A rarity: Martucci Concert Fantasy on Verdi's "Force of Destiny"

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Here is a live recording of an obscure operatic fantasy. I can't imagine that many people have the score of this, but I will admit in advance that there is a cut of some 30 bars in the finale. This was unfortunately required due to recital running time problems.

Nevertheless, I hope it's enjoyable and fun to listen to. I'd appreciate any opinions and comments. To the best of my knowledge this piece has not been recorded commercially.

Performance recorded 2005 in Reid Hall, Edinburgh, on Steinway Model D.

[thalbergmad]

That is like a breath of fresh air.

What a sparkling gem and wonderfully played if I might add.

I bet your Thalberg playing is as good.

Long live the forgotten Romantics.

Congrats

Thal

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Thanks very much! Incidentally, I am currently learning Thalberg's Moses Fantasy, and I hope to play it publicly later this year.

[kelly_kelly]

Cool piece and good playing! 

[mwhite]

That was beautiful, thanks for sharing it with us.
Mike

[pianistimo]

contrary movements in the beginning are uneven, but the overall feel of this piece is so beautifully operatic!  you definately have a feel for verdi.  do you also sing?  so much feeling.

some of the runs seem a little uneven, too - but it is so sparkly!  you can always even up things later after playing awhile.  sometimes it's just knowing what comes next.  and, when you know a run is coming up just get closer to the keys and lighten up (as you already do). 

the arpeggiated part is AMAZING.  that's usually what is the hardest for most people, imo.  a true lisztian.  cool how you speeded up the ending.  it gives it verve.  wow.  i'd love to hear someone like you in person.  you definately have a command of your dynamics and shadings.  i like the sound of the piano for what you are playing, too.  it's very 'sparkly' in the treble.  i hear a definate voicing (treble sparkly, bass more 'straight')  how did you do this to the piano?  lacquer the treble?  just curious.  it's quite interesting to hear the difference between the treble and bass sound.  (or is it a sharper tuning in the treble)?  it's awesome at the end, too!

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments.

To Pianistimo:

Yes, there are some unevennesses that I don't like (the one that particularly annoyed me was in the trill section, and that was due to me not having the fingering 100% clear in my mind beforehand).

I don't sing, but I have a considerable fondness for operatic transcriptions/paraphrases, and I hope it shows. I think it's often helpful to inwardly sing the melodic line when practicing such material, in order to mentally reinforce it, and to assist voicing.

When you're talking about the "sparkliness", I'm not sure if you're referring to the piano in general, or specific passages. I made a conscious choice in some of the passages (e.g. the passagework one starting at 2.20, and the arpeggiated one at 3.30) to use the soft pedal to alter the sound of the treble (whilst taking care, as one obviously should) to ensure that I brought out the melody and kept the accompaniment and passagework in the background.

[pianistimo]

you obviously know how to pick a piano for what you play.