Various Artists – Pianissimo – Music for Quiet Moments (1998)

Only in the silence can music touch a chord within us, and create a distant echo. And it is through the silence that the piano can open and blossom with it incomporable voice, and the vibration of its strings melt into melody. Since the invention of the modern pianoforte in the 18th century, composers have again and again been inspired by its special sensibilities, and the capacity of this instrument to encompass the slightest expressive nuances and translate them into sound.

On this CD you will find a collection of the loveliest piano melodies in musical history: whether the “Adagio Sostenuto” from Beethovens Moonlight Sonata, or the “Largo” from his Piano Concerto, whether Liszt´s “Liebestraum” or Schumann´s “Träumerei”, the “Adagio” from Grieg´s Piano Concerto, or Chopin´s “Nocturen”, all show this instrument has struck a chord in these sompoers (taken form the original linernotes)

A great album for contemplation and solitude.

Tracklist:
01. Alfredo Perl: Adagio Sostenuto (Mondscheinsonate) (Beethoven) 6.07
02. Lisa Smirnova & Jena Philharmonic Orchestra (David Montgomery): Largo Piano Concerto No 1 Op. 15 Beethoven) 10.44
03. Ricardo Castro: Adagio Piano Sonata KV 332 (Mozart) 4.17
04. Carmen Piazzini: Adagio Piano Sonata No 27 Hob. XVI (Haydn) 5.03
05. Nadja Rubanenko: Sehr langsam – Kreisleriana Op. 16 (Schumann) 4.16
06. Alfredo Perl & Orquesta Filarmónica De Gran Canaria (Adrian Leaper): Adagio – Piano Concerto Op. 16 (Grieg) 6.56
07. Carmen Piazzini: Danza del moza donosa (Ginastera) 3.30
08. Carmen Piazzini: Cancion de las Venusinas (Piazzolla) 2.10
09. Arkady Sevidov: Barcarolle The Seasons Op. 37b (Tchaikovsky) 5.20
10. Ricardo Castro: Nocturne #1 In B Flat Minor, Op. 9-1 (Chopin) 5.39
11. Michael Krücker: Liebestraum Op. 62 No. 3 (Liszt) 4.43
12. Andreas Bach: Träumerei  (Schumann) 2.20
13. Vladimir Mishtchuk & Russian Philharmonic Orchestra (Samuel Friedmann):  Adagio sostenuto Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 18 (Rachmaninov) 11.37

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Philadelphia Orchestra – Gala (1958)

The Philadelphia Orchestra (founded in 1900 !) is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the “Big Five” American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription concerts, numbering over 130 annually, in Verizon Hall.

From its founding until 2001, the Philadelphia Orchestra gave its concerts at the Academy of Music. The orchestra continues to own the Academy, and returns there one week per year for the Academy of Music’s annual gala concert and concerts for school children. The Philadelphia Orchestra’s summer home is the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. It also has summer residencies at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and since July 2007 at the Bravo! Vail Valley Festival in Vail, Colorado.

The first record from 1926 … The Nutcracker Suite … see below

The orchestra also performs an annual series of concerts at Carnegie Hall. From its earliest days the orchestra has been active in the recording studio, making extensive numbers of recordings, primarily for RCA Victor and Columbia Records.

The orchestra’s current music director is Yannick Nézet-Séguin, since 2012. (wikipedia)

And here´s one of their countless albums, called “Gala” and we hear 4 msterpieces of classic music (see tracklist).

And I´m very glad, that this old album is in a more or less good condition … so my vinyl rip should be s pleasure for everyone, who loves this kind of music, like I do.

Enjoy the power of classic music !

And the first time I heard a small little part of the “Nutcracker Suite” was while I´m listening the Emerson, Lake & Palmer album “Pictures At The Exhibition” and we should never forget, that Ravels “Bolero” was on a Colosseum album …

Personnel:
Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy

Tracklist:

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a:
01. Miniature Overture 3.12
02. Danses Caracteristiques: March – Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy – Russian Dance (Trepak) – Arabian Dance – Chinese Dance – Dance Of The Reed-Pipes 12.04
03. Waltz Of The Flowers 6.30

Claude Debussy:
04. Clair De Lune (from “Suite Bergamasque”) 4.13

Edvard Grieg:
05. Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 12.08
05.1. Morning Mood
05.2.Ase’s Death
05.3. Anitra’s Dance
05.4. In The Hall Of The Mountain King

Maurice Ravel:
06. Bolero 14.04

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Balázs Szokolay – Lyric Pieces (Edvard Grieg) (1990)

Lyric Pieces (Norwegian: Lyriske stykker) is a collection of 66 short pieces for solo piano written by Edvard Grieg. They were published in 10 volumes, from 1867 (Op. 12) to 1901 (Op. 71). The collection includes several of his best known pieces, such as Wedding Day at Troldhaugen (Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen), To Spring (Til våren), March of the Trolls (Trolltog), and Butterfly (Sommerfugl).

The theme of the first piece in the set, Arietta, was one of the composer’s favorite melodies. He used it to complete the cycle in his very last lyric piece, Remembrances (Efterklang) — this time as a waltz. (by wikipedia)

This is a very pleasing assortment from among Grieg’s 66 short Lyric Pieces, written between 1866-1891. There were 6-8 pieces in each of the 10 “books”, and this collection of 30 pieces contains selections from 9 of the books (there is no selection from Book 62 for some reason).

Each and every one presented here is a pure delight, and represent Grieg’s life-long desire to create a true Norwegian music genre derived from the folk music, dances, stories and natural environment of Norway. Every piece is evocative and the entire disc is delightful, thanks to the colorful and imaginative piano of Balazs Szokolay.

These pieces were recorded in 1989 at the Italian Institute in Budapest, and first released in Germany in 1990  The DDD recording quality was excellent and stands the test of time.

Since his first international appearance in 1979 with Peter Nagy at the Salzburg Interforum, pianist Szokolay has been a successful contender who has won many important awards and who maintains a steady following. His piano is energetic and expressive, and he is featured in over 90 albums on the Naxos label. As he is not yet 60 years old, we can hope for more from this productive and interesting artist. (by Philly Galon)

Balázs Szokolay

Personnel:
Balázs Szokolay (piano)

Tracklist:
01. Arietta, Op. 12, No. 1  1.09
02. Halling (Norwegian Dance), Op. 38, No. 4  0.46
03. Melodie, Op. 38, No. 3  1,40
04. Melodie, Op. 47, No. 3  2.39
05. Halling (Norwegian Dance), Op. 47, No. 4  1.12
06. Fra Ungdomsdagene (From Years Of Youth). Op. 65, No. 1  4.27
07. Canon, Op. 38, No. 8  4,31
08. Småtrold (Puck), Op. 71, No. 3  1.42
09. Walzer, Op. 38, No. 7  1.01
10. Matrosernes Opsang (Sailor’s Song), Op. 68, No. 1  1.04
11. Springtanz, Op. 38, No. 5  1.20
12. Halling (Norwegian Dance), Op. 71, No. 5  2.43
13. Volksweise (Folk-Song), Op. 38, No. 2  1.33
14. Elegie, Op. 38, No. 6  2.10
15. Gangar (Norwegian March), Op. 54, No. 2  2.42
16. De Var Engang (Once Upon A Time), Op. 71, No. 1  3.28
17. Einsamer Wanderer (Solitary Wanderer), Op. 43, No. 2  1.36
18. Elverdans (Elves’ Dance), Op. 12, No. 4  0.42
19. Vals, Op. 12, No. 2  1.40
20. Folkewise (Folk-Song), Op. 12, No. 5  1.11
21. Skovstilhed (Peace Of The Wood), Op. 71, No. 4  4.58
22. Stambogsblad (Album-Leaf), Op.12, No. 7  1.11
23. Valse-Impromptu, Op. 47, No. 1  2.59
24. Forbi (Gone), Op. 71, No. 6  2.10
25. Sie Tanzt (She Dances), Op. 57, No. 5  2.43
26. Albumsblatt (Album-Leaf), Op. 47, No. 2  2.58
27. Sommeraften (Summer Evening), Op. 71, No. 2  2.24
28. For Dine Födder (At Your Feet), Op. 68, No. 3  2.22
29. Valse Mélancolique, Op. 68, No. 6  3.24
30. Efterklang (Remembrance) , Op. 71, No. 7 1.45

Music written by Edvard Grieg

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Edvard Grieg

Various Artists – Pianissimo – Music For Quiet Moments (1998)

Only in the silence can music touch a chord within us, and create a distant echo. And it is through the silence that the piano can open and blossom with it incomparable voice, and the vibration of it strings melt into melody.

Since the invention of the modern Pianoforte in the 18th century, composers have again and again been inspired by its special sensibilities, and the capacity of this Instrument to encompass the slightest expressive nuances and translate them into Sound.

On this album you will find a collection of the loveliest piano melodies in musical history: Whether the Adagio sosenuto from Beethoven´s Moonlight Sonata, or the Largo from his Piano Concerto, whether Listz´s Liebestraum, or Schumann´s Träumerei, the Adagio from Grieg´s  Piano Concerto or Chopin´s Nocturne, all show how this instrument has struck a chord in these Composers (Georg Stänzel; taken from the original liner notes)

Enjoy the sounds of silence !

Tracklist:
01. Alfredo Perl: Adagio Sostenuto (Beethoven)  6.02
02. Jena Philharmonic Orchestra: Largo (Beethoven) 10.41
03. Ricardo Castro: Adagio (Mozart) 4.14
04. Carmen Piazzini: Adagio (Haydn) 5.00
05. Nadja Rubanenko: Sehr langsam (Schumann) 4.13
06. Alfredo Perl: Adagio (Grieg) 6.52
07. Carmen Piazzini:  Danza Del Moza Donosa (Ginastera) 3.26
08. Carmen Piazzini:  Cancion De Las Venusinas (Piazolla) 3.26
09. Arkady Sevidov: Barcarolle (Tchaikovsky) 5.16
10. Ricardo Castro: Nocturne No. 1 Op. 9/1 (Chopin)  5.35
11. Michael Krücker: Liebestraum Op. 62 No. 3/Poco Allegretto Con Affetto (Liszt) 4.40
12. Andreas Bach: Träumerei (Schumann) 2.17
13. Russian Philharmonic Orchestra + Vladimir Mishtchuk: Adagio Sostenuto (Rachmaninov) 11.38

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Another quiet moment
(I shoot this picture near Berchtesgaden (Bavarian Alps) in october 2009)