Classical music morning playlist

Good morning! Here is a one hour selection of chamber works spanning the Classical and early Romantic periods. We begin with Mozart's "Kegelstatt" Trio, composed playfully during a game of skittles and performed by the trio of Brymer, Kovacevich, and Ireland. Misty landscapes in John Field's pioneering Nocturnes. I selected three of them — two well before and one after Chopin composed his. Alice Sara Ott's recently recorded interpretations are on the playlist. Hummel's Cello Sonata, where cellist Bárta and pianist Milne converse with delicate eloquence across three movements, was actually one of the examples for Johannes Brahms' first cello sonata. The playlist concludes with Howard Shelly's sparkling rendition of Hummel's Rondo in E.

Open playlist in Spotify · 1 hour

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)

Trio in E♭, K. 498 · "Kegelstatt Trio"
Composed: 1786 · Recorded: December 1969

Jack Brymer (clarinet) · Stephen Bishop Kovacevich (piano) · Patrick Ireland (viola)

Track 01: Andante
Track 02: Menuetto
Track 03: Rondeaux (Allegretto)

John Field (1782–1832)

3 Piano Nocturnes
Alice Sara Ott, piano · Recorded: September 2024

Track 04: Nocturne No. 9 "Pastorale" in A major (1815)
Track 05: Nocturne No. 4 in A major (1817)
Track 06: Nocturne No. 14 in C major (1835)

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778–1837)

Cello Sonata in A major, Op. 104 (1824)
Recorded: February 2005

Jiří Bárta (cello) · Hamish Milne (piano)

Track 07: Allegro Amabile e Grazioso
Track 08: Romanze: Un Poco Adagio e Con Espressione
Track 09: Rondo: Allegro Vivace Un Poco

Rondo in E, Op. 11 (1804)
Howard Shelley, piano · Recorded: 1999

Track 10: Rondo in E, Op. 11

A one hour Spotify playlist with works from the classical period. Clementi, Mozart, Pleyel

Born before Mozart and living past Beethoven, Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) had a fruitful long musical life. Mozart envied his technical abilities behind te pianoforte and Beethoven was introduced to the early sonatas by Clementi by his teacher Christian Gottlieb Neefe. The Capriccio in E, op 47 no 1 is from 1821 and more a “free form sonata” in three parts. The symphonic caracter of this work is captured by the pianist Howard Shelley.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) composed the String Duo No. 2 in B-flat major for violin and viola, K. 424, during the summer of 1783. This work was the second of two duos he wrote to complete Michael Haydn’s set of six for Archbishop Colloredo. Michael, the younger brother of Joseph, was sick and unable to finish the requested 6 sonatas, only having composed 4. Mozart surprised his friend by composing two additional sonatas in 5 days…

The String Quintet in F Minor, is part of Ignaz Pleyel’s (1757-1831) collection of chamber music from 1786. It is scored for a string quartet (two violins, viola, and cello) with the addition of an extra viola, creating a quintet. A remarkable French “stürm on drang” work in three parts.

Muzio Clementi (1752-1832)

Tracks 01-03 Capriccio for piano in E, op 47 no 1 (1821)

Howard Shelley, piano 

Recorded 2011

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Tracks 04-06 String Duo No. 2 in B-flat major for violin and viola, K. 424 (1783)

Sarah Kapustin, violin 

Roeland Jagers, viola

Recorded 2020

Ignaz Pleyel  (1757-1831)

Tracks 07-09 String Quintet in F Minor, Ben 277 (1786)

Janáček Quartet

Miloš Vacek  Vítězslav Zavadilík, violin

Bohuslav Matoušek, Jan Řezníček, viola

Břetislav Vybíral, cello

Recorded 2013

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7i1gTJcGI0Ngl0JDb0Cb5U?si=b31675752a0f40d6Spotify HTTP link

Mozart Piano Trios on Spotify

You can exist as a chamber music ensemble for years (in the case of the Gryphon trio, 25 years!), make recordings that receive exuberant reviews in, let’s say the Gramophone Magazine: 

“But if you want the complete Mozart trios, this new set matches the classic Beaux Arts in polish and sensitivity, and surpasses it in beauty of violin tone and, inevitably, in quality of recording”

Or, over the top exuberant reviews in, let’s say, Classics today:

“Specifically, what the Gryphon Trio brings to these pieces is flow–that sense of effortless forward momentum that characterizes all of Mozart’s (and just about everyone else’s, come to think of it) best work. (10 out of 10)

And still remain virtually unknown… 

Is it because these players are from Canada? Or is it they are represented on a small label rather than the glam and marketing budget of a major label? Anyway, I came across these recordings on Spotify and was hooked. This is one of the finest set of Mozart chamber works I have encountered in a while. Artur Schnabel once famously said, “Mozart piano sonatas are too easy for children and too difficult for adults”. Well, the same counts for many of these works and the “naturalness” of playing by the Gryphon’s suits the music so well…! 

Hope you will be inspired by these performances too! 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Track 01- 03 Divertimento for Piano, Violin and Cello in B flat major, K 254 (1776) 

Track 04- 12 Trio for Piano and Strings no 1 in G major, K 496 (1786)

Track 13- 15 Trio for Piano and Strings no 2 in B flat major, K 502 (1786)

Track 16- 18 Trio for Piano and Strings no 3 in E major, K 542 (1788)

Track 19- 21 Trio for Piano and Strings no 4 in C major, K 548 (1788)

Track 22- 30 Trio for Piano and Strings no 5 in G major, K 564 (1788)

Gryphon trio:

Annalee Patipata Nakoon, violin

Jamie Parker, piano

Roman Borys, cello

Recorded 2006. 

https://open.spotify.com/user/otterhouse/playlist/6gEmDpC5hzT1FML2WCPGg9?si=aGEJhCHZR8W66kyRkceCxQ (Webplayer link)

Quartetto Italiano early recordings 1946 1952 Italian quartet Debussy Boccherini Beethoven Mozart Haydn

Last year, in the same week as David Bowie, the last founder of the famous Italian Quartet “Quartetto Italiano” died; Elisa Pegreff, at the age of 93. Married to the first violinist (and rumored to have had an affair with all the other members) she stayed in the quartet from it’s formation in 1945 till disbandment in 1980. I was curious what the first recording of the quartet was and stumbled upon a box with the earliest recordings of the quartet. Even the 1946 78rpm set with “the reason” the quartet started in the first place, Debussy’s string quartet. 

The sound of the earliest recordings is a bit harsh, but just sample track 07, the 1948 slow movement of the Luigi Boccherini quartet in D; what a breathtaking beauty in that recording. The metadata was (of course) not there on Spotify, so I gathered the recording information from several websites with discographical information. Enjoy the exploration of the early recordings of the Quartetto Italiano…!

-Track 01-04: Claude Debussy: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10

Conservatorio G.Verdi, Milano (Italia) - 14-20 march 1946

Issued on Telefunken 78rpm’s 1946

-Track 05: Leonardo Vinci: Gavotta da 6 Antiche Danze (from «12 Soli per Violino e Arpicordo»)

Conservatorio G.Verdi, Milano (Italia) 4 mai 1946

Issued on Telefunken 78rpm 1946

Lionello Forzanti plays the viola here, he was replaced by Piero Farulli in 1947

-Track 06-08: Luigi Boccherini: String Quartet in D major, Op. 8 No. 1, G 165

Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 11 & 20 november 1948

Issued on Decca LXT 2680 in 1952

-Track 09-12: Franz Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in E flat major, Op. 64 No. 6 (Hob. III:64)

Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 11 november 1948

Issued on Decca LXT 2680 in 1952

-Track 13-16: Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet in C major, Op. 59 No. 3 «Rasumovsky No. 3»

West Hampstead Studios, London - 28 november 1949

Issued on Decca LXT 2679 in 1952

-Track 17: Franz Schubert: Quartettsatz in C minor, D 703

West Hampstead Studios, London - 28 e 29 november 1949

Issued on Decca LXT 2679 in 1952

-Track 18-21: Robert Schumann: String Quartet in F major, Op. 41 No. 2

West Hampstead Studios, London - 27-29 november 1950

Issued on Decca LXT 2691 in 1952

-Track 22-25: Giuseppe Verdi: String Quartet in E minor

West Hampstead Studios, London - 24, 27-29 november 1950

Issued on Decca LXT 2691 in 1952

-Track 26-28: Giuseppe Tartini: Sonata a quattro in G major

Recorded live, Teatro Eliseo, Roma (Italia) - 29 gennaio 1951

-Track 29-32: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A major, K 581

Antoine de Bavier, Clarinet

West Hampstead Studios, London - 8-20 & 22 February 1952

Issued on Decca LXT 2698 in 1952

-Track 33-36: Franz Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in G major, Op. 77 No. 1 (Hob. III:81)

Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 1-10 July 1952

Issued on Decca LXT 2811 in 1954

-Track 37-39: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: - String Quartet in D major, K 155 

Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 1-10 July 1952

Issued on Decca LXT 2852 in 1954

-Track 40-41: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: - Adagio and Fugue in C minor for String Quartet, K 546

Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 1-10 July 1952

Issued on Decca LXT 2853 in 1954

-Track 42-45: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: - String Quartet in C major, K 465 

«Dissonances» 

Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 1-10 July 1952

Issued on Decca LXT 2853 in 1954

-Track 46-49: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: - String Quartet in F major, K 590

Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 1-10 July 1952

Issued on Decca LXT 2852 in 1954

-Track 50-53: Ludwig van Beethoven: - String Quartet in B flat major, Op. 18 No. 6 

Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 1-10 July 1952

Issued on Decca LXT 2811 in 1954

-Track 54-57: Ludwig van Beethoven: - String Quartet in F major, Op. 59 No. 1 «Rasumovsky No. 1»

Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 20-30 July 1952

Issued on Decca LXT 2856 in 1954

-Track 58-61: Franz Schubert: - String Quartet in B flat major, D 112 (Op. 168)

Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 20-30 July 1952

Issued on Decca LXT 2855 in 1954

-Track 62-65: Franz Schubert: - String Quartet in A minor, D 804 (Op. 29 No. 1) «Rosamunde»

Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma (Italia) - 20-30 July 1952

Issued on Decca LXT 2854 in 1954

(Nuovo) Quartetto Italiano

Paolo Borciani, violino I

Elisa Pegreffi, violino II

Piero Faruli viola

Franco Rossi, violoncello

https://open.spotify.com/user/otterhouse/playlist/4wWSZQwN1kgmaR7YJEMnIw

(WEBPLAYER LINK)

Quartetto Italiano

Mozart violin concerto's on authentic instruments

A while ago I encountered an exiting CD from Italian violinist and conductor Fabio Biondi on Spotify. Mozart’s first three violin concerto’s on authentic instruments, including continuo, a sparkling and tingling fortepiano! Fiery playing, also, noted in the reviews I found online from the Gramophone and Classicstoday website. Suddenly, Mozart’s strum und drang is not very far away from the Mannheimers like Stamitz, Richter or Mysliveček. For variety I have interwoven the concertos with several famous serenades, like the Nachtmusik and Musical joke, played by Jordi Savall and the Les concert des nations.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Tracks 01 to 04

Serenade In G, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik KV 525 

Les concert des nations, Jordi Savall, conductor

Tracks 05 to 07

Violin Concerto No.2 in D major K.211

Europa Galante, Fabio Bondi violinsolo and conductor

Tracks 08 to 11

Ein Musikalischer Spaß KV 522 

Les concert des nations, Jordi Savall, conductor

Tracks 12 to 14

Violin Concerto No.2 in D major K.211

Europa Galante, Fabio Bondi violinsolo and conductor

Tracks 15 to 17

Serenade In D, Serenata Notturna KV 239 

Les concert des nations, Jordi Savall, conductor

Tracks 18 to 20

Violin Concerto No.3 in G major K.216

Europa Galante, Fabio Bondi violinsolo and conductor

Tracks 20 to 23

Notturno In D Für Vier Orchester KV 286 

Les concert des nations, Jordi Savall, conductor

https://open.spotify.com/user/otterhouse/playlist/50uc0JjlAotheEpFhzNQBe

(Spotify webversion link)

Benny Goodman plays Mozart, live 1956 Berkshire Festival and Copland

There was a mini-controversy this week in the Netherlands, when Dutch classical PBS Radio 4 asked listeners if they mind that some programs would now be playing Jazz within, or in stead of, classical music. A small social media storm was the consequence. In the end, the manager of Radio 4 announced on Twitter that around 50% was against, 25% was pro and 25% undecided.

I thought I would turn it around, this week. Here is a Jazz icon playing classical music;

Clarinetist Benny Goodman plays Mozart and Copeland, re-issued on the German “jube” label.

Enjoy! :-)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Clarinet quintet in A-Major, KV 581 (1789)

Boston Symphony string quartet:

1st Violine - Richard Burgin

2nd Violine - Alfred Krips

Viola - Joseph De Pasquale

Cello - Samuel Mayes

Clarinet - Benny Goodman

Recorded during Berkshire Festival 1956, program of that festival scanned and put online @ http://worldcat.org/digitalarchive/content/server15982.contentdm.oclc.org/BSYMO/PROG/TRUSVolume14/Pub412_1954-1956_TWD_1956_Con04.pdf 

Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

Concerto For Clarinet And String Orchestra (With Piano & Harp, 1947 rev 1949)

Jacques Orchestra

Conductor - Aaron Copeland

Clarinet - Benny Goodman

Recorded May 31, 1951
Live on the festival of Britain 

https://open.spotify.com/user/otterhouse/playlist/44Ht2uizQaP0V6OW6Gl2pK

The original program, July 11th, 1956

The Orlando Quartet in Haydn, Mozart, Debussy, Ravel and Schubert. Unity!!

In days of nationalism and disunity, this playlist is an ode to global unity…

The Orlando Quartet was a string quartet with members from Hungary, Austria, Germany, Romania and later on Australia and Norway, playing with other musicians all over the world. Based in Amsterdam, the quartet started in 1976 and slowly gained recognition for being one of the finest chamber music ensembles of that period. The quartet was active till 1997.

recordings below give a nice overview of their interpretation skills. 

A quote from the Gramophone magazine, August 1983:

“Quite exceptional quality, distinguished by a marvellous rhythmic sense, an unusually wide dynamic range, and flawless ensemble and intonation. Their eloquence in the slow movements, which are among Haydn's finest, is matched by an exhilarating vitality in the quick ones. In short, this is magnificent playing and it is supported by an uncannily lifelike recording: an outstanding issue.’ (about the Haydn recordings) 

Hope you will enjoy this selection again! :-) 

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

String Quartet no 63 op 76 no 4 in Bb major, ‘Sunrise' (1795/97)

String Quartet no 65 op 76 no 6 in Eb major, ‘Fantasia' (1795/97)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

String Quintet no 6 in Eb major KV 614 (1791)

with Nobuko Imai (Japan) on viola

Claude Achille Debussy (1862-1918)

String Quartet in g minor op 10 (1893)

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

String Quartet in F major (1903)

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

String Quartet no 14 in d minor “Death and the Maiden” D 810 (1824)

1st violin on the Haydn, Debussy, Ravel and Schubert recording: István Párkányi (Hungary)

1st violin on the Mozart recording: John Harding (Australia)

2nd violin: Heinz Oberdorfer (Germany)

Viola: Ferdinand Erblich (Austria)

Cello Stefan Metz (Romania)

https://open.spotify.com/user/otterhouse/playlist/6HHF1gnqVki4UHFA5X5IJm

(Spotify Webplayer link)

Oralndo Quartet with Párkányi