Hermann Goetz; Józef Wieniawski - Piano Concertos (Hamish Milne)

Information

Composer: Hermann Goetz; Józef Wieniawski

1. Goetz - Piano Concerto in B flat major, Op. 18: I. Mässig bewegt
2. Goetz - Piano Concerto in B flat major, Op. 18: II. Mässig langsam
3. Goetz - Piano Concerto in B flat major, Op. 18: III. Langsam – Belebter – Lebhaft – Ein wenig ruhiger – Tempo I
4. J. Wieniawski - Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 20: I. Allegro moderato
5. J. Wieniawski - Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 20: II. Andante
6. J. Wieniawski - Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 20: III. Allegro molto vivace

Hamish Milne, piano
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Michał Dworzyński, conductor

Date: 2009
Label: Hyperion
https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67791

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Review

Two more largely forgotten treasures and a high-point of this fantastic series

Goetz’s Second Concerto was first recorded in the early 1970s by Michael Ponti, one of many forgotten gems he unearthed for the Vox Candide label in a pioneering series. It stood out among the Raffs, the Reineckes and the Rheinbergers not merely for its memorable thematic material but for the original and inventive way the subject matter was handled, its imaginative use of the orchestra and its musical integrity. There is, to be sure, plenty to keep the soloist busy but little that is flashy or meretricious, especially in Hamish Milne’s hands. Ponti’s is a fine performance (though the recorded sound and orchestral playing cannot compare with Hyperion’s), always ready to push the music forward in an exciting manner, but he is not as successful in conveying the Mässig bewegt of Goetz’s first movement. Milnes finds a deal more depth and poetry here and in the second movement, which also features some lovely passages for the woodwind and horns. It is a long work at 40'48" but does not outstay its welcome for a moment. This is among the most rewarding concertos of Hyperion’s entire series.

The Józef Wieniawski, as a friend of mine would say, is an autre kettle of poisson: pure fun, high jinks and scintillating bravura. Christopher Fifield notes in his entertaining booklet that “the music is peppered with instructions such as risoluto, furioso and grandioso…the piano plays for most of the time, no distractions [from the orchestra] wanted by its attention-seeking composer” (who was, by the way, the younger brother of the more famous Henryk). Milne plays it up to the hilt (try the spectacular rondo-finale with its “wrong note” chordal motif), relegating Setrak’s 1987 Le Chant du Monde recording to silver-medal position.

-- Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/Jan11/goetz_wieniawski_CDA67791.htm
https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/goetz-wieniawski-piano-concertos-hamish-milne/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Romantic-Piano-Concerto-Vol-52-Wieniawski/dp/B01G47MIAW

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Hermann Goetz (December 7, 1840 – December 3, 1876) was a German composer. Goetz only spent the last three years of his life composing, after being a critic, pianist and conductor as well. Although Goetz showed active interest in the important artistic trends of his own time (on the one hand Liszt and Wagner, on the other Brahms), his own compositional style was more influenced by Mozart and Mendelssohn, and to a lesser degree by Schumann. For a long time, Goetz was almost forgotten, although Gustav Mahler performed a number of his works; only since the 1990s have his works been regarded once more as of importance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Goetz

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Józef Wieniawski (23 May 1837 – 11 November 1912) was a Polish pianist, composer, conductor and teacher. He was born in Lublin, the younger brother of the famous violinist Henryk Wieniawski. Wieniawski studied at the Conservatoire de Paris, and with Franz Liszt in Weimar (1856-1858) and Adolf Bernhard Marx in Berlin. After Franz Liszt, he was the first pianist to publicly perform all the études by Chopin. He appeared with Liszt in recitals in Paris, London, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Brussels, Leipzig and Amsterdam. Although now neglected, Józef Wieniawski enjoyed a reputation as one of Europe's finest musicians.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B3zef_Wieniawski

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Hamish Milne (born 27 April 1939, Salisbury) is a British pianist known for his advocacy of Nikolai Medtner. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he now teaches, and later in Italy under Guido Agosti. One of Britain’s leading pianists over several decades, Hamish Milne has appeared as soloist with most of the leading British orchestras and has given over two hundred broadcasts for the BBC. In the 1970s, Milne was the first pianist to offer a comprehensive survey of the music of Medtner since the composer made his own records in the 78s era. He has recorded for Chandos, CRD, Danacord, Decca and Hyperion labels.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamish_Milne

http://www.hamishmilne.com/

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