I have just read on facebook that Jonathan Plowright is recording both Rozycki Piano Concertos and the Ballade in Glasgow soon. I feel obliged to say "Yeeaaahhh!", Rob
Sorry I posted this in the wrong place originally
Brilliant news as fresh recordings are way overdue.
The neglect of especially the 1st PC is one of the great musical mysteries. Would have made a good partner to the Borowski, but I guess there is no room left on the disk.
Thal
I agree that the pairing would most likely be Felix-itous...
Has the second concerto been recorded before? I'm not aware of a recording but I'm not familiar with early Polish 78s and LPs.
There is a recording on youtube, but no performance details are given.
Thal
The youtube performance of Rozycki pc2 is from Polish Radio (recorded 1952) featuring pianist Józef Smidowicz and the Polish Radio O, Bydgoszcz, conducted by Arnold Rezler. The second movement was released on a Muza LP. This is the only recording I am aware of so I, too, eagerly await the Hyperion CD.
Thal, I'm not sure about new recordings being 'way overdue' as the Acte Prealable disc of the Piano Concerto No.1 and the Ballade Op.18 was issued only in 2011. You may be right, of course, as they could be old recordings but I didn't think so (?) I gather that the main complaint was actually about its duration - one concerto less (I assume) than the planned Plowright disc. :o
Some years ago I was fortunate enough to walk into a CD shop just as they were disposing of their Olympia discs for a couple of dollars each, and my haul included Różycki's orchestral works. Since then I have grabbed as much as I could. The 2nd Piano Concerto will be a long-awaited and very welcome addition.
Without looking it up, I think the AP recording of the Rozycki 1st PC was from the 1980's.
Thal
It was made in 1984 and, though the performances are good, the recording is not all it could be. Also, the disc only runs for 42 mins so a new recording including both concertos would be welcome.
Ah, right! Then a new recording is certainly overdue. :)
The Hyperion recording is a February 2016 release:
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68066 (http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68066)
Yet another for the 'wants' list... :)
Why are 'wants' lists like 'to do ' lists - the more you can cross off, the longer the list gets!
Richard
In reply to Semloh, the new Rozycki recording featuring his three works for piano and orchestra with Jonathan Plowright as pianist and Lucasz Borowicz conducting, is 63 minutes long.
Hadrianus reports:
Just bought it - what wonderful music :-)
(post moved here from identical thread)
I love all my Rozycki - on the old Olympia label ... so I am not surprised by such praise. His music is really beautiful and deserves to be better known. So far, Christmas has been dominated here by Tchaikovsky, English carols, and the requisite Handel. Not much room for the Unsungs, I'm afraid.
Excerpts here:
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Hyperion/CDA68066#video (http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Hyperion/CDA68066#video)
I think this'll be a big seller. It is superbly played by Jonathan Plowright (a dab hand at this late-romantic stuff) and extremely well accompanied by the BBCSSO under Lukasz Borowicz. Anyone expecting pseudo-Rachmaninov might be disappointed, but this is stirring and often very beautiful music (especially PC1, I'd say).
Rozycki could write lovely tunes and orchestrate beautifully. Two gifts not to be sniffed at!
Spot-on, Gareth. That's exactly how the music comes across.