Johann Nepomuk Hummel - Violin Concerto; etc. (James Ehnes; Howard Shelley)

Information

Composer: Johann Nepomuk Hummel

1. Potpourri for viola & orchestra in G minor, Op. 94
2. Adagio & Rondo alla Polacca, for violin & orchestra in A major (ed. Stephen Hogger & Howard Shelley): Adago con moto -
3. Adagio & Rondo alla Polacca, for violin & orchestra in A major (ed. Stephen Hogger & Howard Shelley): Rondo alla Polacca
4. Variations on a theme from "Das Fest der Handwerker", for piano & orchestra in B flat major, Op. 115: Larghetto -
5. Variations on a theme from "Das Fest der Handwerker", for piano & orchestra in B flat major, Op. 115: Allegretto - Larghetto -
6. Variations on a theme from "Das Fest der Handwerker", for piano & orchestra in B flat major, Op. 115: Finale. Vivace
7. Violin Concerto in G major (completed by Stephen Hogger & Howard Shelley): I. Allegro risoluto - Rallantando
8. Violin Concerto in G major (completed by Stephen Hogger & Howard Shelley): II. Adagio
9. Violin Concerto in G major (completed by Stephen Hogger & Howard Shelley): III. Rondo

James Ehnes, violin (1-3, 7-9)
London Mozart Players
Howard Shelley, piano (4-6) & conductor

Date: 2004
Label: Chandos
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2010255

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Review

More Hummel uncovered, bringing some dazzling playing from violinist and pianist

A warm welcome for this latest disc of concertante works by Hummel, superbly played and recorded, particularly since three of the works are new to the catalogue, notably the Violin Concerto. Though the Hummel scholar Joel Sachs lists it among the ‘doubtful or unverifiable works’, it has many characteristic touches and a brilliant and persuasive soloist in James Ehnes. 

It’s built on warmly lyrical themes, starting with a clean-cut march tune marked by dotted rhythms. The compact, sonata-form first move- ment leads to an Adagio which promises deeper thoughts, until after only two minutes it leads into the chatter of a moto perpetuo finale. Cue more violin fireworks and a foretaste of Mendelssohn’s E minor Concerto. Other composers may have had a hand in it, notably in the writing for solo violin, and the score is not quite complete (Stephen Hogger and Howard Shelley have filled in the gaps), but it makes a very attractive addition to Hummel repertory on disc. 

So does the Variations for piano and orchestra. The yearning Larghetto theme, taken from a Singspiel, Das Fest der Handwerker, flows almost like a Chopin Nocturne, but in the variations Hummel uses it for trivial fireworks, designed for his own virtuoso display as a pianist. With Shelley in peak form, the result is a delight. 

The Adagio and Rondo alla Polacca for violin and orchestra is a simple, attractive showpiece, but in the Potpourri for viola and orchestra Hummel veering away once more from the gravity of an opening idea: the slow G minor introduction leads into a charming set of variations on Ottavio’s ‘Il mio tesoro’ from Mozart’s Don Giovanni. One of the delights lies in spotting the borrowings from Mozart and Rossini operas; none of this may be music of any profundity, but played and recorded like this it is immensely enjoyable.

-- Edward Greenfield, Gramophone

More reviews:
BBC Music Magazine  PERFORMANCE: **** / SOUND: ****
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/Nov04/Hummel_potpourri.htm

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Johann Nepomuk Hummel (14 November 1778 – 17 October 1837) was an Austrian composer and virtuoso pianist, whose music reflects the transition from the Classical to the Romantic musical era. Hummel was taught and housed by Mozart for two years, and later studied with Albrechtsberger, Haydn and Salieri. His main oeuvre is for the piano, on which instrument he was one of the great virtuosi of his day. Later 19th century pianistic technique was influenced by Hummel, through his instruction of Carl Czerny who later taught Liszt. Hummel's influence can also be seen in the early works of Chopin and Schumann.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Nepomuk_Hummel

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James Ehnes (born January 27, 1976 in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada) is a Canadian concert violinist. Ehnes began his violin studies at the age of four and at age nine became a protégé of the noted Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin. He studied with Sally Thomas at the Meadowmount School of Music and from 1993 to 1997 at The Juilliard School. Ehnes is Artistic Director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society and founder of the Ehnes Quartet. His recordings have won numerous awards and prizes, including 9 Junos, a Grammy, and a Gramophone Award. Ehnes performs on the 1715 "Marsick" Stradivarius.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Ehnes

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Howard Shelley (born 9 March 1950) is a British pianist and conductor. He was educated at Highgate School and the Royal College of Music. As pianist he has performed, broadcast and recorded around the world with leading orchestras and conductors. He made many recordings for Chandos, Hyperion and EMI, including Rachmaninov's complete piano music and concertos. As a conductor, he has held positions of Associate and Principal Guest Conductor with the London Mozart Players in a close relationship of over twenty years. He has appeared regularly on television and on the soundtrack of several films.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Shelley

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