Ignacy Jan Paderewski; Zygmunt Stojowski - Works for Piano and Orchestra (Jonathan Plowright)

Information

Composer: Ignacy Jan Paderewski; Zygmunt Stojowski

1. Stojowski - Symphonic Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 23
2. Paderewski - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 17: I. Allegro
3. Paderewski - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 17: II. Romanza. Andante
4. Paderewski - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 17: III. Finale. Allegro molto vivace
5. Paderewski - Nocturne in B major, Op. 16 No. 4

Jonathan Plowright, piano
Polska Orkiestra Sinfonia Iuventus
Łukasz Borowicz, conductor

Date: 2017
Label: Warner Classics
http://www.warnerclassics.com/shop/5521361,0190295787561/sinfonia-iuventus-paderewski-stojowski-polish-music-for-piano-and-orchestra

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Review

Any new Jonathan Plowright recording is a cause for celebration, even more so when he brings to the catalogue a world premiere. Stojowski’s Symphonic Rhapsody is a worthy addition to his valuable and impressive discography of neglected music by Polish composers, an area he has made very much his own with pioneering performances and recordings of Friedman, Melcer, Paderewski, Zarębski, Żeleński and others – but most particularly, perhaps, of Stojowski. His account of the two piano concertos (Hyperion, 6/02) is one of the all-time great concerto recordings.

The Rhapsody, composed between 1898 and 1900 and dedicated to Harold Bauer, is a freewheeling fantasy (it lasts 15'32") that alternates brooding lyricism (some lovely cor anglais solos) with perky Polish dance rhythms and passages of exhilarating Romantic virtuosity. I doubt you’ll be disappointed. Plowright is one of those pianists who can make even the most banal ideas seem original and rewarding.

Paderewski’s Concerto is among the best of its kind. Begun in 1882 and completed in 1888, it has been recorded several times, most famously by Earl Wild (with the LSO under Arthur Fiedler in 1970) in sound that belies its age. It is an undeniably thrilling reading, fast and furious – and just a little bit hectic: compare his first movement of 15'35" with Piers Lane’s 16'30", Piotr Paleczny’s 16'35" and Felicja Blumental’s 16'19". Plowright is slowest of all at 16'38" but savours the piano-writing with greater depth and detail than anyone, his transition into the eloquent third subject reminding one of a similar passage in the first movement of the Brahms D minor. Plowright shares Wild’s view of the central Romanza (9'20") but again brings more heft to proceedings in the finale without compromising its essential showy character. His partnership with the talented Łukas Borowicz is proving to be most fruitful.

If that were not enough, Plowright rounds off the disc with Paderewski’s ineffably lovely Nocturne in B flat, Op 16 No 4. Should you fail to respond to this, then the chances are that you don’t enjoy listening to the piano.

-- Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone

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Ignacy Jan Paderewski (18 November [O.S. 6 November] 1860 – 29 June 1941) was a Polish pianist and composer, politician, and spokesman for Polish independence. As a pianist, he was a favourite of concert audiences around the globe, and his musical fame opened access to diplomacy and the media. As a politician, he was the prime minister of Poland and also Poland's foreign minister in 1919, and represented Poland at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. Despite his relentless touring schedule and political engagements, Paderewski left a legacy of over 70 orchestral, instrumental and vocal works.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignacy_Jan_Paderewski

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Zygmunt Stojowski (May 4, 1870 – November 5, 1946) was a Polish pianist and composer. He studied with Władysław Żeleńsk, and then with Louis Diémer and Léo Delibes. However the teachers who had the most profound influence on him were Wladyslaw Gorski and Ignacy Jan Paderewski. In 1905, Stojowski moved to New York, which became his home for the rest of his life. In New York, he was acclaimed as a great composer, pianist and pedagogue, and had the distinction of being the first Polish composer to have an entire concert devoted to his music performed by the New York Philharmonic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zygmunt_Stojowski

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Jonathan Plowright (born 1959 in Yorkshire) is a British concert pianist. He studied with Alexander Kelly at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and with Julio Esteban at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. His USA debut was at Carnegie Hall in 1984, followed by his UK debut in 1985, at Wigmore Hall. Plowright performed worldwide as recitalist, appeared with leading orchestras and ensembles, made many commercial recordings and appeared on radio and TV broadcasts. He championed neglected music from Polish Romantic composers, Stojowski, Paderewski and Melcer, which he has recorded for Hyperion Records.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Plowright

http://www.jonathanplowright.com/

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