Messages

I think re-issue from WARNER APEX 2564 61990-2, except Elegy op. 46 for cello & piano. love this CD... 1st movement of Violin Sonata - Highly dramatic, full of challenge for both violin & piano, 2nd & 3rd movement so so [almost like his Violin concerto].

Too many people give praise and good compliment on Bortkiewicz Pf Son No.2.   I feel that too many musical idea or motive for Bortkiewicz Son No.2, able to found on other pieces, it's feel like lack of  musical idea.  For example, 1st mov bar 6-8, melody derive from Violin con; Bar 29-32, from Elegy, Op 46 (or Rachmaninoff PC no2).   2nd Mov beginning derive from Brahms Rhapsody Op.79, No2 (d minor section), bar 80, came from Bortkiewicz PC no 1, 3rd mov.; 4th mov, almost whole piece derive from own PC No 1, near ending (bar 114-118) same with Elegy Op46  but more complicated in term of texture.

Both Bortkiewicz sonatas i played before, for me i prefer Pf Son No1, Op.9 in B major.  1st mov. Symphonic in character and 3 main subject (also same with 2nd Son), development more elaborate and aggressive if compared with 2nd son.  Recap difference arrangement on subject.  Slow 2nd mov 100 times better than 2nd sonata, mesmerized.  3rd mov lively character in Russian flavor, busy fingering passages.  Very "Borkiewicz" Sound and Character. 

Regarding recording, Bortkiewicz piano music (Hyperion) by Stephen Coombs performance feel like too casual.  Youtube - Ernest So, playing crystal clear sound, but slightly lack of "Romantic" sound.  No comment on Jouni Somero, because i do not have this recording. 

My suggestion are

Ernest Schelling (1876-1939)
      1. Légende Symphonique
      2. Impressions from an Artist's Life - Symphonic Variations for Orchestra and Piano
      3. Violin Concerto
Henryk Bobinski (1861-1941)
      1. Piano Concerto in e min, Op.8

All scores are from IMSLP. 

Another suggestion (but slightly out of year limit)
Eduard Frank (1817-1893) - early work
     1.  Piano Concerto in D min, Op13
          score published by Pfefferkorn Musikverlag. Leipzig
          ISMN : 9790501390342 (score); 9790501390359 (piano reduction)

One of the legendary famous greatest pianist.  From old article below, Hofmann composed at least 3 piano concertos, but non was recorded.  The only piano and orchestra work - "Chromaticon " was recorded by him but did not publish(?).  List of his works did not show at IMSLP.org or WIKI.  Please help


>>The New York Times <<
JOSEF HOFMANN PLAYS OWN CONCERTO; Pianist Heard for the First Time in Public in One of His Own Compositions. PHILHARMONIC CONCERT Berlioz's Harold Symphony Played by the Orchestra in Its Very Best Style. Conried to Direct New Theatre Plans.

The seventh concert of the Philharmonic Society was given yesterday afternoon in Carnegie Hall, and the performance will be repeated there to-night. The symphony was Berlioz's "Harold in Italy." The soloist was Mr. Josef Hofmann, who played for the first time, his own piano concerto No. 3 in A minor.

some useful biography can be found at below web-site

http://www.warcomposers.co.uk/composers.html

Bortkiewicz free music download web-site

http://classical-music-online.net/en/composer/Bortkiewicz/702

Many years ago i obtained a cassette recording from Mr Malcolm Henbury-Ballan (Hyperion-records, booklet writer for Bortkiewicz 2 symphonies).  From his e-mail, he mentioned before, he has the recording (LP? cassette?), but the condition is not good... ... unfortunately my cassette lost 2, 3 years ago... ...

2 Symphonies by Bortkiewicz already recorded (Hyperion-records), may i know who have this score?

full title of this piece is
"Des Frühlings und des Pans Erwachen - ein lyrisches intermezzo nach Gemälden von Sandro Botticelli" Op 44

Who has this recording? Played by Jaro Schmied at 26 February 1952 (or played by somebody also can).  This score is still missing. Further info refer to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Bortkiewicz  (topic : After World War II)