The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 15 - Hahn and Massenet

[Cover graphic]

Compact Disc CDA66897

£13.99

The Romantic Piano Concerto Series goes French for this recording of the single examples in the genre by Massenet and his pupil Hahn. Both works were written towards the end of their composers' careers and mark a return to the piano for each of them; the piano had originally been the first instrument of both, but opera and the voice had occupied them for most of their lives.
Although both concertos owe a debt to the lean and athletic piano style exemplified by Saint-Saëns, they are very different in character. The Massenet is an extrovert work culminating in a very Lisztian 'Hungarian' finale, while the Hahn is primarily lyrical and gentle, the composer's gifts as a composer of songs easily transferring to the concerto medium.

Recorded on 15, 16 June 1996

Recording Engineer: TONY FAULKNER
Recording Producer: AMANDA HURTON
Piano: STEINWAY
Executive Producers: MIKE SPRING; JOANNA GAMBLE; NICK FLOWER

© Hyperion Records Ltd, London, MCMXCVII

Duration: 59'45
DDD

The Romantic Piano Concerto - 15

Hahn and Massenet

STEPHEN COOMBS piano
BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
JEAN-YVES OSSONCE conductor

Contents:

JULES MASSENET

Piano Concerto in E flat major (1903) [31'04]

Andante moderato - Allegro non troppo [14' 18]
Largo [9'39]
Airs Slovaques: Allegro [7'07]
REYNALDO HAHN (1875-1947)
Piano Concerto in E major (1931) [28'24]
Improvisation: Modéré très librement [11 '58]
Danse: Vif [2'45]
Réverie, Toccata et Finale: Lent - Gai, fortement rythme (pas trop vite) - Allegro [13'41]

Sleeve Notes

'These really are very good performances of two mystifyingly neglected gems of the repertoire' (BBC Record Review)

'Heavenly Hahn in this latest addition to this treasure of a series' (Classic CD)

'If you'd sooner have fraises des bois and crème Chantilly rather than foie gras and trumpets, this is for you' (Gramophone)

'Hyperion is to be congratulated for adding this work to its growing series of Hahn compositions ... high spirits and joy aplenty ... Another Romantic Piano Concerto winner from Hyperion; heartily recommended' (Fanfare, USA)

'Coombs believes implicitly in both compositions and his restrained brand of pearly virtuosity (right for the music) added to a considerable musical sensibility puts forward a persuasive case' (Hi Fi News)

'A thoroughly delightful piece [Hahn], well worth reviving, here perfectly coupled. A delight [Massenet].' (The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs)

'One of the finest releases in Hyperion's ongoing series of Romantic piano concertos. There's no reason why these pieces aren't standard repertoire, especially in performances like this: Coombs literally plays the pants off both of them, and Ossonce matches him lick for lick. It's the genuine article, a true discovery, a collector's dream' (Classical Pulse!, USA)

'Ambas obras permiten el lucimiento del solista, y lógicamente Coombs no ha dejado escapar la oportunidad para ofrecernos unas versiones majestuosas, rebosantes de sonoridad, dotadas de un magnetismo evidente' (CD Compact, Spain)

'Stephen Coombs is at least as fine as any artist to appear from Russia in all the past 20 years. Sonics are excellent and the booklet brimming with interest' (In Tune, USA)

'A thoroughly delightful disc' (Piano International)

See also:: The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 1 - Moszkowski and Paderewski; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 2 - Medtner; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 3 - Mendelssohn Double Concertos; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 4 - Arensky and Bortkiewiez; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 5 - Balakirev and Rimsky-Korsakov; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 6 - Dohnányi; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 7 - Alkan and Henselt; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 8 - Medtner; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 9 - Eugen d'Albert; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 10 - Weber; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 11 - Scharwenka and Sauer; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 12 - Parry and Stanford; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 13 - Glazunov and Goedicke; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 14 - Litolff; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 16 - Huss and Schelling; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 17 - Mendelssohn; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 18 - Korngold and Marx; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 19 - Tovey and Mackenzie; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 20 - Brüll; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 21 - Kullak and Dreyschock; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 22 - Busoni; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 23 - Holbrooke and Wood; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 24 - Vianna da Motta; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 25 - Edward MacDowell; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 26 - Litolff; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 27 - Saint-Saëns; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 28 - Stojowski; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 29 - Moscheles; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 30 - Lyapunov; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 31 - Fuchs and Kiel; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 32 - Moscheles; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 33 - Scharwenka; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 34 - Pierné; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 35 - Herz; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 36 - Moscheles; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 37 - Nápravník & Blumenfeld; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 38 - Rubinstein & Scharwenka; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 39 - Delius and Ireland; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 40 - Henri Herz; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 41 - Friedrich Kalkbrenner; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 42 - Alnæs & Sinding; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 43 - Sterndale Bennett & Bache; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 44 - Melcer; The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 45 - Hiller

Home | About Hyperion | Catalogue | News | Artists | Distributors