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Brilliant Classics

Adelaide - Beethoven And The Guitar / Izhar Elias

$13.99

Details

Composer
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
Artist
Elias, Cordas Jr., Valova, Iliev
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Oct 29, 2013
Catalog #
BRI94631
UPC
5028421946313

About

The guitar is not the first instrument one associates with the towering figure of Beethoven, but he did know and appreciate the instrument, and even wrote some chamber music pieces for it.

This imaginative recital of chamber music by Beethoven takes its inspiration from the Romantic poem of the album title which describes the kind of unattainable love to which Beethoven was throughout his adult life susceptible, and from which he appears himself to have drawn creative energy. His own setting of Adelaide (the text of which appears in the booklet in both Matthisson's original and in English translation) was arranged by the 19th-century guitarist-composer Nicholas Coste; it introduces not only the playful Op.8 Serenade, perhaps the most obvious contender among Beethoven's music for a transcription of the piano part to the piano, but movements from two of his string quartets and even the funeral march from his Piano Sonata Op.26, transcribed for guitar solo or duo and played here on instruments of the period by a young and dynamic ensemble of European musicians, led by Izhar Elias, who have already released acclaimed recordings on Brilliant Classics, including guitar music in memory of Debussy (9246), spectacular transcriptions of Rossini arias (93902) and a sparkling survey of 17th-century music from the Spanish territories (94352). Elias himself plays a selection of guitars on this recording, by Guadagnini and Stauffer père et fils, including a rare terz model, which is smaller than the regular model and tuned a minor third higher to produce a more brilliant and penetrating sound in company with other instruments.

Other information:
- New recording made in April 2013.
- This original and appealing programme presents works of Beethoven in chamber music arrangements with guitar, written by contemporaries, a practice that was quite common in the period, playing its role in the popularisation of the music.
Eminent guitarist Izhar Elias plays on several period instruments, including a rare "terz" instrument, smaller in size and tuned a minor third higher in order to achieve a more brilliant sound. He is joined by violin, viola and another guitar, according to the setting of the arrangements.
- Unique album concept.
- Extensive booklet notes written by the artist.

Tracklist 13 tracks

  1. 1 Adelaide, Op. 46 (arr. N. Coste for viola and guitar) 06:30
    Track
    1
    Title
    Adelaide, Op. 46 (arr. N. Coste for viola and guitar)
    Duration
    06:30
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Ivan Iliev
  2. 2 String Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3, "Rasumovsky": II. Andante con moto quasi allegretto (arr. V. Schuster for 2 guitars) 07:51
    Track
    2
    Title
    String Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3, "Rasumovsky": II. Andante con moto quasi allegretto (arr. V. Schuster for 2 guitars)
    Duration
    07:51
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Fernando Cordas
  3. 3 Potpourri (after Beethoven) (version for violin and guitar) 10:42
    Track
    3
    Title
    Potpourri (after Beethoven) (version for violin and guitar)
    Duration
    10:42
    Composer
    Anton Diabelli
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Zefira Valova
  4. 4 Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26, "Sonate mit dem Trauermarsch": III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe (arr. S. Volker for guitar) 05:30
    Track
    4
    Title
    Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26, "Sonate mit dem Trauermarsch": III. Marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe (arr. S. Volker for guitar)
    Duration
    05:30
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Izhar Elias
  5. 5 Andante varie et Rondeau, Op. 155: I. Andante con variazioni (after Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26) 07:39
    Track
    5
    Title
    Andante varie et Rondeau, Op. 155: I. Andante con variazioni (after Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-Flat Major, Op. 26)
    Duration
    07:39
    Composer
    Ferdinando Carulli
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Fernando Cordas
  6. 6 Variations on a Quartet by Beethoven for 2 Guitars, Op. 4 09:12
    Track
    6
    Title
    Variations on a Quartet by Beethoven for 2 Guitars, Op. 4
    Duration
    09:12
    Composer
    Vincenz Schuster
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Fernando Cordas
  7. 7 I. Marcia: Allegro - II. Adagio 08:29
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Marcia: Allegro - II. Adagio
    Duration
    08:29
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Zefira Valova, Ivan Iliev
  8. 8 III. Menuetto: Allegretto 02:37
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Menuetto: Allegretto
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Zefira Valova, Ivan Iliev
  9. 9 IV. Adagio - Scherzo: Allegro molto 04:50
    Track
    9
    Title
    IV. Adagio - Scherzo: Allegro molto
    Duration
    04:50
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Zefira Valova, Ivan Iliev
  10. 10 V. Allegretto alla Polacca 03:33
    Track
    10
    Title
    V. Allegretto alla Polacca
    Duration
    03:33
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Zefira Valova, Ivan Iliev
  11. 11 VI. Thema con variazioni: Andante quasi allegretto 08:24
    Track
    11
    Title
    VI. Thema con variazioni: Andante quasi allegretto
    Duration
    08:24
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Zefira Valova, Ivan Iliev
  12. 12 VII. Marcia: Allegro 01:17
    Track
    12
    Title
    VII. Marcia: Allegro
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Izhar Elias, Zefira Valova, Ivan Iliev
  13. 13 Andante in F Major, WoO 57, "Andante favori" (F. Carulli for guitar) 02:00
    Track
    13
    Title
    Andante in F Major, WoO 57, "Andante favori" (F. Carulli for guitar)
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Izhar Elias