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Rzewski: The People United Will Never Be Defeated & Four Hands / Oppens, Lowenthal
Cedille

Rzewski: The People United Will Never Be Defeated & Four Hands / Oppens, Lowenthal

$19.99

Details

Composer
RZEWSKI, FREDERIC
Artist
Oppens, Lowenthal
Format
CD
Label
Cedille
Released
Sep 11, 2015
Catalog #
CDR 158
UPC
735131915823

About

New-music icon Ursula Oppens, who commissioned, premiered, and made the first recording of maverick American composer Frederic Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated!, a remarkable, monumental set of solo piano variations, has rerecorded that landmark 1975 work to mark its 40th anniversary. This riveting, audience-pleasing tour-de-force is a nearly hour-long set of 36 variations on a popular Chilean protest song from the era of Augusto Pinochet’s repressive rightwing military dictatorship. A bonus is the world-premiere recording of a new Rzewski work, Four Hands, a duet commissioned by and written for Oppens and pianist Jerome Lowenthal, her duet partner on the recording. Fiercely challenging to perform, it leaves the listener “… absorbed and exhilarated…” (New York Times) Oppens’s Cedille Records discography includes two Grammy nominees, Oppens plays Carter and Winging It: Piano Music of John Corigliano, as well as a recording of duo-piano music by Messiaen and Debussy, again with Jerome Lowenthal.

REVIEW:

Frederic Rzewski wrote his monumental variation set based on Sergio Ortega’s Chilean resistance anthem song “El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido” for pianist Ursula Oppens, who premiered it in 1976 and made its first recording a few years later. It’s a fine performance in and of itself, yet Oppens’ stupendous new 2014 recording for Cedille surpasses the earlier version in every respect. 

The opening theme, for starters, is more impassioned at its loud peaks, while the first six variations gain energy and character through Oppens’ heightened sense of voice leading. The dissonant grace note effect of Variation 7’s two-against-three rhythmic patterns is clearer than what many pianists make of it, while Variation 9’s counterpoint benefits from Oppens’ drier, more cogently contoured rethinking.

Variation 10’s splattered, Boulez-like gestures and zigzagging glissandos may not transpire so “recklessly” as the composer indicates, yet the inner logic of his meticulous dynamic markings comes out in Oppens’ faithful rendition. Variation 15’s improvisatory, folk-song-like quality spills over into more elaborate territory in Variation 16. Most pianists (Rzewski included) sustain a similar mood and tone between these two variations. Not Oppens, whose feathery pianissimos and una corda pedal deployment at No. 16’s outset create a magical tonal shift that accurately reflects what’s marked in the score.

Variation 19’s jagged motives, so often pounded out on the same dynamic and emotional level, convey a playful, conversational repartée. Young speed demons who insanely blur their way through Variation 21’s relentless finger twisters have no clue of the wonderful harmonic content that Oppens’ “sanely” fast fingers bring out. However, one can argue that Oppens’ faster and lighter treatment of Variations 26 and 28 plays down the music’s grim, march-like gravitas in contrast to Rzewski’s slower, sharper-edged interpretation. Just before the theme returns, Rzewski gives pianists the option to improvise a cadenza; Oppens’ first recording didn’t include one. Here, the pianist’s short, lyrical, and absolutely lovely improvisation incorporates ideas from Variation 25.

Overall, Oppens’ virtuosity, musicality, and insightful inspiration add up to the most gratifying People United on disc, alongside Rzewski’s own 1986 HatArt label recording (out-of-print on CD, but available as a download). The recorded premiere of Rzewski’s more recent and delightfully inventive Four Hands features Oppens and Jerome Lowenthal relishing the music’s tricky rhythmic hockets, airy contrapuntal traps, fleeting allusions to Romantic fare, and jazzy final fugue with masterful glee. No lover of 20th- and 21st-century piano music should miss this important release.

-- Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 43 tracks

  1. 1 Theme: With determination 01:20
    Track
    1
    Title
    Theme: With determination
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  2. 2 Variation 1: Weaving: delicate but firm 00:50
    Track
    2
    Title
    Variation 1: Weaving: delicate but firm
    Duration
    00:50
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  3. 3 Variation 2: With firmness 00:52
    Track
    3
    Title
    Variation 2: With firmness
    Duration
    00:52
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  4. 4 Variation 3: Slightly slower, with expressive nuances (quarter note = ca. 88) 01:09
    Track
    4
    Title
    Variation 3: Slightly slower, with expressive nuances (quarter note = ca. 88)
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  5. 5 Variation 4: Marcato - With determination 00:59
    Track
    5
    Title
    Variation 4: Marcato - With determination
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  6. 6 Variation 5: Dreamlike, frozen 01:02
    Track
    6
    Title
    Variation 5: Dreamlike, frozen
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  7. 7 Variation 6: Same tempo as beginning 01:07
    Track
    7
    Title
    Variation 6: Same tempo as beginning
    Duration
    01:07
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  8. 8 Variation 7: Tempo (Lightly, impatiently) 00:58
    Track
    8
    Title
    Variation 7: Tempo (Lightly, impatiently)
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  9. 9 Variation 8: With agility; not too much pedal; crisp 01:08
    Track
    9
    Title
    Variation 8: With agility; not too much pedal; crisp
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  10. 10 Variation 9: half note = 48, Evenly 01:00
    Track
    10
    Title
    Variation 9: half note = 48, Evenly
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  11. 11 Variation 10: Comodo, recklessly (quarter note = 96) 01:00
    Track
    11
    Title
    Variation 10: Comodo, recklessly (quarter note = 96)
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  12. 12 Variation 11: Tempo I (quarter note = 106) 00:58
    Track
    12
    Title
    Variation 11: Tempo I (quarter note = 106)
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  13. 13 Variation 12 01:09
    Track
    13
    Title
    Variation 12
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  14. 14 Variation 13: quarter note = 72 or slightly faster 01:34
    Track
    14
    Title
    Variation 13: quarter note = 72 or slightly faster
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  15. 15 Variation 14: A bit faster, optimistically 01:34
    Track
    15
    Title
    Variation 14: A bit faster, optimistically
    Duration
    01:34
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  16. 16 Variation 15: Flexible, like an improvisation 01:14
    Track
    16
    Title
    Variation 15: Flexible, like an improvisation
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  17. 17 Variation 16 01:21
    Track
    17
    Title
    Variation 16
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  18. 18 Variation 17: L.H. strictly half note = 36, R.H. freely, roughly as in space 01:00
    Track
    18
    Title
    Variation 17: L.H. strictly half note = 36, R.H. freely, roughly as in space
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  19. 19 Variation 18: quarter note = 72 01:26
    Track
    19
    Title
    Variation 18: quarter note = 72
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  20. 20 Variation 19: dotted quarter note = 144, With energy 00:37
    Track
    20
    Title
    Variation 19: dotted quarter note = 144, With energy
    Duration
    00:37
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  21. 21 Variation 20: Crisp, precise, quarter note = 144 00:35
    Track
    21
    Title
    Variation 20: Crisp, precise, quarter note = 144
    Duration
    00:35
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  22. 22 Variation 21: quarter note = 108, Relentless, uncompromising 00:53
    Track
    22
    Title
    Variation 21: quarter note = 108, Relentless, uncompromising
    Duration
    00:53
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  23. 23 Variation 22: quarter note = 132 00:48
    Track
    23
    Title
    Variation 22: quarter note = 132
    Duration
    00:48
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  24. 24 Variation 23: As fast as possible, with some rubato 00:28
    Track
    24
    Title
    Variation 23: As fast as possible, with some rubato
    Duration
    00:28
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  25. 25 Variation 24: quarter note = 72 02:00
    Track
    25
    Title
    Variation 24: quarter note = 72
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  26. 26 Variation 25: quarter note = ca. 84, with fluctuations 01:55
    Track
    26
    Title
    Variation 25: quarter note = ca. 84, with fluctuations
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  27. 27 Variation 26: quarter note = 168, In a militant manner 01:09
    Track
    27
    Title
    Variation 26: quarter note = 168, In a militant manner
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  28. 28 Variation 27: (quarter note = 72) Tenderly, and with a hopeful expression 04:46
    Track
    28
    Title
    Variation 27: (quarter note = 72) Tenderly, and with a hopeful expression
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  29. 29 Variation 28: quarter note = 160 01:22
    Track
    29
    Title
    Variation 28: quarter note = 160
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  30. 30 Variation 29: quarter note = 144-152 00:32
    Track
    30
    Title
    Variation 29: quarter note = 144-152
    Duration
    00:32
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  31. 31 Variation 30: (quarter note = 84) 02:18
    Track
    31
    Title
    Variation 30: (quarter note = 84)
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  32. 32 Variation 31: (quarter note = 106) 00:55
    Track
    32
    Title
    Variation 31: (quarter note = 106)
    Duration
    00:55
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  33. 33 Variation 32 00:57
    Track
    33
    Title
    Variation 32
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  34. 34 Variation 33 00:58
    Track
    34
    Title
    Variation 33
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  35. 35 Variation 34 01:02
    Track
    35
    Title
    Variation 34
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  36. 36 Variation 35 01:03
    Track
    36
    Title
    Variation 35
    Duration
    01:03
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  37. 37 Variation 36 01:22
    Track
    37
    Title
    Variation 36
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  38. 38 Cadenza 02:38
    Track
    38
    Title
    Cadenza
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  39. 39 Thema: Tempo I 02:40
    Track
    39
    Title
    Thema: Tempo I
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens
  40. 40 I. quarter note = 96-104 06:06
    Track
    40
    Title
    I. quarter note = 96-104
    Duration
    06:06
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens, Jerome Lowenthal
  41. 41 II. senza misura (ca. 30 seconds per line) 03:14
    Track
    41
    Title
    II. senza misura (ca. 30 seconds per line)
    Duration
    03:14
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens, Jerome Lowenthal
  42. 42 III. quarter note = 72 01:28
    Track
    42
    Title
    III. quarter note = 72
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens, Jerome Lowenthal
  43. 43 IV. quarter note = 96 05:05
    Track
    43
    Title
    IV. quarter note = 96
    Duration
    05:05
    Composer
    Frederic Rzewski
    Performer
    Ursula Oppens, Jerome Lowenthal