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I have just been informed that Naxos has recorded Ignatz Waghalter's Violin Concerto together with his Rhapsody for violin & orchestra & violin sonata, to be issued in 2012. The soloist is Irmina Trynkos and a short video is available to view at www.knuckle.tv/clients/the-waghalter-project/. On the basis of the sound clips this is going to be a most eagerly awaited release!

2012, as I am sure most of you know, is the centenary of Coleridge-Taylor's death, and one of the most exciting events confirmed for next year will be a performance (well THREE ACTUALLY - 9-11th February at the Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon) of his three-act opera "Thelma" Op72 (1907-9). Geoffrey Self's book on SC-T has the MS as missing, but it has recently been discovered, and a performing edition is being prepared.

Assuming that the work is of sufficient quality, it may be possible to get some interest in a recording project (especially in view of Naxos' recent forays into the realms of Victorian English opera!) - or perhaps Chandos?

Dear All,

I wonder if anyone here has any information about Stefan Bergman (born 1901?). He wrote a number of shortish piano works in the 1930's rather in the style of Friedman/Godowsky and other similar pianist/composers - but seems to have disappeared before WW2. These short pieces were published in London by Universal Music Agencies (nothing to do with Universal Edition apparently!) and Eileen Joyce recorded a couple (Polka-Caprice & Himmelsgesange) for Columbia. I presume she probably included these as encores in her recitals at the time, although the composer does not feature on any of her programmes.

I would be pleased to here if anyone knows what became of Bergman and also if he contined to compose beyond Op4. I know he can only be described as a most minor composer at best, but any further information would be most welcome!

Martin

I know his name has been mentioned in passing on a couple of occasions in this forum, but I think Castro deserves a topic of his own on the strength of his piano concerto alone! I refer those interested to a performance on youtube, and although presented in rather disjointed chunks! - gives a more than adequate overview of the work and should hopefully start up interest (I know Mike Spring has seen the score and initially thought it rather weak - but I beg to differ and I am sure there are others that would too!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQH8ZmaYHcc

Then of course there is his piano music, a fair amount of which has appeared on a variety of Mexican labels that seem to be extremely difficult/well nigh impossible to obtain. (Can anyone tell me where I can obtain Quindecim recordings - they seem to have a fair catalogue including much 19th -early 20th century Mexican classical music - one of their CD's is a complete recording of Castro's valses pour piano?) There are a few odd pieces on IMSLP for those interested, but there also seems to be (if only one can know how to obtain them) a number of fairly recent published scores, including a volume of waltes. Castro studied in Paris with, amongst others, Moszkowski.


I also thoroughly recommend the cello concerto for those who like their late romantic concertos, and this one doesn't disappoint, although the performance is not top rate (once again, perhaps Hyperion's Cello Concerto series could be kick-started with this one!). There is also a rather poor recording of his first symphony, which is probably the least interesting work I've heard to date, and certainly seems to be more of a student exercise.

However, the piano concerto is surely a must!