Unsung Composers

The Music => Recordings & Broadcasts => Topic started by: Rob H on Sunday 16 July 2017, 16:15

Title: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Rob H on Sunday 16 July 2017, 16:15
I have just noticed this on Acte Prealable website. I didn't even know he had written them...

"The world premiere recording of the First and Second Piano Concertos by Raul Koczalski took place on July 13th and 14th in Rzeszów. These works have been recently discovered by Jan A. Jarnicki. The world premiere of the First Concerto took place last year in Słupsk (performed by the Koszalin Philharmonic Orchestra), during the closing concert of the Polish Pianism Festival, the Second Concerto was first performed on June 17th 2017 in Radziejowice (by Sinfonia Varsovia). Both performances were done by phenomenal artists: the superb Polish pianist Joanna Lawrynowicz and the outstanding Italian conductor Massimiliano Caldi. The same artists, together with the Filharmonia Podkarpacka, realized the first recording in history of the above mentioned pieces. The recording will be available on CD later this year."

Rob

Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: eschiss1 on Sunday 16 July 2017, 18:04
Interesting, IMSLP has a work of his but he'd passed me by I think. An opera of his is @ Hathitrust in vocal score (and a few other operas were also published by Pabst in the early years of the 20th century) , the piano concerto Op.83 was published in 1936 by Tischer & Jagenberg (Ewald Straesser's main publisher, by the way)...
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 16 July 2017, 20:18
More about the composer here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Koczalski (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Koczalski)
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 27 August 2017, 04:49
You can hear the (very lovely) end of the slow movement of PC1 here (first item):
http://www.acteprealable.com/ (http://www.acteprealable.com/)
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: eschiss1 on Monday 04 September 2017, 04:45
According to German Wikipedia, he composed 6 piano concertos. Hopefully they all still exist and this is the first volume of three. (Also concertos for violin and for cello.)

(Concertos Op.79 in B minor, Op.83 in G (1914), Op.125 in C, Op.130 in B-flat, Op.140 in D minor (1942), Op.145 in E (1944). Violin concerto in A Op.84, cello concerto in B minor Op.85 (1915). Also 10 piano sonatas, 4 violin sonatas, etc.)
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Gerhard Griesel on Thursday 07 September 2017, 20:55
The sample piece is incredibly beautiful. Please keep us updated when this CD becomes available.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: chill319 on Sunday 10 September 2017, 01:17
Could someone please provide a link to the excerpt. I can't find a link on the Acte prealable site.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Mark Thomas on Sunday 10 September 2017, 07:55
The music plays as soon as the (home) page has finished loading.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Tuesday 24 October 2017, 15:14
The CD is now described as 'coming soon'.

(http://www.acteprealable.com/albums/cover/ap0501.jpg)

http://www.acteprealable.com/coming_soon.html (http://www.acteprealable.com/coming_soon.html)
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: semloh on Tuesday 24 October 2017, 21:25
Thanks for drawing attention to this. It's a new name to me, and a perfect example of an unjustly Unsung Composer.
The CD goes straight to the wants list!
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Rob H on Thursday 02 November 2017, 06:15
Looking again at the front cover I notice it includes the first two concertos but says "Piano Concertos 1". I take this to be volume 1 so I think we can assume the other concertos are to be recorded. Here's hoping.
Rob
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Thursday 02 November 2017, 09:46
Well spotted! An intriguing prospect.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: eschiss1 on Monday 06 November 2017, 20:26
have there been any recordings of his music (post-1920 say) otherwise? I see recordings of him with Celibidache in Chopin's F minor concerto and some solo recordings (the complete Koczalski piano recordings, mostly Chopin iirc??) but that's it. Maybe one of his piano sonatas, actually (sonatina, in C) now I think on it?
Looking forward to hearing the concertos. And hoping of course that I'll then wish his other music were recorded too :)
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Rob H on Tuesday 07 November 2017, 09:03
Ingolf Wunder plays his Valse fantaisie op49 on the album "300".
Koczalski plays his own Praeludium, Impression op75 and Renata waltz on Marston 52063 and his Impromptu op124 on Archiphon ARC-119/20.
Selene records have his Scherzo op131 on Koczalski vol7, several piano pieces on vol2 (preludes, sonatina, Polish suite etc), vol3 (waltz, nocturne, suite etc), vol4 has songs and vol1 has mazurkas, etude and waltz.
Acte Prealable has also recorded vol1 of his chamber works (AP0383).
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: hyperdanny on Tuesday 07 November 2017, 13:25
the sound bite sounds indeed beautiful...Massimiliano Caldi is a fine young (-ish) conductor, here in Milan he's appeared several times with the Pomeriggi Musicali Orchestra and the Giuseppe Verdi SO
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: eschiss1 on Tuesday 07 November 2017, 13:52
Ah, thanks Rob H. And that's good news about his chamber works...
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Gerhard Griesel on Saturday 11 November 2017, 19:18
It looks like the Koczalski CD is now available for order, but unfortunately it is out of reach pricewise. Forty dollars plus shipping...
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Saturday 11 November 2017, 22:39
Yes, it's apparently available direct from the label. Think I'll wait for its general release...
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Martin Eastick on Saturday 11 November 2017, 23:51
It would appear that the cost per CD is actually 40 zloty - which works out at about £8.40 plus postage of course! This, therefore, seems to be the most economical way of obtaining this (and other) releases from this most enterprising label. From what is listed here as new and recent releases, I have a rather large order to compile & request.........
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 12 November 2017, 09:24
No, sorry Martin: it's 40 zloty within Poland, but otherwise EUR30 or $40! Admittedly you get the CD of Koczalski's chamber music thrown in, but, as I already have that, it's too expensive for me...
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: chill319 on Tuesday 14 November 2017, 19:03
Nice to see that Acte Preable has scores for rent as well as recordings for sale. For Koczalski they list

– Piano concerto no. 1 in B minor op. 79
– Piano concerto no. 2 in G major op. 83
– Piano concerto no. 3 in G major op. 125 (in preparation)
– Violin concerto in A major op. 84
– Symphony op. 78 (in preparation)
– Symphony op. 93 (in preparation)

... presumably a clue as to future recordings as well.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Tuesday 14 November 2017, 21:25
Very nice too!
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: stevevx101 on Thursday 16 November 2017, 21:43
The Presto Classical site lists the CD as available.  The sample sounds very beautiful.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Mark Thomas on Thursday 16 November 2017, 22:10
Could you supply a link, please? I can find the chamber music CD, but not the piano concertos. Thanks.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: eschiss1 on Thursday 16 November 2017, 22:33
Me too. Though I -also- see Szantó piano music listed (another Acte préalable CD). Neat, that.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Thursday 16 November 2017, 22:49
I can't find it at Presto either.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Richard Moss on Friday 17 November 2017, 09:42
I think I saw on their web-site that Acta Prealable says it comes out for general release in December (and they're selling pre-general release versions at higher prices for those who cannot wait)>   Apologies if this is  and I have misunderstood.

Cheers

Richard
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: JJ on Tuesday 21 November 2017, 11:16
Regular price for our CDs is 15 € or 20 $. Postage is also 15/20 regardless of the quantity. The price of Koczalski's piano concertos in special offer till end of November is 30/40 including postage. But the special offer include free of charges Koczalski's violin works. I think it is cheaper offer then from 1st of December.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Tuesday 21 November 2017, 12:03
Hi JJ and welcome to Unsung Composers!

Could you please tell us when the Koczalski Piano Concertos CD will be generally available for us in the UK?
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: JJ on Tuesday 21 November 2017, 13:51
Unfortunately, I do not know. Ask my distributor (Verification is awful. I'm not able to read most of the letters on my 27 'monitor).
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 26 November 2017, 22:50
MusicWeb now have this for sale - here:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/Acte_Prealable/Catalogue_Acte_Prealable_2013.htm (http://www.musicweb-international.com/Acte_Prealable/Catalogue_Acte_Prealable_2013.htm)
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 03 December 2017, 23:11
...and Acte Préalable themselves now have it as a 'new release'.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Thursday 14 December 2017, 10:19
Stock has now arrived in the UK, so order away...!
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Saturday 16 December 2017, 17:40
Anyone who receives this CD in the coming days is in for a real seasonal treat. PC1 is surely 'up there' with the Garuta PC in 2017's 'Previously Unrecorded Piano Concerto Role-Call of Honour'. The slow movement in particular ought to be a Classic FM favourite - it's just meltingly beautiful.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 17 December 2017, 22:16
...although PC2 (ca.1914) is probably the better, more integrated piece. The first movement in particular - an expansive Moderato - is a very fine achievement. Wonderfully pianistic throughout, there are some absolutely ravishing passages where the strings soar and sing, as well as immensely powerful climaxes where the orchestra roars and the piano thunders.

I'm very glad to say that this music doesn't sound like Rachmaninov at all...
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Mark Thomas on Thursday 04 January 2018, 15:35
For me PC2 is clearly the superior piece, thoroughly romantic in idiom and spirit but with less of the rhapsodising which holds back passages of its predecessor.  That's not to say that the First isn't a fine work, but it does have more than an echo of Rachmaninov about it to my ears. The slow movement is absolutely glorious, though. Both works are treated to excellent performances, especially so from the soloist Joanna Lawrynowicz, a new name to me but one with a technique to spare.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: FBerwald on Tuesday 13 March 2018, 14:05
Is this CD available for Digital Purchase anywhere?
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: Mark Thomas on Tuesday 13 March 2018, 21:26
No, I don't think so. None of the recent Acte Prealable releases have been, possibly none of them are.
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: semloh on Tuesday 20 March 2018, 10:20
I think that this CD is going to stay on the wants list for the foreseeable future. Too expensive for me. Can't even find a few sound-bites. :(
Title: Re: Koczalski PCs 1 & 2
Post by: eschiss1 on Tuesday 20 March 2018, 11:05
JPC does have soundbites for the disc of his chambermusic, but agreed- can't find them at a number of places the piano concerto CD is advertised, including the conductor's own homepage.