THOMAS D.A. TELLEFSON = Complete Piano Works [Tracklist follows] – Jørgen Larsen, piano – 2L (audio-only Blu-ray)

by | Jul 8, 2012 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

THOMAS D.A. TELLEFSON = Complete Piano Works [Track follows] – Jørgen Larsen, piano – 2L audio-only Blu-ray 80, TT: 3 hrs., 18 min. [Distr. by Naxos] *****: 
Look at the total time for this single disc! I think this is the first of the 2L audio-only Blu-rays that doesn’t also include the same exact program of music on a separate SACD. And for good reason: SACDs have a limit of 80 minutes per disc, and the whole well over three hours of piano music by Tellefson fits on a single audio-only Blu-ray. There is a slight error in the title—these are the complete solo piano works, not the complete piano works. (There’s also a major typo in Tellefsen’s dates at the top of the back of the box.) The two Piano Concertos are on a Simax CD (who have also released the complete solo piano works, but not with the hi-res quality of 2L), and Jaworska Malgorzata was the first, some years ago, to premiere some of the Tellefson piano pieces on a single APO CD (not the Analog Productions APO).
The first thought that came to me when I put this Blu-ray on was “Oh, a Norwegian version of Chopin, with a bit of Grieg thrown in.”  Tellefsen lived from 1824 to 1874 and was a close friend of Chopin. He spent the better part of his life in Paris, where he was well-known as a teacher and pianist, with many trips back to Norway to perform. He is considered important in the history of Norwegian music in the 19th century. Like Chopin, most of his compositions were for the piano, but he is much more than just a Chopin disciple.  The works are quite varied and while several ape the favorite Mazurka form of Chopin’s and others are lovely waltzes, others are fairly original while showing Chopin’s influence. The use of Norwegian folk themes is not that different from Chopin’s occasional use of Polish folk themes in his piano music. While some of the 53 different selections here (count ‘em = 53!) fall into the 19th century salon piano music category, others stand on their own as exciting piano pieces that would perk up any recital program. Two of the most impressive are the Grande Polonaise in C sharp minor, Op. 18, and the virtuosic Toccata in F Major, Op. 22. Most of the works are quite short, seven or eight minutes being the maximum, and some under two minutes.
Another impression quickly came to mind hearing these works: The psychic neighborhood piano teacher Rosemary Brown, who released an LP around 1974 of new piano pieces that she said various dead composers such as Liszt, Bach, Beethoven and Chopin had dedicated to her. There was considerable controversy at the time about this. People in music such as composer Richard Rodney Bennett were totally convinced, whereas critic Alan Rich concluded the pieces were sub-standard re-workings of some of the composers’ better-known compositions.  Don’t misunderstand, however – I didn’t find any of Tellesen’s pieces sub-standard. They’re quite impressive and provide fine listening, although you might not want to tie yourself to all three hours plus at one sitting.
The absolutely gorgeous and rich sound of Larsen’s Steinway, recorded by 2L in DXD format at 352.8K/24-bit and made available in either DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 at 96K/24bit or 192K/24bit PCM stereo, is another plus for this Blu-ray. Tellefsen’s music is obviously a strong focus for pianist Larsen, who is a conservatory professor and pianist with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. The album can also be downloaded or streamed.
TrackList: 
Mazurkas, op. 1: I. A major Jørgen Larsen 2:29
Mazurkas, op. 1: II. A minor Jørgen Larsen 2:31
Mazurkas, op. 1: III. E minor Jørgen Larsen 1:44
Mazurkas, op. 1: IV. A major Jørgen Larsen 1:24
Nocturne no. 1 in F major, op. 2 Jørgen Larsen 4:07
Mazurkas, op. 3: I. G minor Jørgen Larsen 1:34
Mazurkas, op. 3: II. G major Jørgen Larsen 2:00
Mazurkas, op. 3: III. B flat major Jørgen Larsen 1:33
Mazurkas, op. 3: IV. F sharp minor Jørgen Larsen 3:15
Valses brillantes, op. 5: I. A flat major Jørgen Larsen 1:25
Valses brillantes, op. 5: II. G major Jørgen Larsen 1:16
Valses brillantes, op. 5: III. E minor Jørgen Larsen 3:52
Tarentelle in E flat major, op. 6 Jørgen Larsen 3:10
Elegie in F minor, op. 7 Jørgen Larsen 6:18
Huldredansen (Dance of the Hulders) in G minor, op.9 Jørgen Larsen 2:43
Adagio et Rondo in B minor, op. 10 Jørgen Larsen 9:22
Nocturne no. 2 in E major, op. 11 Jørgen Larsen 3:39
Theme original et Fantaisie in B flat minor, op. 12 Jørgen Larsen 8:27
Sonata in C minor, op. 13: I. Allegro moderato Jørgen Larsen 6:33
Sonata in C minor, op. 13: II. Adagio Jørgen Larsen 5:34
Sonata in C minor, op. 13: III. Rondo – Vivace Jørgen Larsen 2:58
Mazurkas, op. 14: I. D minor Jørgen Larsen 3:07
Mazurkas, op. 14: II. G major Jørgen Larsen 1:23
Mazurkas, op. 14: III. F minor Jørgen Larsen 3:46
Mazurkas, op. 14: IV. F major Jørgen Larsen 2:19
Mazurkas, op. 14: V. D major Jørgen Larsen 2:12
Mazurkas, op. 14: VI. C minor Jørgen Larsen 2:08
Feuillets d’Album, op. 16: I. Allegro moderato in B flat major Jørgen Larsen 1:26
Feuillets d’Album, op. 16: II. Lento in A flat major Jørgen Larsen 2:49
Feuillets d’Album, op. 16: III. Marche funebre in C minor Jørgen Larsen 5:53
Nocturne no. 3 in G minor, op. 17 Jørgen Larsen 4:23
Grande Polonaise in C sharp minor, op. 18 Jørgen Larsen 7:04
Allegretto in A major, op. 20 Jørgen Larsen 2:58
Toccata in F major, op. 22 Jørgen Larsen 7:46
La petite mendiante in E minor, op. 23 Jørgen Larsen 2:03
Grande Mazurka in B flat major, op. 24 Jørgen Larsen 3:56
Grande Etude in C sharp minor Jørgen Larsen 3:06
Bruraslaatten (Bridal Tune) in D major, op. 26 Jørgen Larsen 3:08
Valse in D flat major, op. 27 Jørgen Larsen 3:27
Ballade in C minor, op. 28 Jørgen Larsen 4:34
Marche Triomphale in E flat major, op. 29 Jørgen Larsen 5:04
Grande Valse no. 5 in F major, op. 30 no. 1 Jørgen Larsen 3:28
Grande Valse no. 6 in F minor, op. 30 no. 2 Jørgen Larsen 3:33
Mazurka/Polskdans in A major, op. 33 Jørgen Larsen 4:05
Au travers d’un songe in A flat major, op. 34 Jørgen Larsen 2:47
Capriccio appassionato in B minor, op. 36 Jørgen Larsen 4:37
Impromptu in G minor, op. 38 Jørgen Larsen 3:26
Nocturne no. 4 in G flat major, op. 39 Jørgen Larsen 5:04
Walhallafesten (The Walhalla Feast) in G minor, op. 40 Jørgen Larsen 3:52
Melodies ecossaises in A major, op. 42 Jørgen Larsen 7:46
Excercice en sixtes in E major, op. 43 Jørgen Larsen 2:29
Pavane de la Reine Elisabeth (Queen Elisabeth’s Pavane) in C sharp minor, op. 44
Valse in A major, without opus number Jørgen Larsen 3:03
—John Sunier
 

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