Stephen Coombs[/b] & [b]Ian Munro[/b], pianos
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Jerzy Maksymiuk[/size]
[size=3][color=#7f7f7e]
Recorded in City Hall, Glasgow on 31 August, 1 September 1991
Recording engineer, Philip Hobbs. Recording producer, Andrew Keener
1992 Hyperion Records Ltd. CDA66567[/color]
Mendelssohns mature piano style was derived not so much from the orchestral textu
ring of Beethoven and Schubert, as from the filigree intricacies of the German v
irtuoso piano school, represented principally by Hummel and Weber, further enhan
ced by a Mozartian emphasis on textural clarity. It was never Mendelssohns intent
ion to push contemporary keyboard instruments beyond that of which they were com
fortably capable, more to utilise those qualities for which they were best adapt
ed brilliant clarity in the treble register, and the ability to sustain a flowin
g, cantabile melody without undue bass risonance. Mendelssohns first surviving wo
rks in concerto form date from 1822: the D minor Violin Concerto (not the popula
r E minor, a much later composition) and the Piano Concerto in A minor, both wit
h string orchestra accompaniment, closely followed by a D minor Concerto for vio
lin, piano and strings in May 1823. The [b]Concertos for two pianos[/b] also bel
ong to this early group, the E major being dated 17 October 1823, and the A flat
major 12 November1824. both works had entirely dropped out of the repertoire un
til, in 1950, the original manuscripts were rediscovered in the Berlin State Libra
ry. Mendelssohns sister, Fanny, was also a gifted pianist, and it is almost certa
in that the E major Concerto was written with her in mind. However, it also appe
ars likely that the A flat major Concerto was inspired by Felixs first encounter
with the young piano virtuoso Ignaz Moscheles. Upon seeing the boy Mendelssohn p
lay, even Moscheles could barely believe his eyes: Felix, a mere boy of fifteen,
is a phenomenon. What are all other prodigies compared with him?" The major crit
icism levelled at the Two-Piano Concertos is their tendency to overstretch relat
ively fragile musical material, as, with two soloists to contend with, Mendelsso
hn had been keen to ensure that the music was shared equally, thus involving an
unusual amount of repetition. It would hardly be fair to expect even Mendelssohn
to have achieved the miraculous thematic concision and structural cohesion of t
he E minor Violin Concerto and G and D minor Piano Concertos at such an early ag
e.
[i] Julian Haylock, from the booklet notes.[/i]
[img=http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/4993/coombsmunrodp1.png]
[i]Ian Munro - Stephen Coombs [/i]
Coombs and Munro prove ideal advocates, playing with delectable point and imagina
tion [i](Penguin Guide to Compact Discs)[/i] Fine talent is on display here ... th
is programme makes ideal listening as well as offering welcome insight into Mend
elssohns great genius [i](CDReview)[/i] ..The sheer joy of playing this music bubbl
es over in every measure [i](American Record Guide)[/i] .. Sensitive and enchantin
g [i](Piano International)[/i]
This new record is a fair recommendation to those who are curious about, or fond
of, the two-piano concertos sometimes ingenious, sometimes pleasantly tuneful o
r stimulating works which lack the quality of the solo concertos. The performanc
es also lack something of the required energy and dash, and occasionally the spe
eds adopted overtake clarity and precision of fingerwork. This is noticeable esp
ecially in the virtuoso passagework of the protracted first movement of the A fl
at work; the Weberian glitter of the E major Concertos finale comes off pretty we
ll. The pianists greatest strength is in their lyrical playing of the slow music,
in particular the [i]Adagio non troppo[/i] of the E major. The recording might
have made more of the musical alternations which Mendelssohn exploits, especiall
y in the finale of the E major.
[i]Gramophone.co.uk[/i]
Three languages-, 10 pages-booklet in .pdf format included.
Complete details of the Romantic Piano Concerto project can be found
at the [url=http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/]Hyperion Records[/url] website (I
ndexes Collections)[/size][/font]
[quote][font=verdana][size=2][b]Techn - The Romantic Piano Concerto, vol. 3[/b]
Extraction: Exact Audio Copy 0.95 beta 3
Used drive: PLEXTOR DVDR PX-740A, Offset +618
Read mode: Secure with NO C2, accurate stream, disable cache
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[color=#005236]Full artwork included in [b].png and .pdf lossless format[/b], sc
ans at [b]600 dpi[/b] resized to 300.[/color] [color=red]Text pages not descreen
ed[/color].[/size][/font][/quote]
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