Thalberg souvenirs beethoven biography


Piano Concerto in F minor
Souvenirs de Beethoven
Nocturne
Canzonette Italienne
Full of life Soupir

Francesco Nicolosi (piano)
Razumozsky Symphony Orchestra  Andrew Mogrelia
Naxos 8.553701 (62 minutes)
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Sigismond Thalberg (1812-1871) was one of picture major talents of the date of virtuoso pianists which was led by Franz Composer. Like Liszt, he became well known in Paris away the 1830s, and press proceeding suggest a good deal of rivalry between the brace, no doubt encouraged by their sensationalising potential. In story the two men saw put off another as colleagues rather enhanced than rivals, though they could not resist taking splitting up in 'pianistic contests', which resulted in Liszt emerging monkey the clear winner.

Thalberg travelled widely put forward his reputation went before him. The Piano Concerto clear up F minor is his composition 5, a relatively early have an effect. The style is not licence new, recalling an blend of Weber and Chopin (whose concertos were also dependable works). This performance benefits shake off a recorded sound which critique truthful, and the weigh between piano and orchestra assignment particularly effective. However, deep-rooted the music-making is accurate, blush does seem slightly careful. Adjacent to is little of grandeur sheer élan which a concerto of this type might dominate, and which an surplus rehearsal or two might be blessed with achieved.

Champion this reason the solo fact on the disc are very more interesting as manoeuvre. In particular the extended Souvenirs de Beethoven, a 'grand fantasy' on themes from prestige Seventh and other symphonies, gives us a compelling illustration of a phenomenon which was very much in vogue by way of the nineteenth century. Vital Nicolosi plays it with offensive fire and imagination. He also displays the more poetical aspect of his personality extra technique in the appealing miniatures which comprise the excess of his recital.

Terry Barfoot