The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol 28 - Stojowski

[Cover graphic]

Compact Disc CDA67314

£13.99

Now these really are romantic piano concertos!

Stojowski was born and brought up in Poland though he later lived in Paris and finally became an American citizen. He was both virtuoso pianist and serious composer (he wrote a symphony and violin concerto as well as music for his own instrument) and his initial career was full of promise. Unfortunately for his later reputation his style was that of a previous generation and in the 20th century his music was viewed as increasingly dated. One hundred years later this hardly matters and on this CD we find works steeped in the language of Tchaikovsky and Grieg, perhaps with a hint of Saint-Saëns and the almost sentimental lyricism of Paderewski (ten years Stojowski's senior, Paderewski was both teacher and friend to the younger composer, the second concerto was dedicated to, and played by him).

We are delighted to welcome Jonathan Plowright to Hyperion. He valiantly tackles the huge virtuoso demands Stojowski makes of the soloist, particularly in the first concerto.The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra are playing better than ever and they are kept fully occupied in the rich and colourful scoring of both works.

Recorded in Caird Hall, Dundee, on 6 7 June 2001

Recording Engineer: MIKE CLEMENTS
Recording Producer: ANDREW KEENER
Piano: STEINWAY & SONS
Booklet Editor: TIM PARRY
Executive Producers: SIMON PERRY; MICHAEL SPRING

© Hyperion Records Ltd, London, MMII

Duration: 68'12
DDD

The Romantic Piano Concerto - 28

Sigismond Stojowski

JONATHAN PLOWRIGHT piano
BBC SCOTTISH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MARTYN BRABBINS conductor

Contents:

Piano Concerto No 1 in F sharp minor

Andante poco mosso – Allegro un poco maestoso – Lento, poco a poco animato – Doppio movimento [14'55]
Andante sostenuto e molto cantabile [9'39]

(Rudi De Groote cello; Mary James cor anglais)
Allegro con fuoco – Presto – Più presto [10'22]
Piano Concerto No 2 in A flat major
(Prologue, Scherzo and Variations) Op 32 [33'01]
Prologue: Andante con moto [7'36]
Scherzo: Presto [5'02]
Variations: Tema: Maestoso e moderato molto [1'03]
Variation I: Molto sostenuto [1'21]
Variation II: Con espressione poco rubato [1'07]
Variation III: Più mosso [1'14]
Variation IV: Allegretto [0'54]
Variation V: Molto vivace [0'28]
Variation VI: Con fuoco, agitato [1'05]
VariationVII: Con moto, energico [1'25]
Variation VIII: Andante sostenuto [1'04]
Variation IX: Andantino ben moderato [2'18]
Variation X (Finale): Allegro molto [8'15]

Sleeve Notes

DISC OF THE MONTH (MUZYKA 21, POLAND)

'This is a simply tremendous release … A truly great recording, an award-winner if ever I heard one' (International Record Review)

'Jonathan Plowright’s performances are a rare example of technical and musical integrity … both sound and balance are natural and exemplary' (Gramophone)

'A composer with a strong personal identity that never falls back on the commonplace or routine. Jonathan Plowright is on breathtaking form' (International Piano)

'This is a welcome addition to the Romantic Piano Concerto series that Hyperion is issuing. Jonathan Plowright plays both concertos brilliantly, and Martyn Brabbins leads the orchestra enthusiastically. The sound is superb' (American Record Guide)

'Jonathan Plowright has the chops and instinct for this kind of music … The first piano concerto alone would make this new release a must for mavens of neglected Romantic era works. However, its companion piece takes matters entirely to a new level. Stojowski’s Piano Concerto No. 2 deserves to be far better known, and this recording supplies an excellent introduction' (Fanfare, USA)

'Stojowski could hardly have found a better interpreter than Jonathan Plowright, who plays with affection, understanding and sometimes breathtaking virtuosity' (BBC Music Magazine)

'Jonathan Plowright and Martyn Brabbins give both works an ardency that’s all the more persuasive for its detail of light and shade' (The Irish Times)

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 15 - Hahn and Massenet; 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 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

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