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Here is a handful of wonderful works performed by pianist Felicja Blumental that perfectly illustrate the originality of Spanish and Portuguese composers Angles, Albéniz, Cantallos, Carvalho, Ferrer, Freixanet, Jacinto, Seixas and Soler.
A fine re-release from Brana Records which is well worth exploring and should bring significant rewards to the lover of late-Romantic chamber music.....The talented players of the New Philharmonia Wind Ensemble and pianist Felicja Blumental give an adroit interpretation with heaps of lyricism and the right amount punch" says MusicWeb of Piano Quintets by Rubinstein and Rimsky-Korsakov (BR0019). July 2004
The Chopin is idiomatic and forceful, the Scherzos in particular a pleasure to listen to. Blumental is technically assured, at ease in the repertoire. It is right that Blumental’s playing and recordings should not be forgotten. She did much to revive rare and neglected repertoire; a cultural centre and music festival in Tel Aviv commemorate her achievement. Classical Source. June 2004
Piano Concertos by Grieg and Liszt/Busoni partners the wonderfully Romantic Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 by Edvard Grieg with the lesser-known work, Rhapsodie éspagnole by Franz Liszt, arranged by Ferrucio Busoni. It is a result of Liszt’s Spanish tour in 1845 and features two joyous dances: Folies d'Espagne and Juta Aragonesa. This CD also includes a recording of Fauré's Fantasie for piano and orchestra.
Piano Concertos by Schumann and Kuhlau In 1841, Schumann began composing a one-movement fantasy, which was later revised and became his one and only Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54, completed in c. 1845. Like the Grieg Piano Concerto, which was inspired by this work, it is consumed with Romanticism. Kuhlau only wrote two concertos, Concertino for 2 French horns (Op. 45) and the Piano Concerto, Op. 7 performed here. It is one of Kuhlau’s more significant works and it’s structure is similar to Beethoven’s early concertos, whom he met during his many travels. This CD also features Saint-Saëns Wedding Cake for piano and orchestra. This lively, dance-like caprice valse was composed in 1886 as a wedding present for pianist, Caroline de Serres.
The polish born pianist, Felicja Blumental, made a speciality of performing music outside the standard repertory, touring extensively throughout Europe and Latin America to great acclaim. Ms Blumental was a respected pianist to whom several 20th century composers dedicated works (Villa-Lobos, Penderecki and Lutoslawski). Brana Records continue her legacy with a further two CDs. Piano Concertos by Rachmaninoff and Hummel (BR0012) and Piano Concertos by Tchaikovsky and Arensky (BR0013).
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 has remained one of the most popular and challenging works for pianists worldwide. Here, Felicja Blumental demonstrates her skill and dexterity with the Orchestra of the Vienna Musikgesselschaft, conducted by Michael Gielen and dates back to 1957, recorded at the Musikvereinsaal in Vienna. The work is followed by Johann Hummel’s Rondo Brilliant on a Russian Folk Theme (Op. 98). The composer may arguably have contributed to the techniques that Rachmaninoff employed some thirty years later, but Hummel preferred the lighter toned Viennese piano. This is a souvenir of his Russian tour of 1822, recorded by Felicja Blumental with the Prague Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Helmut Froschauer in Vienna, 1970.
Brana’s second February release couples two Russian piano concertos (BR0013). Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat minor is one of the World’s most famous classical masterpieces and instantly recognisable from the introduction. This 1957 recording (with Michael Gielen conducting Orchestra of the Vienna Musikgesellschaft) testifies to Ms Blumental’s skill and musicianship, whose hands were considerably smaller than those of the composers found here. Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 2 is reminiscent of Chopin in its virtuoso passages but keeps its Russian character, very similar to the styles of Tchaikovsky (with whom he made a close association) and Rimsky-Korsakov, his teacher at St. Petersburg Conservatory. It is one of Arensky’s three main works. However, there are very few recordings available.
The polish born pianist, Felicja Blumental, made a speciality of performing music outside the standard repertory, touring extensively throughout Europe and Latin America to great acclaim. Ms Blumental was a respected pianist to whom several 20th century composers dedicated works (Villa-Lobos, Penderecki and Lutoslawski).
October 2003 marked the release of three recordings in Ms Blumental's name: 'Friends and Rivals: Mozart and Clementi (BR0008); Beethoven and Hoffmeister (BR0009) and a delightful recording of Chopin's Piano Concerto in F minor and his four Scherzi.
On Christmas Eve 1781, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Muzio Clementi took part in a musical playing contest in Vienna - an event which started a rivalry between the two composers that lasted for many years. Here, the rivalry continues (BR0008) via two recordings by Ms Blumental, Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 9 in E "jeune homme" and Clementi's Concerto for Piano in C.
The Friends and Rivals series also includes Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Hoffmeister's Piano Concerto in D major (BR0009) featuring Felicja with the Prague Chamber Orchestra and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, both recorded in the 1960s.
The third release, Chopin: Piano Concerto & Scherzos (BR0010) displays Ms Blumental's phrasing and technique. Her stiring and illuminating interpretation of the second movement in Chopin's Piano Concerto is beautifully balanced by the four lively Scherzi.
Similar to previous Brana titles, all CDs feature the cover artwork by artist Markus Mizne. Also available on Brana Records:
BR0001 - Felicja Blumental, Villa-Lobos Live!
BR0002 - Felicja Blumental, Concerto in Brazilian Forms
BR0003 - Annette Celine, Cantigas
BR0004 - Felicja Blumental, The Beethoven Mysteries
BR0005 - Felicja Blumental, The Pupils of Beethoven
BR0006 - Annette Celine & Christopher Gould, Songs With and Without Words
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