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111351 bk Michelangeli1_EU 9/15/08 12:45 PM Page 5 ENRIQUE GRANADOS (1867 - 1916): ISAAC ALBÉNIZ (1860 - 1909): ADD Danzas españolas, Op. 37 Rumores de la caleta, Op. 71 ‡ No. 5: Andaluza 5:02 · No. 8: Malagueña 3:53 Great Pianists • Michelangeli 8.111351 Recorded in Milan, probably between Recorded in Milan, probably between November and December 1939 December 1941 and February 1942 Also available Mat. 2BA 3534; Cat. HMV DB 5354 Mat. OBA 4871; cat. HMV DA 5432 ANDRÉ-FRANÇOIS MARESCOTTI (1902 - 1995): FEDERICO MOMPOU (1893 - 1987): THE EARLY — Fantasque 4:21 ‚ Canción y danza No. 1 3:00 Recorded in Milan, probably between Recorded in Milan, probably between November and December 1939 December 1941 and February 1942 RECORDINGS • 1 Mat. 2BA 3533; Cat. HMV DB 5354 Mat. OBA 4870; Cat. HMV DA 5432 1939-1948 Special thanks to Donald Manildi BACH 8.111118 8.111128 BRAHMS GALUPPI SCARLATTI GRANADOS Release editor’s note: Although it is known that Michelangeli’s war-time recordings for Telefunken and Voce ALBENIZ del Padrone Italiana (Italian HMV) were made between 1939 and 1943, it is difficult to establish precise recording dates and venues. It is known that the VdP recordings were made in Milan, either at the Conservatorio Verdi (the more likely venue) or in a studio especially set up inside La Scala by VdP. Some of Michelangeli’s Telefunken 8.111326 8.111350 recordings – but which? – were made in the homes of private individuals, including the residence of the Counts Bonzi-Lentati in Milan. The four Telefunken recordings included on this disc were made in January 1943. Arturo Research by courtesy of Angelo Scottini, in collaboration with the Centro di Documentazione Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Brescia, www.centromichelangeli.com Benedetti Michelangeli 8.111351 5 6 8.111351 111351 bk Michelangeli1_EU 9/15/08 12:45 PM Page 2 Great Pianists: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (1920-1995) Paganini, Op. 35, by Brahms. Two takes were made of The following day, 27th October 1948, JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685 - 1750): JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833 - 1897): each side with the second take held in reserve. Less than Michelangeli returned to record the Chaconne in D THE EARLY RECORDINGS • 1 (1939-1948) Italian Concerto, BWV 971 11:53 Variations on a theme by Paganini, Op. 35 16:33 a month later on 23rd November EMI made transfers of minor for solo violin by Bach arranged for piano by 1 I Allegro 3:48 ! Theme 0:31 Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli was born in Brescia, 1973 Michelangeli began teaching at a summer school these four sides ‘to improve quality’, and further Ferruccio Busoni. For some reason, on 18th August the 2 II Andante 4:38 @ Book I, Variation I 0:25 transfers were made on 31st March 1949. One reviewer, following year transfers were made ‘from tape’, but the Italy in 1920. He first began to study the violin at the at Villa Schifanoia near Florence, and in 1980 he visited 3 # as late as January 1950, wrote that ‘The recording is copies used for this transfer are all of takes 1A made in III Presto 3:27 Book 1, Variation II 0:28 age of three, but around the age of ten began piano Japan again but played only one of his five scheduled Recorded in Milan, 22nd January 1943 $ Book 1, Variation III 0:29 studies at the Milan Conservatory with Giovanni concerts. In 1988 he had a serious heart attack during a somewhat deficient in top frequencies, but adjustment October 1948. He also recorded two short works at this Mats. 026797/99; Cats. Telefunken SKB 3320/21 % Book 1, Variation IV 0:48 Anfossi, graduating with a diploma in piano at the age concert in Bordeaux, but continued his performing of tone-controls will afford reasonably satisfactory session – the Presto heard here, by Italian opera buffa of thirteen. During his teenage years Michelangeli career until shortly before his death in Lugano in 1995. reproduction.’ When Gramophone magazine reviewed composer Baldasssare Galuppi (1706-1785), its humour ^ Book 1, Variation V 0:40 studied medicine to placate a father who did not want Michelangeli’s first recordings were made for the recording in July 1949, however, the reviewer wrote being reminiscent of Scarlatti, and Debussy’s Reflets BACH, arr. BUSONI: Violin Partita no. 2 & Book 1, Variation VI 0:25 him to take music as a career, but he returned to music HMV in Milan in 1939. No doubt prompted by his win that, ‘The technicians have recorded all this quite dans l’eau which will appear on a future volume. in D minor, BWV 1004 * Book 1, Variation VII 0:24 and by the age of nineteen was of a high enough at the Geneva International Piano Competition, HMV superbly. The piano tone is wonderfully full and rich…’ These EMI recordings, made when Michelangeli 4 IV Chaconne 13:40 ( Book 1, Variation VIII 0:28 The reviewer reminisced about hearing Busoni’s pupil was 28, and even the earliest recordings made when he standard to win the first International Piano recorded a very free interpretation of Andaluza from the ) Egon Petri play this work and recommended his was nineteen show that as a young man he was already Recorded in London, 27th October 1948 Book 1, Variation X 1:17 Competition in Geneva in 1939. The unanimous jury Danzas españolas, Op. 37, by Granados where Mats. 2EA 13371/74; Cats. HMV DB 21005/6 ¡ Book 1, Variation XI 1:08 included Alfred Cortot and Ignacy Paderewski. For the Michelangeli characterises each section and uses a recording, and also drew attention to the fact that a finished artist. One can only echo what a critic wrote ™ Book 1, Variation XII 0:53 following few years Michelangeli taught at the Martini soulful singing tone to great advantage. Michelangeli’s Michelangeli changes the order of the variations and about his recording of the Brahms Paganini Variations Conservatory in Bologna and gave concerts. In 1940 he virtuoso technique is displayed in a recording from the does not play the work in its entirety. ‘My present - ‘What a pianist! Technically, the playing is PELLEGRINO TOMEONI (1726 - 1816): £ Book 2, Variation I 0:42 gave a sensational début in Rome where he displayed an same session - Fantasque, a work specially written in advice is - if you do not have the Petri recording, then astonishing: interpretatively, here is a very great 5 Allegro in G 2:45 ¢ Book 2, Variation II 0:25 extraordinary technique and musical insight, but World 1939 by Swiss composer André-François Marescotti buy this new Michelangeli set; if you do own the musician…..altogether this is the most exciting piano Recorded in Milan, 22nd January 1943 ∞ Book 2, Variation V 0:21 War II interrupted the beginning of his career; (1902-1995) as a test piece for the Geneva Competition. former, still buy these new ones, for they are simply performance and recording I have heard for many a long Mats. 026800; Cat. Telefunken SKB 3321 § Book 2, Variation VI 0:20 magnificent! So magnificent are they that I only wish day.’ Michelangeli joined the Italian airforce, but as soon as During 1942 Michelangeli recorded more Spanish ¶ they were complete. I gather that Michelangeli has Book 2, Variation VII 0:20 the war was over, he returned to the concert platform. music for HMV in Milan. Again he perfectly captures BALDASSARRE GALUPPI (1706 - 1785): • Book 2, Variation VIII 0:27 His first appearance in London in 1946 was with the the Spanish idiom in both Canción y danza No. 1 by recorded them as he usually plays them at concerts and © 2008 Jonathan Summers 6 Presto in B flat 4:13 ª Book 2, Variation X 0:41 London Symphony Orchestra at the Albert Hall where Mompou and Malagueña from Rumores de la calata by that he was not restricted at all to four sides.’ he played Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat and Albéniz with subtle rubato and a wonderful singing Recorded in London, 27th October 1948 º Book 2, Variation XI 0:31 César Franck’s Variations Symphoniques. tone. Also recorded at this time were two Scarlatti Mat. 2EA 13376; Cat. HMV DB 6859 ⁄ Book 2, Variation XII 1:08 Michelangeli first toured the United States in 1948. sonatas, not as one may expect scintillating virtuoso ¤ Book 2, Variation XIII 0:44 He made his orchestral début at Carnegie Hall in pieces, but two of Scarlatti’s more reflective and DOMENICO SCARLATTI (1685 - 1757): ‹ Book 2, Variation III 0:32 November with the New York Philharmonic and contemplative works. The following year, in January 7 Sonata in D major, Kk.96 (L.465) 5:09 › Book 2, Variation IV 1:11 Dimitri Mitropoulos playing Schumann’s Piano 1943, Michelangeli recorded some more Scarlatti Recorded in Milan, 20th January 1943 fi Book 1, Variation XIII 0:34 Concerto in A minor, Op. 54, and made his solo début at sonatas for the German label Telefunken, the Sonata in Mat. 026793; Cat. Telefunken SKB 3290 fl Book 1, Variation XIV 0:40 the same hall in January 1949. He then had a career of D major being more in Scarlatti’s humorous and jolly teaching and performing, and during the 1950s spent vein. The other Sonata in B minor is played faster than 8 Sonata in B minor, Kk.27 (L.449) 2:49 Recorded in London, 26th October 1948 more of his time teaching.. By 1957, on his return to usual by Michelangeli; that other great player of Recorded in Milan, 20th January 1943 Mat. 2EA 13367/70; Cats.