Soloist & Partner / Rudolf Firkusny

$33.99
Label
Profil
Release Date
July 24, 2020
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      VARIOUS
    • PERFORMER
      Rudolf Firkusny
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      July 24, 2020
    • UPC
      881488190137
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      PH19013
    • LABEL
      Profil
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      10
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Predtucha (Foreboding): Con moto

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    2. II. Smrt (Death)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    3. I. Poco allegro

      Composer: Bohuslav Martinů

      Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: Rafael Kubelík

    4. II. Poco moderato

      Composer: Bohuslav Martinů

      Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: Rafael Kubelík

    5. I. Allegro agitato - Poco tranquillo - Tempo I - Poco tranquillo - Tempo I

      Composer: Antonín Dvořák

      Ensemble: WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: Rafael Kubelík

    6. II. Andante sostenuto

      Composer: Antonín Dvořák

      Ensemble: WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: Rafael Kubelík

    7. III. Finale: Allegro con fuoco - Poco sostenuto - Tempo I

      Composer: Antonín Dvořák

      Ensemble: WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: Rafael Kubelík

    8. I. Maestoso

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Ensemble: New York Philharmonic

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: Hans Rosbaud

    9. II. Adagio

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Ensemble: New York Philharmonic

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: Hans Rosbaud

    10. III. Rondo: Allegro non troppo

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Ensemble: New York Philharmonic

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: Hans Rosbaud

    11. I. Allegretto ben moderato

      Composer: César Franck

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    12. II. Allegro

      Composer: César Franck

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    13. III. Recitativo - Fantasia: Ben moderato - Molto lento

      Composer: César Franck

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    14. IV. Allegretto poco mosso

      Composer: César Franck

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    15. I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    16. II. Adagio cantabile

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    17. III. Rondo: Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    18. I. Adagio sostenuto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    19. II. Allegretto - III. Presto agitato

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    20. I. Allegro con brio

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    21. II. Introduzione: Adagio molto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    22. III. Rondo: Allegretto moderato

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    23. I. Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: William Steinberg

    24. II. Adagio un poco moto -

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: William Steinberg

    25. III. Rondo: Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Ensemble: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

      Conductor: William Steinberg

    26. I. Allegro appassionato

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: William Primrose, Rudolf Firkušný

    27. II. Andante un poco adagio

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: William Primrose, Rudolf Firkušný

    28. III. Allegretto grazioso

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: William Primrose, Rudolf Firkušný

    29. IV. Vivace

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: William Primrose, Rudolf Firkušný

    30. I. Allegro amabile

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: William Primrose, Rudolf Firkušný

    31. II. Allegro appassionato

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: William Primrose, Rudolf Firkušný

    32. III. Andante con moto

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: William Primrose, Rudolf Firkušný

    33. No. 1. Capriccio in F-Sharp Minor

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    34. No. 3. Intermezzo in A-Flat Major

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    35. 2 Rhapsodies, Op. 79: No. 2 in G Minor

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    36. 7 Fantasien, Op. 116: No. 1. Capriccio in D Minor

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    37. 3 Intermezzos, Op. 117: No. 2 in B-Flat Minor

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    38. 6 Piano Pieces, Op. 118: No. 6. Intermezzo in E-Flat Minor

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    39. No. 1. Intermezzo in B Minor

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    40. No. 2. Intermezzo in E Minor

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    41. No. 3. Intermezzo in C Major

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    42. No. 4. Rhapsody in E-Flat Major

      Composer: Johannes Brahms

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    43. Kinderszenen (Scenes of Childhood), Op. 15: No. 7. Träumerei (Dreaming)

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    44. I. Allegro moderato

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Tossy Spivakovsky, Rudolf Firkušný

    45. II. Adagio espressivo

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Tossy Spivakovsky, Rudolf Firkušný

    46. III. Scherzo: Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Tossy Spivakovsky, Rudolf Firkušný

    47. IV. Poco allegretto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Tossy Spivakovsky, Rudolf Firkušný

    48. I. Allegro con brio

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    49. II. Adagio cantabile

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    50. III. Scherzo: Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    51. IV. Finale: Allegro - Presto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    52. I. Molto allegro

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    53. II. Adagio

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    54. III. Allegro assai

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    55. I. Molto Allegro

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    56. II. Adagio

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    57. III. Theme and Variations: Allegretto

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Erika Morini, Rudolf Firkušný

    58. I. Allegro

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Nathan Milstein, Rudolf Firkušný

    59. II. Adagio molto espressivo

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Nathan Milstein, Rudolf Firkušný

    60. III. Scherzo: Allegro molto

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Nathan Milstein, Rudolf Firkušný

    61. IV. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo

      Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven

      Performer: Nathan Milstein, Rudolf Firkušný

    62. No. 1 in C Minor

      Composer: Franz Schubert

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    63. No. 2 in E-Flat Major

      Composer: Franz Schubert

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    64. No. 3 in G-Flat Major

      Composer: Franz Schubert

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    65. No. 4 in A-Flat Major

      Composer: Franz Schubert

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    66. No. 1 in F Minor

      Composer: Franz Schubert

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    67. No. 2 in A-Flat Major

      Composer: Franz Schubert

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    68. No. 3 in B-Flat Major

      Composer: Franz Schubert

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    69. No. 4 in F Minor

      Composer: Franz Schubert

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    70. I. Allegro maestoso

      Composer: Frédéric Chopin

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    71. II. Scherzo: Molto vivace

      Composer: Frédéric Chopin

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    72. III. Largo

      Composer: Frédéric Chopin

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    73. IV. Finale: Presto, non tanto

      Composer: Frédéric Chopin

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    74. I. Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen - Im Legendenton - Erstes tempo

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    75. II. Mässig

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    76. III. Langsam getragen

      Composer: Robert Schumann

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    77. Fantasia in C Minor, K. 475

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    78. Fantasia in C Minor, K. 396 (fragment) (arr. and completed by M. Stadler for piano)

      Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    79. I. Prélude

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    80. II. Menuet

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    81. III. Clair de lune

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    82. IV. Passepied

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    83. No. 1. Pagodes

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    84. No. 2. La soirée dans Grenade (Evening in Granada)

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    85. No. 3. Jardins sous la pluie (Gardens in the Rain)

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    86. II. Jimbo's Lullaby

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    87. III. Serenade for a Doll

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    88. IV. The Snow is Dancing

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    89. V. The Little Shepherd

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    90. VI. Golliwogg's Cake-Walk

      Composer: Claude Debussy

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    91. Promenade - I. Gnomus

      Composer: Modest Mussorgsky

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    92. Promenade - II. Old Castle

      Composer: Modest Mussorgsky

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    93. Promenade - III. Tuileries - IV. Bydlo

      Composer: Modest Mussorgsky

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    94. Promenade - V. Ballet of the Unhatched Chicken - VI. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle

      Composer: Modest Mussorgsky

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    95. Promenade - VII. The Market-Place at Limoges - VIII. Catacombae - IX. The Hut on Fowl's Legs (Baba-Yaga) - X. The Great Gate at Kiev

      Composer: Modest Mussorgsky

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    96. I. Moderato

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Jacob Krachmalnick, David Madison, Samuel Lifschey, Rudolf Firkušný, Anthony Gigliotti, Sol Schoenbach, Mason Jones

    97. II. Più mosso

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Jacob Krachmalnick, David Madison, Samuel Lifschey, Rudolf Firkušný, Anthony Gigliotti

    98. III. Con moto

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Jacob Krachmalnick, David Madison, Samuel Lifschey, Rudolf Firkušný, Anthony Gigliotti

    99. IV. Allegro

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Jacob Krachmalnick, David Madison, Samuel Lifschey, Rudolf Firkušný, Anthony Gigliotti

    100. No. 1. Nase vecery (Our Evenings)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    101. No. 2. Listek odvanuty (A Blown Away Leaf)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    102. No. 3. Pojd'te s nami! (Come with us!)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    103. No. 4. Frydecka Panna Maria (The Madonna of Frydek)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    104. No. 5. Stebetaly jak lastovicky (They Chattered like Swallows)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    105. No. 6. Nelze domluvit! (Words fail!)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    106. No. 7. Dobrou noc! (Good Night!)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    107. No. 8. Tak neskonale uzko (Unutterable Anguish)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    108. No. 9. V placi (In Tears)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    109. No. 10. Sycek neodletel! (The Barn Owl has not Flown Away!)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    110. I. Andante

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    111. II. Molto adagio

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    112. III. Andantino

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    113. IV. Presto

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    114. I. Predtucha (Foreboding): Con moto

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný

    115. II. Smrt (Death)

      Composer: Leoš Janáček

      Performer: Rudolf Firkušný


“You don’t need a teacher; what you need is an audience.” Those were the words of the great pianist and teacher Alfred Cortot, after the young Rudolf Firkušný had auditioned for him in Paris. Born in southern Moravia in 1912, Firkušný and his mother moved to Brünn after the death of his father. The boy’s musical ability was already in evidence at the domestic piano, where he enthusiastically played by ear tunes that he had heard. A friend of the family accordingly recommended him to the local conservatory, whose teachers included Leoš Janácek. Firkušný’s relationship to Janácek and his works would do much to shape his international career. Janácek concentrated principally on music theory and composition. His career as a concert pianist began in London in 1933 and he was soon playing in the great centres of music across Europe. He travelled to New York in 1938 and went on to tour North and South America. The German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939 prompted him to take refuge in Paris, from where he travelled to the USA by way of Portugal in 1940. The persecution and expulsion of Jews from large parts of Europe resulted in a tremendous enrichment of American cultural life by Jewish émigrés. Under the direction of Erich Leinsdorf, the Metropolitan Opera soon assembled a Wagner ensemble of world-class singers; conductors like William Steinberg and George Szell placed their stamp upon orchestras with new repertoire, and the concert halls opened their doors to European soloists. A celebrated concert of 1941 in New York’s Town Hall gave Rudolf Firkušný his own opening to a successful career in the New World. This was further enhanced by his grand tour of South America in 1943 and showed no sign of abating when he returned to his native Czechoslovakia after the end of the war.



REVIEW:



Really special are the violin sonatas op. 120 Nos. 1 & 2 in the version for viola and piano, with violist William Primrose clearly dominating the interpretations. The various piano pieces are technically excellent. A highlight is the very sensitively played sonata by César Franck with the Vienna-born violinist Erica Morini, an artist who formed an ideal duo with Firkusny. Their performances of the Beethoven sonatas in this collection are excellent too. This box also contains only one of Beethoven’s concertos, the Fifth, in a grandiose, energetic and lean interpretation. Firkusny (1912-1994) plays brilliantly and with the greatest precision. But the superiority of the performance is ultimately due to the perfect collaboration between Firkusny and the conductor William Steinberg, who allows the Pittsburgh Symphony to play just as transparently and precisely with a springy, slender sound. Firkusny plays the Piano Sonatas No. 8 (Pathétique), 14 (Moonlight), 21 (Waldstein) with the greatest clarity and attention to detail, with little pedal, and it is certainly not bad to hear these works sometimes so objectively and yet excitingly. Profil’s collection also includes more or less inspired solo recordings of works by Schumann, Schubert, Mozart and Debussy, a very good Piano Sonata in B minor by Chopin, rich in details and sensitively played, as well as Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition played with bravura.

Really special are the violin sonatas op. 120 Nos. 1 & 2 in the version for viola and piano, with violist William Primrose clearly dominating the interpretations. The various piano pieces are technically excellent.

Another highlight is the very sensitively played sonata by César Franck with the Vienna-born violinist Erica Morini, an artist who formed an ideal duo with Firkusny. Their performances of the Beethoven sonatas in this collection are excellent too.

Firkusny's playing in the Beethoven Fifth is brilliant, exhibiting the greatest precision. But the superiority of the performance is ultimately due to the perfect collaboration between Firkusny and the conductor William Steinberg, who allows the Pittsburgh Symphony to play just as transparently and precisely with a springy, slender sound.

Firkusny plays the Piano Sonatas No. 8 (Pathétique), 14 (Moonlight), 21 (Waldstein) with the greatest clarity and attention to detail, with little pedal, and it is certainly not bad to hear these works sometimes so objectively and yet excitingly.

Profil’s collection also includes more or less inspired solo recordings of works by Schumann, Schubert, Mozart and Debussy, a very good Piano Sonata in B minor by Chopin, rich in details and sensitively played, as well as Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition played with bravura.



– Pizzicato (Remy Franck)