Antonin Dvorak - Serenade for strings
Mov. 4 - Larghetto
Chamber Orchestra of Belgium - conducted by Benjamin Haemhouts
Live recording @ Concertgebouw Amsterdam
20-03-'13

Dvorak - Serenade for strings - Mov. 4

This piece originates from Robert Schumann's 'Album für die Jugend' - a collection of 43 short works that were composed for his three daughters. The opus 68 'Album für die Jugend' is, unlike 'Kinderszenen', meant to be played by children, although the collection is divided in two parts - and the second is marked 'Für Erwachsenere', from no. 19, 'Kleine Romanze', onwards. 

'Wilder Reiter', or - as it is more commonly referred to, 'The Wild Horseman', is the eight piece of the collection. It is a short and easy, albeit wonderful piece due to its evocative, enthralling composition. It is essentially a lesson in staccato phrasing (one can really imagine the horseman trotting about), and teaches the pianist how to lead the cantabile with both hands, while accompanying with the other. The first section, where the melody is led by the right hand, is repeated. What follows is an intermezzo, if you will, where the left hand leads the melody - an inverse variation on the first section. The piece concludes with a third repetition of the first section. 

I am fascinated by the images that the piece conjures. Is the horseman clad in medieval armour, riding past you in a jousting roundabout? In measures 5 through 8 I deliberately retained some intensity in favour of conveying how the horseman has galloped past the listener (who is of course, stationary), and is making another pass. The second section, measures 9 through 16, seem to indicate the 'wild' in the horseman. Is he perhaps struggling to contain the horse, who has run amok? But then the first section is repeated, and the controlled, frivolous atmosphere reassures and consoles the listener. 

illustration: Géricault - 'Head of White Horse', ca. 1810, Musée du Louvre, Paris

R. Schumann - Wilder Reiter (The Wild Horseman) op. 68 no. 8 in A minor

Ernst - Last Rose of the Summer / Ion Mazur, violin

Ernst - The Last Rose of the Summer / Ion Mazur, violin

Part of 'Master of Instrumental' radio collection

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Beethoven - Pathetique Op. 13 - III. Rondo. Allegro

My interpretation of Rachmaninoff's Prelude B Minor Op32.

Sergei Rachmaninoff - Prelude B Minor Op32

Guest conductor David Lockington leads the NEC Philharmonia and student soloist Huijuan Pan in Franz LIszt's Concerto for PIano No. 1 in E Flat Major. The performance was recorded live on April 12, 2011 at NEC's Jordan Hall.
For more information about New England Conservatory: http://necmusic.edu

Liszt - Concerto for Piano No. 1 in E flat major  - Allegro marziale animato

The Borromeo String Quartet with pianist Emely Phelps perform Dvorak: Quintet for Piano and Strings no 2 in A major. Recorded live February 26, 2012 at Jordan Hall.
For more information: http://necmusic.edu

Dvorak: Quintet for Piano and Strings no 2 in A major-  Dumka  Andante con moto

This is another performance I gave at the 2011 Showcase Lamont event. 

Sarasate: Navarra for Two Violins

Chopin Nocturne No. 10 In A - Flat Major Op 32/2.

Liszt - Mephisto Waltz No.1

New England Conservatory's Philharmonia led by Hugh Wolff perform Shostakovich's Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 54. Recorded live in Jordan Hall March 11, 2013.

Liszt - Mephisto Waltz No.1

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