It may be more likely in recitals to hear an unsung encore. It lasts scant time. The composer's name , not appearing on the program, frightens nobody.
So, curiously, in the short span of three-four months, I have the occasion of attending two performances by two distinguished pianists ( Kirill Gerstein and Nelson Goerner; the former in Torino, Italy, the latter in Menton France,) of the Etude for the right hand op.36 by Felix Blumenfeld.
How interesting. Thanks, alberto!
Many years ago (30 or so) I heard Stephen Hough play this as an encore. Stephen is of course known for exploring unusual repertoire and even more so when he was younger. I seem to remember the other two encores were the Caprice burlesque by Gabrilowitsch (nice to see some more of his music has been recorded - thanks Toccata classics) and the Prelude in Fsharp by Moritz Rosenthal. I think there is still only one recording of this piece (Donald Manildi on Elan though Rosenthal made a piano roll of it). I played it at our local piano circle where it went down well. My contributions on that occasion would be counted as all encore nowadays - 6 preludes by Schutt (e minor), Liadov (b minor), Michalowski (f sharp minor), Rosenthal (F sharp), Bortkiewicz (D flat) and Kapustin (G).
Possibly too long for an encore but I would love to hear Rosenthal's Faust fantaisie - not sure why it has been ignored when his two Strauss transcriptions get played and recorded reasonably often.
As to the Blumenfeld; always good to hear this work - incidentally for the Left hand not right. It is a beautifully lyrical piece that like all the best single hand works doesn't sound like just one hand is playing.
I apologize for my fault. Obviously I meant "for the left hand".
I would just propose a rarer thing: an unsung orchestral piece played as an encore.
Here I would propose (at least it is the first coming to mind which I attendeed to) the "Valse triste" by Oskar Nedbal. (by the Czech Philh. under Jiri Behlohlavek).
I have only ever heard amateurs play orchestral encores.
My entry into this would be Richard Wüerst "under the Balcony" for Solocello and strings. I mentioned this already in the Richard Wüerst thread (http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,6031.15.html) and Matesic's version (very good!) is on IMSLP (http://imslp.org/wiki/Unterm_Balcon_Serenade,_Op.78_(W%C3%BCerst,_Richard)) for everybody to listen.
Never been to a Prom?
Hrm- once, with three full-sized works iirc (Debussy, Boulanger, Sibelius), no brief encore, but taking your meaning...
Quote from: Alan Howe on Wednesday 10 August 2016, 17:56
Never been to a Prom?
I plead guilty. There are no proms where I grew up.
Never seen or heard a recording or broadcast of one?
I plead even guiltier. I hope this doesn't disqualify me from the forum.
If your computer supports this you can hear them online at the BBC website or on a smartphone by downloading the BBC iPlayer app (free).
Exactly.
Last time I checked BBC iPlayer didn't work outside the UK. I was in Switzerland at the time and would dearly have loved to have it since my wife does not understand French or German TV shows.
The app (and I think still the website) work in the US (I think. They work for me, anyway). Don't know about the European Union, though...