Sergei Bortkiewicz, Consolation in D-flat, Op 17 no. 4

[wzkit]

A less well known piece. Again recorded on an Ibach 7 footer, on a better day.

[wzkit]

Any comments would be welcome. Understand that this is not a well known piece at all, but feel free to tell me what you think about the music, even if not the playing.

[kelly_kelly]

It sounds wonderful to me, but I have never heard this piece, so my opinion is not the best.

[wzkit]

Thanks. It is a beautiful piece - one of those that made me fall in love with it the first time I heard it. The centre section especially, with a chordal melody floating above an arpeggiated bass, brought tears to my eyes.

[wzkit]

Yet another alternative recording, this time with a thinner, brighter sound (though using the same piano as the previous recording, but a different mike set up). Its odd how different the same piano can sound on different days! Which sound do you prefer?

[allchopin]

Very well-played - a great piece that I will add to my to-do list.  Personally I prefer the timbre of the first with the tempo of the second.  In the first rec, you seem to take a bit much rubato and the rhythms are obscured.

[pianowelsh]

Really beautiful tender playing and extremely poised - very nice. I wondered at a couple of points whether it could move forward more? but i dont know the piece and i am really picky!

[wzkit]

Thank you all for your very kind comments. I hope I've managed to share with you this very beautiful, but unjustly neglected composer. The music evokes a nostalgic, bittersweet feeling in me. I wonder what it does for the rest of you?

Do take the time to comment on some of the other recordings I have posted here, if any

[wzkit]

In view of the increasing interest in Bortkiewicz on this forum, I thought it might be good to resurrect this thread.

Think he's a composer who truly deserves more recognition, and hopefully, in our own small way, we can all contribute to that