Hyperion RPC: Urspruch/Bronsart & Rheinberger/Scholz

[Gareth Vaughan]

Members of this forum may like to know that the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra completed recording sessions on 15 June for a CD in Hyperion's RPC series containing the Bronsart & Urspruch PCs. That is all I know - I do not have the details of the soloist or the conductor (though the latter is probably Brabbins).

[giles.enders]

And several weeks ago completed the recording of Josef Rheinberger and Bernhard Scholz piano concertos with Simon Callaghan as pianist.  So you see there is a lot to look forward to for next year.

[FBerwald]

Oh.. The Rheinberger is one to look out for - the orchestral accompaniment is simply gorgeous! I believe this is his 2nd Piano concerto; an earlier work in E-flat from the 1860's may not have survived.

[Alan Howe]

Thanks for all this great news. Some wonderful PCs to look forward to getting to know - in, no doubt, authoritative performances.

[Mark Thomas]

That's really good news from both Gareth and Giles. Thank you gentlemen. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth, I hope, but am I the only one who finds the Bronsart/Urspruch coupling an odd one? They're both German romantic concertos, but otherwise have very little in common.

[Alan Howe]

You're right, Mark. Exactly what I thought at first. Then I thought: who cares?

[Mark Thomas]

Oh, quite, but... just sayin'.

[pianoconcerto]

Oh.. The Rheinberger is one to look out for - the orchestral accompaniment is simply gorgeous! I believe this is his 2nd Piano concerto; an earlier work in E-flat from the 1860's may not have survived.

A reconstruction of the E-flat Concerto was recorded earlier on CD.  In my piano-and-orchestra discography I note:

Rheinberger, Joseph (Gabriel) (1839-1901) Germany
Concerto in E-flat, JWV 128 (1860; orchestrated by Jürg Hanselmann from the short score)
+Musikverlag Müller & Schade AG 5065/2:  Jürg Hanselmann/Sinfoinieorchester Liechtenstein/William Maxfield

See also http://www.mueller-schade.com/downloads/Portrait/Hanselmann_Juerg_A4.pdf

[FBerwald]

Oh good... Has anyone sampled this?

[Alan Howe]

A reconstruction of the E-flat Concerto was recorded earlier on CD

Is this still available?

[Alan Howe]

...to answer my own question, it seems to be available throught the pianist's website:
http://www.juerghanselmann.li/de/portal/cds/portraets/klavierkonzerte/

I've put in an order, so I'll let everyone know what happens...

[Wheesht]

Shame on me, I sometimes walk past the Müller und Schade shop, and sometimes I even go in, but I didn't know they produced CDs...
The Hanselmann disc with the Rheinberger is still available from the Müller und Schade web shop:

http://mueller-schade.com/pages/Onlineshop_New/de/Hanselmann%2C-Juerg?source=2&refertype=5&referid=36312

[Ilja]

Is anyone who has heard this work able to give a short review? 30 Euros+ is a bit hefty to spend on a whim without any inkling about the substance of a work/CD...

[Gareth Vaughan]

Well it's only CHF20 on the pianist's website (which is about £16). Don't know what postage costs would add to that, however.

[jameswesthead]

I am really pleased that the Bronsart has received a recording to compete with the old VOX one, which, in my opinion, leaves much to be desired in the quality of the orchestral playing. I have written to Hyperion at least twice over the years asking them to record it - the slow movement is gorgeous - it has even occasionally made it to Classic FM, if that can be taken as any indication of melodic quality. As to why Hyperion have coupled it with the Urspruch - well they were both pupils of Liszt at Weimar; indeed Bronsart gave the first performance of Liszt's second PC there, and Liszt subsequently dedicated it to him. Urspruch is said to have been one of Liszt's favourites. I have not yet heard any music by him, but Amazon Prime members can hear excerpts from his comic opera "Das Unmöglichste von Allem" from a live recording on Naxos.