Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 40 - I love a piano 2
This week we return to the piano. Last time (Jb wk 10) I omitted many great composers and I will try to some extent to put that right over the next few days.
Monday December 14
Rachmaninov Piano No. 2 1st movement
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the late Romantic period.
Following the Russian Revolution, Rachmaninoff and his family left Russia. They settled in New York City in 1918. With his main source of income coming from piano and conducting performances, demanding tour schedules led to a reduction in his time for composition.
One of the most popular piano concertos and it is almost impossible to choose just one movement. As it's the first day of the week I chose the first movement. Tempted to play the other two movements on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is played here by Evgeny Kissin who for some years was managed by my good friend Nigel Grant Rogers, who some of you met when he performed with us at Bentley Priory - Nigel that is, not Evgeny.
Performance
Tuesday December 15
Chopin: Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23
Frédéric François Chopin born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (1810 – 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era who wrote primarily for solo piano. Over 230 of his works survive; some compositions from early childhood have been lost. All his known works involve the piano, and only a few range beyond solo piano music, as either piano concertos, songs or chamber music. Yet another of the great composers who died before reaching 40. (Gershwin 38, Mozart 35, Schubert 31)
Performance
Wednesday December 16
We Said We Wouldn't Look Back (from Salad Days)
Salad Days is a musical (featuring a magic piano) with music by Julian Slade and lyrics by Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade. The musical was initially performed in 1954 in the UK in Bristol and then in the West End, where it ran for 2,283 performances.
First part of synopsis: Jane and Timothy Dawes meet in a park, soon after their graduation, to plan their lives. The young couple are sad to leave the University, but determined to face up to the future. (SONG: We Said We Wouldn't Look Back). They agree to get married, and decide that Timothy must take the first job he is offered. A passing tramp offers them £7 a week to look after his mobile piano for a month, and, upon accepting, they discover that when the piano plays it gives everyone within earshot an irresistible desire to dance.
Performance
A few years ago I came across a wonderful CD of Sheridan Morley and Michael Law performing songs by Noel Coward and others. The first track is Michael Law singing We Said We Wouldn't Look Back and I think he does it rather nicely. Performance
Thursday December 17
Chi il bel sogno di Doretta (from La rondine)
(Who can guess Doretta's beautiful dream?)
La rondine (The Swallow) is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini (1858 – 1924). It was first performed in Monte Carlo on 27 March 1917.
The wealthy Rambaldo and his mistress, Magda, are entertaining theatrical and literary friends. Prunier, a poet and the lover of Magda’s maid, Lisette, declares that romantic love is back in fashion. No one except Magda takes him seriously. When Prunier plays and sings a ballad he has written about a girl who rejects the love of a king, Magda helps him to complete the song, making up a second verse that tells how the girl falls in love with a student (“Chi il bel sogno di Doretta”).
At Judy's suggestion, I looked to see if (one of my favourites) Ermonela Jaho could be found on YouTube singing this aria. Out of all the many versions I have listened to, it was this one that made me reach for the box of tissues. Performance
Friday December 18
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor, music teacher, arranger, and organist of the Romantic era.
He was a friend, musical promoter and benefactor to many composers of his time, including Frédéric Chopin, Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, Camille Saint-Saëns, Edvard Grieg, and Alexander Borodin.
This recording of Un Sospiro (a sigh) was suggested by my brother, Alan. He was very impressed with the playing of Daniil Trifonov.
Un Sospiro
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor is the second in a set of 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies by Liszt, and is by far the most famous of the set.
Performance
Weekend December 19/20
Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor
Edvard Hagerup Grieg (1843 – 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He was one of the first composers that I enjoyed. I am still very fond of his Peer Gynt suite as well as this superb piano concerto.
This was my favourite of the recordings on YouTube. I wanted to find just the first movement but could only find the whole concerto. If you are pushed for time, I suggest you listen to the first movement today (13 minutes) and return on another occasion for the other two movements (another 20 minutes).
Arthur Rubinstein (1887 – 1982) was a Polish-American classical pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music written by a variety of composers and many regard him as the greatest Chopin interpreter of his time. He played in public for eight decades and on this recording he is a mere 88 years of age. He is joined here by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Previn.
Performance
Jukebox Extra: Another Previn/Grieg moment
(not to be missed)
Rachmaninov Piano No. 2 1st movement
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the late Romantic period.
Following the Russian Revolution, Rachmaninoff and his family left Russia. They settled in New York City in 1918. With his main source of income coming from piano and conducting performances, demanding tour schedules led to a reduction in his time for composition.
One of the most popular piano concertos and it is almost impossible to choose just one movement. As it's the first day of the week I chose the first movement. Tempted to play the other two movements on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is played here by Evgeny Kissin who for some years was managed by my good friend Nigel Grant Rogers, who some of you met when he performed with us at Bentley Priory - Nigel that is, not Evgeny.
Performance
Tuesday December 15
Chopin: Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23
Frédéric François Chopin born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin (1810 – 1849) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era who wrote primarily for solo piano. Over 230 of his works survive; some compositions from early childhood have been lost. All his known works involve the piano, and only a few range beyond solo piano music, as either piano concertos, songs or chamber music. Yet another of the great composers who died before reaching 40. (Gershwin 38, Mozart 35, Schubert 31)
Performance
Wednesday December 16
We Said We Wouldn't Look Back (from Salad Days)
Salad Days is a musical (featuring a magic piano) with music by Julian Slade and lyrics by Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade. The musical was initially performed in 1954 in the UK in Bristol and then in the West End, where it ran for 2,283 performances.
First part of synopsis: Jane and Timothy Dawes meet in a park, soon after their graduation, to plan their lives. The young couple are sad to leave the University, but determined to face up to the future. (SONG: We Said We Wouldn't Look Back). They agree to get married, and decide that Timothy must take the first job he is offered. A passing tramp offers them £7 a week to look after his mobile piano for a month, and, upon accepting, they discover that when the piano plays it gives everyone within earshot an irresistible desire to dance.
Performance
A few years ago I came across a wonderful CD of Sheridan Morley and Michael Law performing songs by Noel Coward and others. The first track is Michael Law singing We Said We Wouldn't Look Back and I think he does it rather nicely. Performance
Thursday December 17
Chi il bel sogno di Doretta (from La rondine)
(Who can guess Doretta's beautiful dream?)
La rondine (The Swallow) is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini (1858 – 1924). It was first performed in Monte Carlo on 27 March 1917.
The wealthy Rambaldo and his mistress, Magda, are entertaining theatrical and literary friends. Prunier, a poet and the lover of Magda’s maid, Lisette, declares that romantic love is back in fashion. No one except Magda takes him seriously. When Prunier plays and sings a ballad he has written about a girl who rejects the love of a king, Magda helps him to complete the song, making up a second verse that tells how the girl falls in love with a student (“Chi il bel sogno di Doretta”).
At Judy's suggestion, I looked to see if (one of my favourites) Ermonela Jaho could be found on YouTube singing this aria. Out of all the many versions I have listened to, it was this one that made me reach for the box of tissues. Performance
Friday December 18
Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor, music teacher, arranger, and organist of the Romantic era.
He was a friend, musical promoter and benefactor to many composers of his time, including Frédéric Chopin, Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, Camille Saint-Saëns, Edvard Grieg, and Alexander Borodin.
This recording of Un Sospiro (a sigh) was suggested by my brother, Alan. He was very impressed with the playing of Daniil Trifonov.
Un Sospiro
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor is the second in a set of 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies by Liszt, and is by far the most famous of the set.
Performance
Weekend December 19/20
Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor
Edvard Hagerup Grieg (1843 – 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He was one of the first composers that I enjoyed. I am still very fond of his Peer Gynt suite as well as this superb piano concerto.
This was my favourite of the recordings on YouTube. I wanted to find just the first movement but could only find the whole concerto. If you are pushed for time, I suggest you listen to the first movement today (13 minutes) and return on another occasion for the other two movements (another 20 minutes).
Arthur Rubinstein (1887 – 1982) was a Polish-American classical pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music written by a variety of composers and many regard him as the greatest Chopin interpreter of his time. He played in public for eight decades and on this recording he is a mere 88 years of age. He is joined here by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Previn.
Performance
Jukebox Extra: Another Previn/Grieg moment
(not to be missed)