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Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Archive

William Kapell: Three First Releases = RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto; CHOPIN: Nocturne – William Kapell, piano/ NY Phil./ Artur Rodzinski (Rachmaninoff)/ Philadelphia Orch./ Eugene Ormandy/ Boston Symph. Orch./ Richard Burgin – JSP Records

William Kapell: Three First Releases = RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini; PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto; CHOPIN: Nocturne – William Kapell, piano/ NY Phil./ Artur Rodzinski (Rachmaninoff)/ Philadelphia Orch./ Eugene Ormandy/ Boston Symph. Orch./ Richard Burgin – JSP Records

by | Jul 29, 2017 | Classical CD Reviews

William Kapell: Live Performances – Three First Releases = RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43; PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 (2 performances); CHOPIN: Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 55, No. 2 – William Kapell, piano/ New York Philharmonic/ Artur Rodzinski (Rachmaninoff)/ Philadelphia Orchestra/ Eugene Ormandy/ Boston Symphony Orchestra/ Richard Burgin – JSP Records JSP684, 79:04(9/1/17) [www.jsprecords.com]  *****:  JSP Records restores invaluable moments from the most promising of America’s young piano virtuosos, William Kapell.  Once more, restoration engineers John H. Haley and Seth B. Winner collaborate to restore rare recordings by America’s first home-spun—he had been trained by Olga Samaroff and Dorothy Lafollette—piano virtuoso, William Kapell (1922-1953), tragically taken from us in a plane crash as his flight approached San Francisco Airport 29 October 1953.  A fabulous keyboard technique combined with a volcanic temperament made Kapell a natural exponent of the Romantic tradition he championed; and his exploring, adventurous musicianship had embraced many works in the Classical and Contemporary traditions as well. The Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (28 October 1945) with Artur Rodzinski represents the only performance that has had prior CD incarnation (on Pearl GEMM CD 9194), here issued […]

Shura Cherkassky, piano = Works of HAYDN, CHOPIN, CHASINS, POULENC & RACHMANINOFF – MeloClassic

Shura Cherkassky, piano = Works of HAYDN, CHOPIN, CHASINS, POULENC & RACHMANINOFF – MeloClassic

by | Jan 16, 2016 | Classical Reissue Reviews

Cherkassky’s appearances in Germany in the 1950s confirm his status as a master colorist. Shura Cherkassky, piano = HAYDN: Piano Sonata No. 34 in e minor; CHOPIN: Ballade No. 1 in g minor, Op. 23; Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat Major, Op. 51; Fantasie-Impromptu in c-sharp minor, Op. 66; Scherzo No. 1 in b minor, Op. 20; CHASINS: 3 Chinese Pieces, Op. 5; POULENC: Toccata from Trois Pieces; RACHMANINOV: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 – Shura Cherkassky, p./ Sym. of the SW German Radio/ Hans Mueller-Kray – MeloClassic MC 1033, 74:55 [www.meloclassic.com] *****: The rarified art of pianist Shura Cherkassky (1909-1995) has another important document in these 1952-1958 recital pieces and the Rachmaninov Rhapsody from, respectively, Bremen and Southwest German Radio. From the outset (27 February 1958), with the e minor Haydn Sonata (1778), Cherkassky presents a wide sonic palette, though understated, that reveals Haydn’s demands – Alberti bass figures, legato double-notes, syncopated double-notes, and a constant juxtaposition of major and minor modalities – that unfold in a manner that combines much of Scarlatti with the stile brise of the Bach sons. Besides the use of portato arpeggios in the first movement, the striking Adagio suggests florid, […]