Barry
29-01-2013, 01:36
Grieg’s Piano Concerto
Clifford Curzon with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Øivin Fjeldstad - Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
(and London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult - Franck Variations Symphoniques Litolff Scherzo from Concerto Symphonique No.4, Op.102) (1959)
Well pop-pickers we have a pick from the list of substitutes and a bit of a change from the norm. It’s time to widen our horizons a little and consider some classical music.
For our first foray into new territory, I present the Grieg Piano Concerto. This is a very popular piece and is a ‘painless’ entry into the world of classical music. Over the years many recordings of this work have been made, but the version chosen is, in my opinion, one of the very best. It is the recording on the Decca label of the performance by Sir Clifford Curzon with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Øivin Fjeldstadt (1959 Decca SXL 2173)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/313OiaI7RUL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
http://open.spotify.com/album/26w5GSaiREtlMKomcF04CR
Wikipedia Page - Grieg, Piano Concerto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_(Grieg))
The following is based on the sleeve notes:
Grieg was Norwegian and felt his music should reflect the increasing sense of Norwegian identity and culture that was being discussed at the time. To do this Grieg started collecting the indigenous folk melodies. He made many arrangements of authentic folk-tunes, and although nearly all the themes of his major works are original their characteristic inflections show clearly the influence of Norwegian folksong. The concerto, his most extended composition, admirably reveals the essence of his style. The melodies are all original, but they have a freshness that seems to come straight from the Norwegian woods and fields.
From the very first moment after a brief drum roll the first piano chord is struck and if you have a half decent system the hairs on your neck will immediately stand up and shivers will run down your spine! Don’t let that put you off, persevere and listen to it all the way through. The second movement, the Adagio, is especially fine – but I guarantee that by the time the last note has been sounded you will be left emotionally exhausted!
Anyway if you feel this is all a bit too 'poh faced' then I'll leave you with the words of the late great Eric Morcambe. In the famous sketch that Eric & Ernie did with Andre Previn he said to 'Andrew Preview' "the second movement is special to me, so not too heavy on the banjos".
Enjoy…
Clifford Curzon with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Øivin Fjeldstad - Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
(and London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Adrian Boult - Franck Variations Symphoniques Litolff Scherzo from Concerto Symphonique No.4, Op.102) (1959)
Well pop-pickers we have a pick from the list of substitutes and a bit of a change from the norm. It’s time to widen our horizons a little and consider some classical music.
For our first foray into new territory, I present the Grieg Piano Concerto. This is a very popular piece and is a ‘painless’ entry into the world of classical music. Over the years many recordings of this work have been made, but the version chosen is, in my opinion, one of the very best. It is the recording on the Decca label of the performance by Sir Clifford Curzon with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Øivin Fjeldstadt (1959 Decca SXL 2173)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/313OiaI7RUL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
http://open.spotify.com/album/26w5GSaiREtlMKomcF04CR
Wikipedia Page - Grieg, Piano Concerto (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_(Grieg))
The following is based on the sleeve notes:
Grieg was Norwegian and felt his music should reflect the increasing sense of Norwegian identity and culture that was being discussed at the time. To do this Grieg started collecting the indigenous folk melodies. He made many arrangements of authentic folk-tunes, and although nearly all the themes of his major works are original their characteristic inflections show clearly the influence of Norwegian folksong. The concerto, his most extended composition, admirably reveals the essence of his style. The melodies are all original, but they have a freshness that seems to come straight from the Norwegian woods and fields.
From the very first moment after a brief drum roll the first piano chord is struck and if you have a half decent system the hairs on your neck will immediately stand up and shivers will run down your spine! Don’t let that put you off, persevere and listen to it all the way through. The second movement, the Adagio, is especially fine – but I guarantee that by the time the last note has been sounded you will be left emotionally exhausted!
Anyway if you feel this is all a bit too 'poh faced' then I'll leave you with the words of the late great Eric Morcambe. In the famous sketch that Eric & Ernie did with Andre Previn he said to 'Andrew Preview' "the second movement is special to me, so not too heavy on the banjos".
Enjoy…