The Vox classical years.

In the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, Vox classical was a famous budget classical label. The label kickstarted the career of Alfred Brendel and attracted well known artists as Otto Klemperer, Lili Krauss and Riccardo Ricci. This violinist recorded in 1977 with harpist Susanna Mildonian the concertante For harp, violin and orchestra by Louis Spohr. 

Mozart, Haydn and Salieri pupil Johann Nepomuk Hummel had more succes with his earlier works that with his later works, still this charming rondo form June 1831 deserves to be better known. 

In 1909 Guiomar Novaes was one of the two foreign students that were atmitted to the Paris conservatory. Out of 387 applicants she played for a jury that included Debussy, Fauré, Moszkowski and Widor. At the age of 57 she recorded Beethoven’s 4th piano concerto with 

the Vienna symphony orchestra under Otto Klemperer. 

The spouses Mary Louise Boehm and Kees Kooper recorded in July 1974 the piano and violin concerto by Johann Peter Pixis. (No, not Pixies, alas ;-)) I could not find much info about when this concerto was composed, but it seems to be a reworking of Pixis 6th piano trio from 1839, dedicated to Clara Wieck. 

I hope you will enjoy this playlist! 

Louis Spohr (1784-1859)

Tracks 01-03     Concertante For harp, violin and orchestra (1806)

Riccardo Ricci, violin

Susanna Mildonian, harp

Orchestra of radio Luxembourg

Louis De Froment, conductor

Recorded 1977

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) 

Track 04-05     "La Galante" (Rondeau), For Piano, Op.120 (1831)

Martin Galling, piano

Recorded 1969

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) 

Tracks 06-08     Concerto No. 4 For Piano And Orchestra In G Major, op 58 (1805-1806)

Guiomar Novaes, piano 

Vienna symphony orchestra,

Otto Klemperer, conductor

Recorded 1952

Johann Peter Pixis 1788-1874)

Tracks 09-11     Double concerto for violin & piano in F# minor (1839)

Mary Louise Boehm, piano

Kees Kooper, violin

Westphalian Symphony Orchestra

Siegfried Landau, conductor

Recorded 1974

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2GCrxVu4BTS0ZtjBN2GKR3?si=2330fbe2619b400e(HTTP link)

Valentina has left the building

You extend your well-wishes to others: fulfillment, happiness. Yet, occasionally, a raven swoops through an open window, its cry echoing ‘nevermore, nevermore.’ I’ve been a devoted fan of Valentina Tóth ever since she joined a Dutch radio station’s forum and shared her captivating live recordings. Her performances are vibrant, evoking the joy that Marie Kondo might describe. I eagerly acquired her two CDs featuring music by Hungarian composers, anticipating perhaps a rendition of Bartók’s Second Concerto or Prokofiev’s Third. However, for Valentina, the classical world failed to ignite that same spark of joy. As a child, she graced musical stages, but dissatisfied with the trajectory of her life as a classical pianist, she ventured into drama school and blossomed into an award-winning comedian. Now, she tours the Netherlands with her highly acclaimed show, and interviews reveal how this shift has amplified her happiness. Still, a raven circles my thoughts, its mournful cry echoing ‘nevermore, nevermore...’ Well, I can share the recordings. My favorite track? The Christmas pastorale by Dohnányi, performed with unparalleled brilliance—surpassing even Zoltán Kocsis and the composer’s own rendition. Enjoy! 😊

Ernst von Dohnányi (1877-1960)

Track 01 - 07 Ruralia Hungarica, Op. 32a (1923)

Track 08 - 12 Humoresken In Form Einer Suite, Op.17 (1907)

Track 13 Pastorale In A Hungarian Christmas Song (1920)

Recorded 2018

Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945)

Track 14 - 27 14 Bagatelles  Sz.38 Op. 6 (1908)

Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967)

Track 28 - 34 Seven Piano Pieces  Op. 11 (1910-1918)

Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945)

Track 36 - 38 3 Hungarian Folksongs From Csík, Sz.35a (1907)

Recorded 2012, 2013

Valentina Tóth, piano

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6NVsPzclcyNxxO32kxnyGy?si=c09798f9fd034deb(HTTP link)

1 hour Baroque music playlist on Spotify

So you want a playlist with one hour Baroque music on Spotify? Here is a curated playlist!

First, let’s explore the melodious lute concerto by Johann Friedrich Fasch, a German composer who, just before Bach’s arrival, founded a ‘Collegium musicum’ in Leipzig. This initiative paved the way for an orchestral concert culture in the city. Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, the (only!) teacher Georg Friedrich Händel ever had, remains an intriguing figure. Unfortunately, I couldn’t trace the specific New Year’s Day for which the cantata “Preiset Mit Mir Den Herren” was written, but I hold great admiration for this exceptional work.

Now, let’s delve into Handel’s famous harp concerto. Interestingly, the manuscript cover reads “Concerto per il Liuto e l’Harpa.” That “e” is crucial—it signifies “and,” not “or.” So, was it a misprint, or was it genuinely intended for both harp and lute to play? In this recording by La Divina Armonia, we find the latter to be the case.

Georg Philipp Telemann, known for his “faithful music master,” issued a musical magazine containing pieces for home enjoyment. Among the 1728 monthly issues, there was a partita for harpsichord. Pay attention to the third movement titled “Rondeau” (track 17). Could Mozart have been influenced by this piece? It almost foreshadows his aria “Batti, Batt bel masetto.” Feel free to hum along with the melody!

Lastly, let’s transition from the Baroque era to classical music with Jakob Friedrich Kleinknecht’s 1748 trio sonata for two flutes and continuo. Remarkably, Kleinknecht worked in Bayreuth a century before Wagner. Enjoy the playlist! 🎶

Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688-1758)

Track 01-03 Lute Concerto, FWVL: D1, between 1735 and 1745

Richard Stone, Lute & conductor

Tempesta die mare, Philadelphia Baroque orchestra

2012

Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow (1663-1712)

Track 04-11 Preiset Mit Mir Den Herren (Festo Novi Anni)

Constanze Backes, soprano

Capella Frisiae, chorus

Accademia Amsterdam, Ludger Remy conductor.

2009

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)

Track 04-11 Concerto For Lute And Harp In B Flat Major, Op 4/6, Hwv 294, 1736

Luca Pianca, Archlute

Margreth Köll, Harp

La Divina Armonia, conductor

2007

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)

Track 15-19 Partia à Cembalo solo, TWV 32:1

From: Der getreue Music-Meister, Lektion 1-3, 1728.

Roberto Loreggian, harpsichord

2016

Jakob Friedrich Kleinknecht (1722-1794)

Tracks 20-22 Trio sonata in D major, op 2, 1748

Aysha Wills, traverso

David Westcombe, traverso 

Octavie Dostaler-Lalonde, cello 

Artem Belogurov, harpsichord

2019

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5KmgsBaiHy9YDxrHBqTJW5?si=22fe0ca968474435(HTTP link)