Hungarian Rhapsody Archive
Leopold STOKOWSKI conducts BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1; WEBER: Invitaton to the Dance; STRAUSS: Blue Danube and Vienna Woods Waltzes; LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 – Philadelphia Orch./ Leopold Stokowski – PASC
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1 in c minor, Op. 68; WEBER: Invitaton to the Dance, Op. 65 (arr. Berlioz/Stokowski); J. STRAUSS: On the Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314; Tales from the Vienna Woods Waltz, Op. 325; LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (orch. Mueller-Berghaus) – Philadelphia Orchestra/ Leopold Stokowski – Pristine Audio PASC 500, 70:01 [www.pristineclassical.com] ****: Mark Obert-Thorn initiates an integral survey of the Brahms symphonies by Stokowski, buttressed by virtuoso supporting recordings. Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) receives from Mark Obert-Thorn tribute upon the advent of Stokowski’s 135th year of his birth (on 18 April 1882), here in the first electrical recording of any Brahms symphony (25-27 April 1927), the first installment of the complete cycle that Stokowski left for posterity 1927-1933. Stokowski would record the Brahms First Symphony five times, each a reminder of Stokowski’s penchant for imposing a distinct organ sonority on the work’s massive melodic structure. The tendency to “layer” the various orchestral voices in the manner of the organ’s diapason seems to thicken an already generous texture, especially when the Philadelphia strings engage in their monumental capacity. On 30 April 1927 Stokowski lectured from the keyboard his “Outline of Themes,” whereby he provides an enthusiastic bit of […]
“Susan Merdinger – Soiree” = SCHUBERT: Sonata in B Major; BRAHMS: Two Rhapsodies; DEBUSSY: Estampes; LISZT: Concert Paraphrase on Verdi’s “Rigoletto”; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 – Susan Merdinger, piano – Sheridan Music
A genuinely honest virtuoso, Susan Merdinger impresses us with a recital set as a Romantic soiree in the grand style.
Fireworks – Barbara Nissman, piano = D. SCARLATTI: 3 Sonatas; BRAHMS: Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor; DEBUSSY: Masques; La fille aux cheveux de lin; La soiree dans Grenade; Feux d’artifice; LISZT: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 – Barbara Nissman, p. – Three Oranges
A potent entry from Barbara Nissman’s new label, the aptly named disc shimmers and flames with digital bravura and imaginative sensibility.
LISZT: Ellens Gesang III; Ballade No. 2; VERDI (arr. Liszt): Aida: Danza sacra e duetto finale; Rondeau fantastique sur un theme espagnol; Gute Nacht; Des Maedchens Klage; Erlkoenig; Der Mueller und der Bach; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 – Valentina Lisitsa, p. – Decca
Valentina Lisitsa assures her repute in the Liszt-performers annals with some spectacular entries, including the “impossible” rondo de bravura after a Spanish zarzuela.
LISZT: Fantasy and Fugue on B-A-C-H; Les Cloches de Geneve; Grosses Konzertsolo; Gianes de Woronince – Ballade Ukraine; Apres un lecture du Dante; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 9 “Le Carnaval de Pesth”; La Lugubre Gondoloa No. 1 – Misha Dacic, p. – Piano Classics
A pianist in the Gyorgy Cziffra tradition of virtuoso, volcanic Liszt, pianist Misha Dacic celebrates the Liszt bi-centennial in the grand style.
“Sonates Françaises” = Cello Sonatas by MARCELLE SOULAGE; PIERRE-OCTAVE FERROUD; PAUL VIARDOT – Genevieve Ibanez, cello/ Odile Bourin, p. – Skarbo/Anima “Felix Austria” = KODÁLY: Sonata for Cello and Piano; Sonatina for Cello and Piano; LIGETI: Sonata for Solo Cello; BARTÓK: First Rhapsody; DVOŘÁK: Rondo in G Minor; JANÁČEK: Pohádka; DAVID POPPER: Hungarian Rhapsody – Pamela Smits, cello/ Sabine Simon, p. – Universe Classics
Two fascinating musical outings for cello and piano with nationalistic overtones. Which to choose? How about both!
LISZT: Selected Works = Two Concert Etudes; Six Consolations; Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude; Trois Liebestraume; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12; Les Cloches de Geneve; Three Petrarch Sonnets; Mephisto Waltz No. 1 – Dmitri Vorobiev, piano – Blue Griffin (2 CDs)
Vorobiev brings a natural prowess and temperament to the composer’s demands for both bravura and poetry.
LISZT: Don Juan Fantasy; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13 in A Minor; Funerailles; Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5 in E Minor; Hunnenschlacht (trans. Cameron); Valse oubliee No. 1; Les Preludes (trans. Cameron) – Matthew Cameron, piano – Cala
Matthew Cameron plays the “Liszt card” with a decided vengeance, sporting long thin hair and the concert pose we know from various Romantic portraits of Liszt.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
