Unsung Composers

The Music => Recordings & Broadcasts => Topic started by: dhibbard on Monday 13 November 2017, 04:03

Title: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: dhibbard on Monday 13 November 2017, 04:03
New CD just released of the Piano Concerto of Lucija Garuta
Thought I would repost this from the Art-Music Forum.   This is an excellent recording, even tho' it was written after 1918.. it is in the same vein as other Romantic Piano Concertos.   If you disagree, I'll delete this thread.    This piano concerto was previously recorded and released by Melodiya.   This CD  a recent recording.   
Thanks
Dave

New issue:
http://skani.lv/en/catalogue/?cd=lucija-garuta-music-for-piano&icd=34

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lucija-Garuta-Music-Reinis-Zarins/dp/B076JVB91P/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510412591&sr=8-1&keywords=Lucija+Garuta+-+Music
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Alan Howe on Monday 13 November 2017, 09:52
There's nothing at all to frighten the horses here. In fact it sounds very beautiful. Thanks - I'll be ordering this.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: eschiss1 on Monday 13 November 2017, 10:23
...

In the name of the Journal of Irreproducible Results*, has that been tried experimentally? ;^)

*Please, please tell me we're familiar with that... and I adore horses and am in no hurry to see them frightened, so an adequately realized cybernetic horse may be substituted if it actually does mimic the behavior of real horses... erm- hrm, wait.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Alan Howe on Monday 13 November 2017, 12:25
I have to admit that I was expecting equine angst, but no...
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: dhibbard on Monday 13 November 2017, 16:02
I've always been a fan of this work.  I even have a copy of the piano reduction. 
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Ilja on Monday 13 November 2017, 17:11
Liene Circene's old recording of the work is on Youtube, by the way: first movement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q8tPcJINBo), second movement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIFCALt7CbQ), third movement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA1SuzbtCHc). It's a fine performance, but the sound is painfully clattery, so it is very good to have a modern recording of this delightful work.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Alan Howe on Thursday 23 November 2017, 13:34
This is blazing masterpiece. I am blown away! More when I have recovered...
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Alan Howe on Thursday 23 November 2017, 22:27
The music is extremely moving, memorable, beautiful and powerful; it also hyper-romantic - it knocks all other proposals for the accolade of 'Ultimate Post-Rachmaninov Piano Concerto' into a cocked hat. The performance is stellar and the recording quality startlingly lifelike.

This is without doubt my discovery of 2017. Please sell your shirt, if necessary, and buy it. You won't regret it.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: pianoconcerto on Friday 24 November 2017, 00:27
It will be available at the beginning of December for download from amazon, iTunes, etc.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Mark Thomas on Friday 24 November 2017, 07:10
Obviously a must-buy, then. Thanks for the heads up.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: dhibbard on Friday 24 November 2017, 20:30
Thanks... I knew you would all love it.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Alan Howe on Monday 04 December 2017, 17:24
Has anyone else bought this magnificent recording?
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Mark Thomas on Monday 04 December 2017, 17:41
It's just become available as a download, and it's snugly filed on my PC, but I've had no time to listen to it yet.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Alan Howe on Monday 04 December 2017, 18:26
A real treat awaits you.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Ilja on Monday 04 December 2017, 22:00
QuoteHas anyone else bought this magnificent recording?

This has long been one of my favorite concertos and I even overcame my aversion to the silver disc and ordered it from JPC. It's a glorious recording, but interpretatively close to the old Circene recording. Much, much better sound though.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Alan Howe on Monday 04 December 2017, 22:14
It's surely got to be one of the best late, late PCs 'out there'. Glorious is the word.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: eschiss1 on Tuesday 05 December 2017, 04:27
Found on NML tonight and listened. If I say that I intend to go back, it's because I did indeed enjoy it that much too, I do believe (for melody, for sense of structure and of well-considered momentum which I don't always find in the consensus locus classicus (the 2nd & 3rd Rachmaninoff concertos), ... thank you for the recommendation :) )
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Alan Howe on Tuesday 05 December 2017, 07:41
You're welcome, Eric. Good to have your view.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Mark Thomas on Tuesday 05 December 2017, 15:46
I've just listened to it, too, and it's a very fine piece of work indeed. I was expecting something more sub-Rachmaninov, but whereas the debt to him is clear enough, Garuta's own voice is very strong and attractive in its heavily late romantic way. Her orchestration is quite dense, but never murky, and it suits the rhapsodic, moderato pace of much of the music. The performances and recording are impeccable and I entirely agree with the plaudits already showered here on the work and recording. It is indeed a real gem.
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: dhibbard on Tuesday 05 December 2017, 17:20
thought you would enjoy it!
Title: Re: Lucija Garuta PC in F sharp minor (1952)
Post by: Alan Howe on Sunday 10 December 2017, 13:00
Here's a suitably appreciative review:
http://musicweb-international.com/classrev/2017/Dec/Garuta_piano_056.HTM (http://musicweb-international.com/classrev/2017/Dec/Garuta_piano_056.HTM)