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Track(s) taken from CDA67903

Chant du printemps, Op 34 No 1

composer
dedicated to Paderewski

Jonathan Plowright (piano)
Recording details: January 2011
Potton Hall, Dunwich, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Produced by Jeremy Hayes
Engineered by Tony Faulkner
Release date: November 2011
Total duration: 3 minutes 10 seconds

Cover artwork: Adaptation of the cover illustration for Homage to Paderewski (Boosey & Hawkes, 1942).
 

Reviews

‘Performances of a superlative technique and musicianship. Pianism and sheer musical quality of this order are rare at any time, and Hyperion's recordings … are exemplary’ (Gramophone)

‘This is a fascinating document. Pieces by Martinů and Castelnuovo-Tedesco are among the gems … overall more reflective than virtuosic, this disc allows Plowright to show off his superb command of texture and colour’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘This is an enchanting follow-up to Jonathan Plowright’s 'Hommage à Chopin' disc (CDA67803), and, like that one, it is an eclectic mix of music focused on a central figure … many of the composers have now disappeared into the mists of time, but all of these miniatures are well worth the warmth, affection, lyrical beauty and bravura that Plowright devotes to them … the 24 tracks also include music by Britten, Bartók and Milhaud, adding to a disc that makes a welcome change in being conceived with such imagination. Plowright’s playing throughout is sublime’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘Jonathan Plowright's sumptuous range of colours and dynamic control [is] much in evidence … any pianophile will surely find it interesting to have a glimpse into music by the composers of the day. One can find no fault, too, with Hyperion's well-balanced, warmly recorded sound’ (International Record Review)
Aleksander Zarzycki was born in Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine), studied in Berlin and Paris, and settled in Warsaw. He was a co-founder and the first director of the Warsaw Musical Society as well as the choir conductor at St John’s Archcathedral where Paderewski’s remains are entombed in the crypt. French in flavour, the Chant du printemps is a typical morceau de salon. Following a programmatic-like introduction of springtime nymphs welcoming the listener on their harps, a beautiful melody reminiscent of Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words takes over.

from notes by Joseph A Herter © 2011

Né à Lwów (l’actuelle Lviv ukrainienne), Aleksander Zarzycki étudia à Berlin et à Paris avant de s’installer à Varsovie. Co-fondateur et premier directeur de la Société musicale de cette ville, il dirigea aussi le chœur de la cathédrale Saint-Jean, dont la crypte renferme la dépouille de Paderewski. De saveur française, son Chant du printemps est un morceau de salon typique. Passé une introduction programmatique de nymphes printanières accueillant l’auditeur avec leurs harpes, une splendide mélodie reprend des réminiscences des Romances sans paroles de Mendelssohn.

extrait des notes rédigées par Joseph A Herter © 2011
Français: Hypérion

Aleksander Zarzycki wurde in Lwów (jetzt Lviv, Ukraine) geboren, studierte in Berlin und Paris und lebte in Warschau. Er war Mitbegründer und erster Direktor der Warschauer Musikalischen Gesellschaft sowie Chordirigent an der Johannes-Kathedrale, in deren Krypta Paderewskis sterbliche Überreste begraben sind. Chant du printemps ist ein typisches morceau de salon im französischen Stil. Nach einer fast programmatischen Einleitung, in der Frühlingsnymphen den Hörer mit Harfenspiel begrüßen, folgt eine schöne Melodie, die an Mendelssohns Lieder ohne Worte erinnert.

aus dem Begleittext von Joseph A Herter © 2011
Deutsch: Christiane Frobenius

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