Classical Focus

America 1

Mad Rush: Part D (Bar 232 - Bar 273)

This is a studio recording from 2012 for the BBC film 'Loving Miss Hatto'. A biopic penned by the British comedian Victoria Wood about pianist Joyce Hatto.

The character piece is like the art song's fun-loving cousin who always shows up to the party with a bottle of emotional perfume. It's perfect for those intimate gatherings or solo rendezvous with your piano. Thanks to the piano's rise to fame in the 1800s, character pieces were popping up everywhere, and composers were flaunting their creations at the hottest recital events of the time. Basically, character pieces were the 19th century's version of a hot new single. If you thought Franz Liszt's music was boring, think again! This guy was all about giving his character pieces creative and whimsical titles, like "Sposalizio" and "Vallée d'Obermann". But don't worry, he didn't forget about those of us who like our music titles to be a little more straightforward - he also composed plenty of works with no-nonsense names like "Album Leaves" and "Klavierstücke". With his "Consolations" (a.k.a. "Six Poetic Thoughts"), Liszt took a page out of Chopin's book and delved into the world of nocturnes. And let me tell you, the third Consolation in D-flat major is pure Chopin - even the key is pianist-friendly, unlike those pesky "easy" keys like C major. Looks like Liszt knew a thing or two about pleasing his audience! If you're a Chopin fan, you're gonna love Liszt's "Consolation No. 3"! I mean, talk about a tribute - this piece is basically a carbon copy of Chopin's Opus 27, no. 1. And while it might not have the same flashy piano solos that Liszt is known for, it more than makes up for it with its dreamy, slow-moving melodies. Plus, it's in the same key as Chopin's original, so you know it's gotta be good.

Despite the unusual title, the Consolations were inspired by both poetry and religious contemplation, just like Harmonies Poétiques et Religieuses. Some say the title comes from an 1830 poetry collection by Sainte-Beuve, while others think it's based on a poem by Lamartine called A Tear (or Consolation). Either way, it seems like Liszt was in a pretty contemplative mood when he wrote these pieces. But don't worry, Liszt didn't completely forget his roots - he snuck in a little Hungarian folk song as the primary theme, which he later used in his "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 1". So even though this piece might not match the wild, hair-flailing image we have of Liszt, it's still got a little bit of that old-school flavor. Liszt's "Consolation No. 3" wasn't just a musical masterpiece - it was also a major turning point in the composer's life. And let me tell you, Liszt's early life was a doozy - it was basically one big, crazy party. But don't take my word for it, just ask his first mistress (and mother of his three children) Marie d'Agoult, who wrote all about it under the pen name Daniel Stern. And if you're feeling really adventurous, you can even watch the 1975 film "Lisztomania" for all the juicy details. Talk about living the dream! Liszt's life was like something out of a Hollywood movie - seriously, this guy was breaking class barriers and performing like a superstar. But as he got older, he decided to trade in the limelight for a little bit of privacy. He started conducting orchestras and composing more, and even started teaching aspiring pianists from around the world. I guess you could say he was the original piano man!

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Piano: Yamaha C7
Piano Technician: Martin Walsh
Recorded at Cauldron Studios, Dublin
Recording Engineers: Ciarán Byrne & Michael Manning
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Franz Liszt Consolation no. 3 in D flat Major, S. 172

Kaldalóns: Ave María (Arr. Víkingur Ólafsson)

Ave María (Arr. Víkingur Ólafsson) (Upright Piano)

Birgisson: Where Life and Death May Dwell (Icelandic Folk Song)

Where Life and Death May Dwell (Icelandic Folk Song) (Upright Piano)

Classics On A Green Day

Maurice Ravel : A La Maniere De Emmanuel Chabrier

The first piece in a set of thirteen pieces of music for piano written in 1838 by Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann - Kinderszenen op. 15 no. 1 Von fremden ländern und menschen

Philip Glass - Poem and Songs For Cello
Tissue No 2

9 - Philip Glass - Tissue No 2

Songs Without Words

Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 19, No. 1

Chopin : Preludes, Ballades Nos 3 & 4, Nocturnes

Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 7 in A Major

Songs from the Arc of Life

Après un rêve, Op. 7, No. 1

Field: Complete Nocturnes

Nocturne No. 1 in E Flat Major, H.24

Nocturne No. 2 in C Minor, H.25

Selected Sampler 2005

Berceuse in D Flat Major, Op. 57

Big Mozart Piano Sonatas Box

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 12 in F Major, K. 332: II. Adagio

Peter Warlock - Capriol Suite: V. Pieds-en-l'air

Performed by Paula Van Goes, saxophone, and Oleskii Ivanchenko, piano, live in Broby Hall at the University of Miami on February 22, 2017.

Live Recital Broby Hall 2.22.17, University of Miami

Schwanenlied by Fanny Mendelssohn

Si tu voyais son cœur (Bande originale du film)

Générique de fin

Performer: 't Muziek Frascati, May 14th, 2009, Concert Hall Leuven 
Conductor: Kris Stroobants

http://www.tmuziekfrascati.be/concert/5

--

"Prince Igor is an opera in four acts with a prologue. It was composed by Alexander Borodin. The composer adapted the libretto from the East Slavic epic The Lay of Igor's Host, which recounts the campaign of Russian prince Igor Svyatoslavich against the invading Polovtsian tribes in 1185. The opera was left unfinished upon the composer's death in 1887 and was edited and completed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Glazunov. It was first performed in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1890." (source: Wikipedia)

'Polovtsian Dances' from 'Prince Igor' (Alexander Borodin)

Francisco Mignone; Lundu (arr. BGQ)

Recorded in 1999 by the Brazilian Guitar Quartet (Paul Galbraith, Edelton Gloeden, Tadeu do Amaral and Everton Gloeden, guitars)

From the album "Essência do Brasil" (DE3245)

Francisco Mignone; Lundu

Contrasts (Live): Galuppi: Piano Sonata No. 5 – Beethoven: 10 Variations WoO 73 – Chopin: Mazurkas Op. 63 Nos 2 & 3, Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 – Schubert: Impromptu Op. 142 No. 3 – Schumann: Kinderszenen, Op. 15 – Medtner: Sonata tragica, Op. 39 No. 5

Frédéric Chopin: Nocturnes, Op. 9: No. 2 in E-Flat Major (Live)

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