Well, hard on the heels of vol.1 comes vol.2 of Raff's piano music...
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Grand%2BPiano/GP612 (http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Grand%2BPiano/GP612)
Like others, I really enjoy volume 1. Looking forward to the next.
Saint-Saens is coming too - http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Grand%2BPiano/GP605
Funny, the second volume wasn't scheduled for release until the autumn and, as far as I know, the booklet hasn't yet been approved. The works themselves, the Fantasy Sonata, the big Variations on an Original Theme and the four shorter pieces of Op.196 all rank amongst Raff's best and Tra plays them with all the technique and intelligence which she has displayed in her other Raff recordings. I've just heard the first mix of volume III and that's another winner I'm delighted to say.
I put in an order for Volume 2 a few days ago, and the supplier is claiming a release date of 28 May. I thought Volume 1 so good, that I won't find it "funny" at all if the release is delayed! Hope Mark's point doesn't indicate that the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is up to in this case. (When I saw Volume 2 announced, I did think, gosh, that's very soon indeed after Volume 1).
However if we have to wait until Autumn, well (big sigh) so be it.
Are you at liberty, Mark, to reveal what Volume 3 will include? And is Volume 3 the end of the project (if so, another big sigh)?
I'm still trying to get to the bottom of the changed release schedule issue for vol.2....
As for what'll be on vol.3, Tra will be playing the Album Lyrique op.17, a roughly 45 minute set of nine numbers allegedly dating from 1849, although I suspect that at least a couple of them are from the 1870s, the Cinq Eglogues op.105, an exquisite set of five little pieces from 1861 lasting around 20 minutes, the Fantaisie-Polonaise op.106 dating from the same year and the Valse-Impromptu à la Tyrolienne WoO.28 of 1868.
There aren't plans for any more in the series.
My mistake, it isn't the Valse-Impromptu à la Tyrolienne WoO.28 which has been recorded for vol.3 but the Impromptu-Valse op.94 of 1860! Apparently the release of vol.2 has been brought forward to the end of this month.
Many thanks for the updates, Mark. I know what music I'll be devouring at the end of May. But, alas, only three volumes. I've become quite addicted by Raff's piano music through Volume 1, and now want more!
Presto Classical now have sound bites of each track here (http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Grand%2BPiano/GP612). Just click on the Listen tab. You can read the booklet notes here (http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=GP612&catNum=GP612&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English#).
Is this only the second recording of the Fantasy-Sonata? It really is a fine work, I agree (or my opinion too, anyway...)
Yes, it's the second recording. Valentina Seferinova recorded it for Cahoots and that performance is still available on Cameo Classics.
Or direct from me at £10 inc. postage (even to the USA!).
I actually have a MIDI (two, because of size problems), though one of these days sooner rather than later I'm going to buy one or both of the actual honest-to recordings of the work (in part because I -have- heard it.)
I ordered my copy on Sunday and had an email from Amazon saying it had been dispatched. No sign of it yet though...
The CDs have now definitely been despatched to retailers.
I received my copy - from Amazon - several days ago. But I use their 'Prime' service - fast as light and free postage. This week has seen me up to the neck with conferences et al, and hence the disc remains adorned with its cellophane. As does volume 2 of the Weinberg complete piano works series. Aaaah, which to listen to first? Hamlet was never confronted by such a choice.
Vol.2 or not Vol.2, that is the question...
Vol.2ably?
(Nein, W.) *checks to see if there's a thread about the Weinberg vol.2 disc, as the disc contains a favorite work- sonata 4 - and a comparison between the version there and the 2 others (that I know of...) (Gilels, MacLachlan) would be interesting*
Amazon US says the release date isn't until the end of the month...
(I for one have way too much to listen to to be in a hurry to get it anyway, what with just getting the Glazunov/Serebrier box and Liadov complete piano music among other things)
Tra plays the Berceuse from the op.196 pieces on a promotional YouTube video here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnr0E-qyyYM).
emusic has both volumes ready to download for $5.99 each. The links are here http://www.emusic.com/listen/#/album/tra-nguyen/raff-piano-works-vol-1/13175661/: (http://www.emusic.com/listen/#/album/tra-nguyen/raff-piano-works-vol-1/13175661/:)
http://www.emusic.com/listen/#/album/tra-nguyen/raff-piano-works-vol-2/13404695/: (http://www.emusic.com/listen/#/album/tra-nguyen/raff-piano-works-vol-2/13404695/:)
I bought my copy from jpc and as I expected, this Vol. 2 gave me a wonderful listening experience just like Vol. 1. I was already familiar with the gorgeous Fantasie-Sonate op. 168, but was most pleasantly surprised by the Variations on an Original Theme, op. 179. What a creative genius at the piano Raff was! The four Piano Pieces, op. 196, especially the Berceuse and the Impromptu, are just delightful.
We can only hope more of Raff's solo piano music will be released in the near future. Raff deserves it 130 years after his death, and all suckers of original, romantic piano music will love it. I have the idea that Raff's solo piano music is a truly hidden treasure.
Beautifully played by Tra Nguyen, interesting booklet notes by Mark, in short, it's a state-of-the-art CD. Very warmly recommended!
Thanks, Peter. Much appreciated. The third and final volume (the contents of which I posted earlier) will presumably be brought forward too, so I imagine that we'll have it by the end of the year.
Having listened to this twice in the last 2 days, I wholeheartedly agree with everything Peter1953 said. A superb disc all round!
I haven't seen it myself, but apparently vol.1 received a less than positive review in the BBC Music Magazine. Heigh Ho.
I must apologise for not having posted about this super CD before now. For me its most noticeable aspect on first hearing is the total identification of pianist Tra Nguyen with Raff's very personal idiom, which is a careful balancing of the classical with the Romantic. Thus, although the Fantasie-Sonate Op.168 is through-composed, this is no Lisztian barnstormer of a piece (although it certainly has its grander moments); rather, much delicacy is required if, for example, the delicious traceries of the slow movement are not to be overloaded - something which is achieved with near perfection here. It is almost as if she plays with breath held over the entire span of this mesmerising music. Wonderful. Excellent sound and Mark T's perceptive and full booklet notes contribute to a release of major importance.
Thanks Alan. Vol. 1 has had an extremely positive review from the American Record Guide, (http://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=GP602&languageid=EN) too.
A very encouraging review of vol.1 - thanks!
I really must say how impressive Vols. 1 & 2 are. Tra seems to have got right inside Raff and delivers very fine performances indeed. I intend to listen very carefully to the way she plays the Fantaisie-Sonate, comparing it with Valentina Seferinova's performance, which I have always considered excellent. This is a work which is worthy of more than one interpretation, however. I hope to post at greater length later, suffice it to say we have to thank Mark profusely for allowing us to hear some very significant piano music indeed.
I've just been notified the vol.3 wil be available in November.
A perceptive and gratifyingly positive review at MusicWeb International (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/Oct12/Raff_piano_v2_GP612.htm).