You're gonna love this one! Enescu: Piano Trio; Piano Quartet No. 1 Stefan Tarara (violin); Molly Carr (viola); Eun-Sun Hong (cello); Josu De Solaun (piano) Naxos
Came across this disc about a month ago. Fabulous. Enescu, I think, has the highest genius/neglect ratio. He really is one of the greats. His music much like Florent Schmitt’s, who you mentioned, is exceedingly difficult and requires so much time and attention. Enescu’s Octet, which is quasi-standard rep, hangs together by a thread under the best circumstances.
Dave, I am glad you are such an advocate for Enescu. I've been wrestling with his symphonies and orchestral suites. Given that very few composers from the Balkans are known outside their native countries, have you thought of doing videos on other figures from this region? Two people I have in mind are the Bulgarian composer Pancho Vladigerov and the Serbian composer Stevan Hristic.
Thank you Dave, for these wonderful recommendations! I love Enescu but I find his catalogue difficult to navigate. Take the violin sonatas. There are a myriad recordings of the third (some out of print but many on streaming) and few of 1&2. Which recordings are the must hears? Which is the best complete set? There are few reliable reviews. In summary, I’d love more Enescu surveys! Thank you very much for the ones you have done so far. I would like to mention my reference for the octet is Vilde Frang and co on Warner. There’s a great review of it on Classics Today.
I've never been fond of the Romanian Rhapsodies, which I usually hear via the car radio. But just the other day I heard the First, and actually began to enjoy the pure insistence of the endless parade of wild melodies, as if the orchestra was jamming, trying to exhaust itself. I had to admit, I found myself having fun.
There is now a new Naxos of similar music - Piano Quintet in D Major, Prelude et Gavotte, Aubade in C Major, Pastorale, Menuet triste et Nocture and 2 Romanian Rhapsodie. Fine Arts Quartet are the band and including Alexander Bickard on Double Bass and Gisele and Fabio Witkowski on Pianos.
These pieces were also recorded by The Schubert Ensemble for Chandos. I marginally prefer those recordings for their better balances and steadier rhythms (the Naxos lot has a tendency to rush forward during climaxes), but in any case this music is worth seeking out.
As good as this new recording of the piano quartet is, the Schubert Ensemble version (Chandos) and Tammuz Piano Quartet version (CPO) are more thoughtful and sensuous, and extremely well recorded.
In college, I first listened to Enescu's violin sonata with Menuhin. Years later listened to his other works, especially Oedipe. Recently I have been listening to his piano music..interesting and very varied ...late Romantic style well performed by Jou De Solaun who is also the pianist on the disc (I will purchase).
Glad you highlighted this. I have the Naxos CD of his Piano Quintet and the 2nd Piano Quartet and an Arte Nova CD of Cello Sonatas 1 & 2. All are beautiful. He reminds me a bit of Faure, his teacher. I’ll certainly get the disc you’re highlighting here.
One of the most underrated of all composers. Too accessible? Tough -- Mozart is accessible as any composer ever was. I must get this! At my stage as a music collector, I am finally at the stage in which I deepen my collection to include those works in which differences of interpretation makes a huge difference (as in Bach's cello suites) or in which period instruments and modern instruments create valid differences in tonality).
Based on this sample, I must add the Piano Quartet No1 to my collection. Some of Enescu's chamber works I find immediately appealing are the String Octet, the two cello sonatas, and numerous works for violin and Piano, especially the violin sonata no 1 and the ravishing third sonata. I find the Piano Quintet and the Piano Quartet no. 2 quite discursive and less accessible, but in the competent Naxos recording by the Solomon Ensemble of those works, rewarding after multiple hearings. Enescu's contrapuntal writing is marvelous, his melodies can be inspired, but flourishes and sonorities and luxurious musical overgrowth can get in the way of narrative coherence.
Came across this disc about a month ago. Fabulous. Enescu, I think, has the highest genius/neglect ratio. He really is one of the greats. His music much like Florent Schmitt’s, who you mentioned, is exceedingly difficult and requires so much time and attention. Enescu’s Octet, which is quasi-standard rep, hangs together by a thread under the best circumstances.
Dave, I am glad you are such an advocate for Enescu. I've been wrestling with his symphonies and orchestral suites. Given that very few composers from the Balkans are known outside their native countries, have you thought of doing videos on other figures from this region? Two people I have in mind are the Bulgarian composer Pancho Vladigerov and the Serbian composer Stevan Hristic.
The trio in G minor, not recorded here, is also wonderful!
Thank you Dave, for these wonderful recommendations! I love Enescu but I find his catalogue difficult to navigate. Take the violin sonatas. There are a myriad recordings of the third (some out of print but many on streaming) and few of 1&2. Which recordings are the must hears? Which is the best complete set? There are few reliable reviews. In summary, I’d love more Enescu surveys! Thank you very much for the ones you have done so far. I would like to mention my reference for the octet is Vilde Frang and co on Warner. There’s a great review of it on Classics Today.
I've never been fond of the Romanian Rhapsodies, which I usually hear via the car radio. But just the other day I heard the First, and actually began to enjoy the pure insistence of the endless parade of wild melodies, as if the orchestra was jamming, trying to exhaust itself. I had to admit, I found myself having fun.
Dear Mr. Hurwitz, thanks so much! It is an honor being on your show and even in such praise! We are really grateful! 🥹🥰❤️
It's my pleasure! Thank YOU.
There is now a new Naxos of similar music - Piano Quintet in D Major, Prelude et Gavotte, Aubade in C Major, Pastorale, Menuet triste et Nocture and 2 Romanian Rhapsodie. Fine Arts Quartet are the band and including Alexander Bickard on Double Bass and Gisele and Fabio Witkowski on Pianos.
These pieces were also recorded by The Schubert Ensemble for Chandos. I marginally prefer those recordings for their better balances and steadier rhythms (the Naxos lot has a tendency to rush forward during climaxes), but in any case this music is worth seeking out.
I checked out this recording based on your recommendation (as I often do). Really splendid in all respects. Thanks very much for the tip.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you Mr. Hurwitz!! Humbled by your words.
Please move on to his string quartets next, the first string quartet is equally beautiful and evocative as the piano quartet.
As good as this new recording of the piano quartet is, the Schubert Ensemble version (Chandos) and Tammuz Piano Quartet version (CPO) are more thoughtful and sensuous, and extremely well recorded.
The CPO seems to have vanished...
@@DavesClassicalGuide It's still available on eBay and as a download on iTunes. and Amazon..
After his string octet being in fashion for awhile.. finally some luscious early works that include piano!! 👏👏
Josu De Solaun won 1st prize at the Enescu Competition. For that he got to record the solo piano works on 3 volumes released by Grand Piano label.
The decet (or is it dectet)? Is lovely as well.
Ten is probably where "...for n instruments" takes over. 🙂
In college, I first listened to Enescu's violin sonata with Menuhin. Years later listened to his other works, especially Oedipe. Recently I have been listening to his piano music..interesting and very varied ...late Romantic style well performed by Jou De Solaun who is also the pianist on the disc (I will purchase).
Glad you highlighted this. I have the Naxos CD of his Piano Quintet and the 2nd Piano Quartet and an Arte Nova CD of Cello Sonatas 1 & 2. All are beautiful. He reminds me a bit of Faure, his teacher. I’ll certainly get the disc you’re highlighting here.
One of the most underrated of all composers. Too accessible? Tough -- Mozart is accessible as any composer ever was. I must get this! At my stage as a music collector, I am finally at the stage in which I deepen my collection to include those works in which differences of interpretation makes a huge difference (as in Bach's cello suites) or in which period instruments and modern instruments create valid differences in tonality).
Based on this sample, I must add the Piano Quartet No1 to my collection. Some of Enescu's chamber works I find immediately appealing are the String Octet, the two cello sonatas, and numerous works for violin and Piano, especially the violin sonata no 1 and the ravishing third sonata. I find the Piano Quintet and the Piano Quartet no. 2 quite discursive and less accessible, but in the competent Naxos recording by the Solomon Ensemble of those works, rewarding after multiple hearings. Enescu's contrapuntal writing is marvelous, his melodies can be inspired, but flourishes and sonorities and luxurious musical overgrowth can get in the way of narrative coherence.
Like I said.