Ginastera: Variaciones concertantes

Ginastera (Composer), Castlenuovo-Tedesco (Composer), Surinach (Composer), George Manahan (Conductor), Richmond Sinfonia (Orchestra), Santiago Rodriguez (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Santiago Rodriguez
• Orchestra: Richmond Sinfonia
• Conductor: George Manahan
• Composer: Ginastera, Castlenuovo-Tedesco, Surinach
• Audio CD (December 21, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elan Records
• ASIN: B000001A5G
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #352,155 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Pno Con No.1 in G, Op.46: I. Allegro Giusto - Santiago Rodriguez

2. Pno Con No.1 in G, Op.46: II. Andantino, Alla Romanza - Santiago Rodriguez

3. Pno Con No.1 in G, Op.46: III. Vivo E Festoso - Santiago Rodriguez

4. Concertino: I. Allegro - Santiago Rodriguez

5. Concertino: II. Andante - Santiago Rodriguez

6. Concertino: III. Vivace - Santiago Rodriguez

7. Vars And Conc: Tema - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

8. Vars And Conc: Interlude - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

9. Vars And Conc: Var Giocosa - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

10. Vars And Conc: Var In Modo De Scherzo - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

11. Vars And Conc: Var Dramatica - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

12. Vars And Conc: Var Carnonica - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

13. Vars And Conc: Var Ritmica - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

14. Vars And Conc: Var In Modo di Moto Perpetuo - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

15. Vars And Conc: Var Pastorale - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

16. Vars And Conc: Interludio - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

17. Represa Dal Tema - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

18. Var Finale In Modo Rondo - Richmond Sinf/George Manahan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Delightful 'Light' Piano Concertos & A Modern Classic, February 1, 2004

By 

J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ginastera: Variaciones concertantes (Audio CD)

This CD has been one of my favorites ever since it came out in 1994. It features bang-up performances of two 'light' piano concertos which unaccountably are rarely played in concert series. The classic referred to in the title is the 'Variaciones Concertantes' by Albert Ginastera (1916-1983). Santiago Rodriguez is a fabulous pianist, a silver medal winner in the 1981 Van Cliburn Competition and whom I heard play many times when he was teaching in my part of the country. I've never understood why has not had the career of a major virtuoso. He has made one of my favorite recordings of the Rachmaninov Third Piano Concerto with a Bulgarian orchestra also on this label; in fact, the Élan label was, if I'm not mistaken, started by Rodriguez himself. At any rate, his performances of these two current concerti are marked by, no pun intended, élan and brio, which is precisely what they require.

The Concerto in G by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968) is his second concerto. In the usual three movements, it is filled with marvelous tunes, exciting fingerwork in the outer movements, and the middle movement is a melting love-song that is aptly subtitled 'all romanza.' There are Italianate melodic contours throughout, although they are, as often with this composer, tinged with Spanish inflections.

Carlos Surinach (1915-1997) was a Catalan trained in Barcelona and Germany. His 'Concertino for Piano, Strings and Cymbals' (how's that for an odd instumentation?; several types of cymbals are used, giving the piece an exotic flavor) is a three-movement, 16-minute work which sometimes reminds me of Falla's 'Nights in the Gardens of Spain.' All the Spanish melodic and rhythmic turns are there, as well as the faintly Moorish tinge from the cymbals and occasional melismatic turns of melody. This piece does not aim for a big splash, but rather does what it sets out to do, entertain and intrigue with its neoclassic, Stravinskian effects.

Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) was undoubtedly Argentina's most famous composer of the modern era, and with good reason. 'Variaciones Concertantes' is a 25-minute set of variations on a subtle and memorable theme initially played tenderly by harp and cello. We get the expected Argentinean rhythms and melodies, but as reflected through the prism of Ginastera's mastery of modern orchestral technique. There is a violin mini-concerto in the 'variazione in modo di Moto perpetuo.' Although a completely tonal work, there are nonetheless moments of harmonic indecision that somehow give this 1953 work an enduring modern sheen. It has, of course, become a staple in the orchestral repertoire. It must be said that the Richmond Sinfonia does a first-rate job; their performance is entirely comparable to recordings of the piece by the London Symphony and the Royal Philharmonic. The conductor in all three pieces is George Manahan. He has since this recording become music director of the New York City Opera, after having conducted its touring company for several years; he is a first-rate musician.

Recommended.

Scott Morrison