Martinu: Works for two Pianos [Import]

Bohuslav Martinu (Artist), Talich Chamber Orchestra (Artist), Vladimír Válek (Artist), Clinton-Narboni Duo (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 17, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Elan Records
• ASIN: B0000508W8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #441,533 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Concerto for 2 pianos & orchestra, H. 292: No. 1 Allegro non troppo

2. Concerto for 2 pianos & orchestra, H. 292: No. 2 Adagio

3. Concerto for 2 pianos & orchestra, H. 292: No. 3 Allegro

4. Concerto Grosso for 2 pianos & chamber orchestra, H. 263: No. 1 Allegro ma non troppo

5. Concerto Grosso for 2 pianos & chamber orchestra, H. 263: No. 2 Adagio

6. Concerto Grosso for 2 pianos & chamber orchestra, H. 263: No. 3 Allegretto

7. Czech Dances (3) for 2 pianos, H. 324: No. 1, Allegro

8. Czech Dances (3) for 2 pianos, H. 324: No. 2, Andante moderato

9. Czech Dances (3) for 2 pianos, H. 324: No. 3, Allegro (non troppo)

10. Fantasy for 2 pianos, H. 180

11. Impromptu for 2 pianos, H. 359

Editorial Reviews

From ClassicsToday.com

Martinu's brilliant and witty double piano concerto belongs to

a long list of his works unaccountably neglected in today's concert

halls. Composed in 1943 during the composer's American period, the

piece shares many of the same characteristics of the six great

symphonies written at the same time: busy, syncopated rhythms;

luminous orchestration; and soaring lyrical passages of great melodic

breadth. In a not very crowded field, this concerto certainly stands

proudly beside those of Mozart, Poulen, Piston, Gould, and Vaughan

Williams among the sovereign works for two pianos and orchestra. The

Concerto Grosso for Two Pianos and Chamber Orchestra, by contrast,

comes from the end of Martinu's Paris period (1937), and offers

spikier harmonies and a more soloistic give and take between the

soloists and individual members of the accompanying ensemble.

The remaining items, for duo pianists without orchestra, are all

charming miniatures, though the Three Czech Dances together offer

considerable musical substance beneath the folksy exterior. All of

these works are superbly played by the Clinton-Narboni Duo. They have

the technique to offer maximum brilliance in the outer movements of

the Concerto and Concerto Grosso, and the delicacy of touch to make

something really special out of the former's haunting slow movement

(the last two minutes or so are just magical). Vladimir Válek and

the Talich Chamber Orchestra bring a touch of authentic Czech vitality

to their sensitive and lively accompaniments, and the recorded sound

provides ample body and excellent balances both. A major release.