He has a particular interest in semi-forgotten composers of
the Romantic era and has made a detailed study of 19th century piano
transcriptions, an interest that is shown by this new disc. The arrangements and transcriptions
included here are by Martucci, Thalberg, Liszt and Andrew Wright himself.
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The Italian composer conductor, Giuseppe Martucci (1856-1909),
has received a higher profile in recent years following many recordings of
his works. The fact that he did not write operas tended to add to his relative
neglect over the years. Here, however,
we have his take on Italy’s greatest operatic composer, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901). His Concert Fantasy on Verdi’s La
Forza del destino receives its first commercial recording here. Full of
decorations and rippling scales that weave around Verdi’s themes, it is finely
played by Andrew Wright, who reveals it to be a very attractive piece in its
own right, full of unexpected variations.
Sigismund Thalberg
(1812-1871) is a name that many will know but few will have heard, except
perhaps his Piano Concerto in F minor, op.5. Here we have his transcription of Vincenzo
Bellini’s (1801-1835) A te, o cara from
I Puritani which receives a
lovely, gently flowing performance, subtly rising and falling throughout its
duration with some fine decoration.
Wright then gives us his own arrangement of Bellini in his Fantasy on Bellini’s La Sonnambula, a piece that has a flamboyant, Lisztian opening before
moving to a calmer, flowing presentation of the theme. Again there are fine
decorations in this attractive fantasy. Part way through there is a rollicking
theme that is given a terrific performance with some terrific right hand scales
and decorations. Quite a formidable piece, formidably playing.
Franz Liszt
(1811-1886), perhaps the finest arranger of other composer’s works is
represented by two pieces, firstly his transcription of Richard Wagner’s (1813-1883) Recitative and Romance: O, du mein holder Abendstern from Tannhauser. It opens full of mystery
before the main theme appears in this remarkably restrained arrangement. Where
the music does open out, Wright displays great sensitivity in this lovely
performance.
Perhaps the most well-known of Liszt’s Wagner arrangements is
his transcription of Isolde’s Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde. This is not an easy work to pull off, with
Liszt’s difficult approximations of orchestral sounds. Wright deftly takes the
music from its quiet, tentative opening through the slowly increasing drama and
passion to its calm conclusion. Beautifully done.
For his own tribute to Thalberg, Thalbergiana, Andrew Wright
takes the closing theme from
Thalberg’s Don Pasquale Fantasy. It moves from a gently rocking theme, through
some pretty virtuosic passages with Wright not sparing himself in this terrific
piece.
Wright brings more Thalberg with his Concert Fantasy on
Verdi’s La Traviata where he brilliantly
follows all the little details of the various themes. Thalberg dovetails Verdi’s
themes together so well, some of which are subjected to attractive right hand decorations.
Again there is writing of some virtuosity to which Wright responds
magnificently – particularly towards the end.
Calm is restored with another Thalberg transcription, this
time of Bellini’s Casta diva from Norma where Bellini’s famous melody is simply, yet
beautifully presented. Wright shapes the melody and all its subtle harmonies so
well.
This fine recital concludes with Wright’s own Concert Fantasy on Giacomo Meyerbeer’s (1791-1864)
Robert le Diable. There is a spectacular
opening before continuing with a lively, robust manner in this piece which contains
many attractive themes nicely juxtaposed. There are more extremely taxing
passages for the pianist, which Wright throws off with panache and abandon.
This is a disc to sit back and enjoy whilst marvelling at
the many moments of virtuosity. It is nicely recorded at Reid Hall, Edinburgh,
Scotland and has excellent booklet notes by Andrew Wright.
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