Search - Hummel, Protopopescu, Rahbari :: Hummel: Piano Concerto in B minor, Op. 89 / Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 85

A delightful and fascinating introduction to a fine composer

John Parker Marmaro | Spring Hill, Florida | 04/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the glories of budget CD labels is that one can take a chance and try works and composers with which one is unfamiliar. That's what I did with this recording on the fine Discover International label. And I was enchanted. Hummel was a child-protege of Mozart (and actually lived with him & his family for --I think it was -- two years) and became a highly regarded composer and performer. He might be termed one of the finest exponents of the late-Classical/Proto-Romantic style. He was a nice person, and was good friends with Beethoven, remaining faithful to him when others did not. His style is very like that of "First-Period" Beethoven, yet is quite individual, with a gentle lyricism contrasted with a sharp sense of fun, and a good quota of Sturm und Drang, too. These two concerti are splendid. I found them to be much more entertaining (and musically substantial) than the piano concerti of Mendelssohn, Weber, or Chopin, near contemporaries. His sense of orchestral coloring is subtle and rich at the same time, and at times quite startlingly original (in Op. 89 the slow movement is scored for piano -- and horns, Just piano and horns. And it works marvellously). This recording is also splendid: Rahbari's conducting and Protopopescu's playing are faultless, and the recording quality is excellent. It would be a fine recommendation at full price. At the actual price, ANYONE who loves Classical/Romantic music should try it! And a bit of trivia for you X-Files fans: in the "Chinga" episode (Season Five Episode 10) written by Stephen King, THIS RECORDING is the one that Scully was listening to while driving, and later in her hotel room. I had always suspected that Scully was a lover of classical music!

Anyway: if you find this recording-- now out of print, I think, and rather scarce-- snap it up! It will become a fine addition to your library-- and you will enjoy listening to it!"