Messages

Thanks Mike for mentioning this. It was broadcast 14 August, but I see that it will be broadcast again on 20 August, see here.

I'm pretty sure Concertzender has the CD 'Ab Koster plays Dutch Horn Concertos' by the North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Jürgen Kussmaul with Ab Koster as the soloist. But the Coenen is another release. I've never heard anything by Coenen and I will surely listen to his concerto ('Radio on demand').

I've written about the Hutschenruyter family in another thread. The concerto by Jean-Engelbert Pauwels is a real gem. It's Mozartean of course, with very memorable, cheerful themes. Once heard you cannot get the catching tunes out of your head, especially the theme of the 'Polacca Allegretto'. However, Pauwels doesn't fall within the scope of the forum...

For a few weeks now, since I have received the new release of Goldmark's Violin Concerto coupled with his Violin Sonata op. 25 (violinist Thomas Albertus Irnberger), I have been listening to everything I have from this composer. Over and over again. It has been a personal rediscovery of a – by me - almost completely forgotten, unsung genius (I know, a very delicate word).

His opus 28 is perhaps one of the most romantic violin concertos I know of. Irnberger lets his violin sing and cry, especially in the 1st and 2nd movement. Pure emotion.

Symphony No. 1 is very famous, but his 2nd is absolutely worth listening as well.

Please discover his utterly beautiful chamber music. Try his Piano Quintets (ever heard a more magical movement than the Adagio of his op. 30?) and Piano Trios. I have already mentioned his Violin Sonata. You will be surprised.

The only other discs I have are Vol. 1, 2 and 3 of his Piano Music. I understand that Vol. 4 is released, but cannot find a copy yet.

There is fortunately more to discover and my collection is not complete (I know, the Queen of Sheba, but I'm not a big opera fan).

Goldmark's romantic music is melodious, intimate, full of passion and offers many pleasant listening hours. How could I have ignored Goldmark so long?

Already available from jpc. Listening to the audio samples the music reminds me of Haydn. Quite classical, not really innovative. Not much variety between the faster movements, but  a nice and safe op. 1 for the composer. Pianistic entertainment without any depth.

An interesting find, Morten!
The audio excerpts sound very promising...... For me a discovery and, here I go again, a must-buy.
BTW, his Symphony No. 4 doesn't sound bad at all. That is to say, the audio samples of this first recording (jpc made a mistake, nos. 1 & 3 are the same). Maybe rather predictable music, but worth listening. The last movement sounds a bit nervous to me. If you buy the CD, you will have another performance of one of Liszt's warhorses...

I thought the discussion was about the reissue of Rubinstein's Fifth. Not that he is as a composer less than others. Well, my contribution is that I don't understand why Naxos re-released this old recording.
I could be one of the few who really like to see a completely new performance of this very fine symphony. Actually of all his symphonies. Another first class orchestra, an inspired conductor who understands Rubinstein, a state-of-the-art recording. I suppose Naxos is not interested because of the MP series, but Chandos might. After all, we are talking about one of the greatest Russian composers ever. IMHO of course.

That's a shame, because the Ponti performance uses an edition (probably by Reinecke) that hacks much of the opening tutti out.

I am aware of that but the shorter opening makes the concerto – to my ears – more effective and besides, I like Ponti's powerful  introduction.

Thank you very much for this most wonderful and valuable Raff website, Mark. A tremendous source of information. It is indeed the essential Raff reference. It helped me to build up my Raff collection. And I will most certainly visit the site frequently for new and additional information.

Thank you Marianna, I will certainly explore your website.

Over the past months Weingartner's music is growing and growing on me. Try his chamber music. This is really good. Very good indeed.

Moscheles. Oh yes, that has to be his Piano Concerto No. 3 Op. 58, in particular the opening. After so many years this overwhelming tune can still drive me to tears. What an utterly gorgeous, most thrilling and deeply-felt opening. And the 'old' Ponti is the winner of the two performances I have.

I fully agree with you all. And yes Thal, it is certainly an art. Listen for example to the exciting Grande caprice sur des motifs de La Sonnambula, op. 46 by Thalberg. Absolutely more than just a showpiece.

Both symphonies are – to my ears – very similar and belong to the most strange (late romantic, well, at least tonal) symphonies I've ever heard. They sound almost like a fanfare, but with strings added. Most remarkable and definitely a voice of its own. Beautiful? I still don't know.  But good to have listened to this CD again, thanks to this thread.

In a recent newspaper interview the Dutch pianist Wibi Soerjadi states that if the music is not an aim in itself, it is kitsch. An example is a piano transcription of a musical theme, which only shows the virtuosity of the pianist.
We can think of the many dazzling transcriptions Liszt and Thalberg composed (personally I love them). But is it art or kitsch?

I'm wondering which unsung composer was the first who wrote a solo concerto in one movement. Of course (or not?) a concerto in several tempi, but running into the next without a break. And why should the composer have done so? Does the concerto sound more compact? Is it original? If memory serves I think the sung composer was one of the Bach sons. Was the unsung composer just a follower?
Which concerto belongs to your favourites?

I like to add the Symphony in G minor by the Flemish composer August de Boeck (1865-1937). Maybe not a 'great' symphony compared to many others, but this four movement work (1896) is certainly a (late) romantic work, featuring an impressive flow of beautiful passages.