Miklos Rozsa

[tjguitar]

Recently added this to my collection:



HUNGARIAN SERENADE, Op 25
1.    Marcia       4:12
2.    Serenata       5:42
3.    Scherzo       3:53
4.    Notturno       4:17
5.    Danza       3:28
         
6.    THE VINTNER'S DAUGHTER, Op 23a
Twelve Variations on a French Folksong    14:22
         
7.    NORTH HUNGARIAN
PEASANT SONGS AND DANCES, Op 5
for violin and orchestra
Oliver Colbentson, violin       8:08
Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra,
Conducted by Erich Kloss

8.    VARIATIONS ON A HUNGARIAN PEASANT SONG, Op 4       9:05
         
9.    LITTLE SUITE, Op 5
original version for violin and piano       8:37
Endre Granat, violin; Erwin Herbst, piano
         TT: 62:2


I think it's out of print, but you can still get it at Citadel's Website: http://www.foothillrecords.com/cita-classical.html

Also, for convenience, here's a link to the aforementioned Rozsa thread in the old forum which seems to have re-appeared
http://www.good-music-guide.com/forum/index.php/topic,1108.0.html

[Dundonnell]

The Hungarian Serenade is also on the recent Chandos cd of Rozsa's music(BBC Philharmonic/Rumon Gamba). The 'Vintner's Daughter" is the coupling for the Symphony on the Koch cd(New Zealand SO?James Sedares).

I think the other pieces on this cd may well not otherwise be available.

[tjguitar]

The Hungarian Serenade is also on the recent Chandos cd of Rozsa's music(BBC Philharmonic/Rumon Gamba). The 'Vintner's Daughter" is the coupling for the Symphony on the Koch cd(New Zealand SO?James Sedares).

I think the other pieces on this cd may well not otherwise be available.

Op. 4 is also available on the NAXOS and KOCH CDs of solo violin music, same with Op. 5 (listed as "Little Suite" on this CD), but as far as I know this is the only recording of the orchestrated version of Op. 5.

[snyprrr]

I have SQ No.2 written for Peter Ustinov... and it sounds like it.

[karlhenning]

Has anyone (who is not a clarinetist) heard the Sonatina for clarinet unaccompanied?

[Tapkaara]

I've recently been turned on to Rozsa and he's become one of my favorites in very short order.

His Violin Concerto is, I think, one of the best of the 20th century. I also love the Hungarian Serenade and Tripartita is pretty cool.

The new Chandos disc is, supposedly, the first installment of a complete series of orchestral works. But I read somewhere that Chandos has a penchant for producing what seems like will be series (using nomenclature like "vol. 1") and then not going any further. Can anyone confirm or deny that Chandos has this habit? I hope not, their first installment of this music is very well done, and very needed, since the Koch recordings are no longer with us.

[tjguitar]

Dont konw if Chandos has committed to COMPLETE works, but i do konw they have the violin concerto and cello concerto planned (separate discs, don't know their pairings).

Some of the KOCH CDs can still be found used.

[Sid]

Although I find his concert music that I have heard as somewhat derivative of Bartok, there is still much to enjoy. Some of his works, like the Viola Concerto & the String Quartet, go towards the edges of tonality which makes them more interesting. I think his music is somewhere between the hard-core modernists & the neoromantics.

[Tapkaara]

Although I find his concert music that I have heard as somewhat derivative of Bartok, there is still much to enjoy. Some of his works, like the Viola Concerto & the String Quartet, go towards the edges of tonality which makes them more interesting. I think his music is somewhere between the hard-core modernists & the neoromantics.

I once said of Rozsa the he embraces a type of "gentle modernism" which I think is very apt. His works indeed push the limits of tonality, but the stay tonal. Rozsa believed in tonality and never abandoned it, as passé as that must have seemed. I've read an anecdote where Schönberg was in the audience for a performance of one of Rozsa's concert works and the serialist composer was seen to be grimacing with every "tonal turn" the music took!

[Sid]

...I've read an anecdote where Schönberg was in the audience for a performance of one of Rozsa's concert works and the serialist composer was seen to be grimacing with every "tonal turn" the music took!

Well that's an interesting anecdote & Schoenberg's reaction is quite telling of the contrast between the two composer's approach to music. I think that partly the reason why Rozsa's contribution to classical has been so underrated is exactly because he did not choose to take the path of the serialists. He was probably considered somewhat of a traditionalist by the musical establishment. It seems that today that has changed, and there are quite a few new recordings becoming available of his concert music output.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I've read an anecdote where Schönberg was in the audience for a performance of one of Rozsa's concert works and the serialist composer was seen to be grimacing with every "tonal turn" the music took!

Then Schoenberg must have given his facial muscles quite a workout.

[Tapkaara]

Then Schoenberg must have given his facial muscles quite a workout.

I'm sure it did!

I do the good ol' facial grimacing myself, but that's what I listen to most serialist works.

[tjguitar]

Dont konw if Chandos has committed to COMPLETE works, but i do konw they have the violin concerto and cello concerto planned (separate discs, don't know their pairings).

Some of the KOCH CDs can still be found used.

Volume two was released earlier this year and it is enjoyabel:



lVariations on a Hungarian Peasant Song, Op. 4      
The Vintner's Daughter, Op. 23 (version for orchestra)   
Notturno ungherese, Op. 28   BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Cello Concerto, Op. 32:

Naxos also released a CD this year, worth mentioning, as it has the only orchestral version of the Cello Rhapsody:



Overture to a Symphony Concert, Op. 26a (revised version)      
Rhapsody, Op. 3   
Notturno ungherese, Op. 28   
l3 Hungarian Sketches, Op. 14a:

[tjguitar]

Chandos has released another album since the last post, which includes the Violin Concerto, Concerto For Strings, and Themes, Variations and Finale. I really enjoy Jennifer Pike's version of the concerto, and the Themes, Variations and Finale is quite good as well.

[Mirror Image]

Chandos has released another album since the last post, which includes the Violin Concerto, Concerto For Strings, and Themes, Variations and Finale. I really enjoy Jennifer Pike's version of the concerto, and the Themes, Variations and Finale is quite good as well.

tjguitar, I remember reading many of your posts thinking "I wish this member would come back," and here you are! Please stick around!

[Mirror Image]

Rozsa's music sounds quite interesting. I remember hearing his Violin Concerto and being quite impressed with it. Such a beautiful, lyrical slow movement. Will be anxious to explore his music in more depth.

[lescamil]

One of my favorite concert pieces by Rózsa has to be the Piano Concerto. It is a real shame that there is one uncut recording of it, and that is the one with Evelyn Chen, James Sedares, and the New Zealand SO on Koch, which is a pretty boring recording otherwise, but still the only complete one. If someone knows of another complete one that I am unaware of, please let me know.

[tjguitar]

One of my favorite concert pieces by Rózsa has to be the Piano Concerto. It is a real shame that there is one uncut recording of it, and that is the one with Evelyn Chen, James Sedares, and the New Zealand SO on Koch, which is a pretty boring recording otherwise, but still the only complete one. If someone knows of another complete one that I am unaware of, please let me know.

Hmm, I haven't compared the timings, but I have this CD:



It also has the Spellbound Concerto and music from Ben-Hur.

There's also the Leonard Pennario recording, which I don't have (perhaps it is not complete, as you mentioned)

[lescamil]

Both of those are cut quite heavily, especially from the first two movements. It's really quite a shame that people do that to a great concerto. The performances leave a lot to be desired, also, in my opinion. We need a great pianist to come along and give us a nice, modern, complete recording with a lot of energy.  The Pennario is probably the best choice, but it is rough around the edges, the sound shows the age of the recording, and it is heavily cut.

[Cato]

I recalled Jascha Heifetz being a champion of the Rozsa Violin Concerto and found this CD:

[asin]B000003FIW[/asin]



Does anybody know if it is cut?  The Amazon timings seem to bring it in at c. 27 minutes.

Also:

http://www.youtube.com/v/4VTqGpdt2og