Verdi-Martucci La forza del destino

[ronde_des_sylphes]

This piece was one of my very first posts in the audition room, over four years ago. Since then I've worked on it, put it aside, and now returned to it. I'd like to thank the forum member who gave me detailed suggestions on the piece by email a while back: I've not incorporated all of them, but I've discussed them with my teacher (who was impressed with the input) and the suggestions provided considerable food for thought.

I had a nasty memory lapse at 4.40ish, not quite sure what happened, but got through it. I think my performance is definitely better than four years ago, but some peculiarities remain and I'm going to be doing more work on it over the next few months. All comments welcome.

Audio attached below, youtube link here:

[rachfan]

Hi ronde,

First I can't believe four years have gone by since you first posted this piece.  Time flies!

I think this is a wonderful performance of La forza.  You play it with confidence and a sure technique, a thorough fluency, great beauty, and put it over to the listener very convincingly indeed.  

The memory lapse happened in the RH during rapid chord figuration within the black keys, which can happen to anyone.  I listened to that spot three times and found it to be insignificant.  In fact, had you not mentioned it, I might not have even noticed it.  In such a performance you take risks to render an authentic, communicative and exciting performance.  That's what really counts.  So if a slight slip occurs, the audience members really don't mind, as it's the totality of the performance that truly moves them.  

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Hi ronde,

First I can't believe four years have gone by since you first posted this piece.  Time flies!

I think this is a wonderful performance of La forza.  You play it with confidence and a sure technique, a thorough fluency, great beauty, and put it over to the listener very convincingly indeed.  

The memory lapse happened in the RH during rapid chord figuration within the black keys, which can happen to anyone.  I listened to that spot three times and found it to be insignificant.  In fact, had you not mentioned it, I might not have even noticed it.  In such a performance you take risks to render an authentic, communicative and exciting performance.  That's what really counts.  So if a slight slip occurs, the audience members really don't mind, as it's the totality of the performance that truly moves them.  

Thanks for your kind words. The funny thing is that I think the bit you identified as a memory lapse was actually a technical failure on my part; it's a tricky passage (c. 6.33) and I was trying to get it pp at speed - the memory lapse, which is quite a serious one, is almost two minutes earlier but not especially obvious. Your point about taking risks is of course very valid. I'm glad you enjoyed the performance, because I believe that this is a tremendous "unknown" paraphrase; it is not easy to find them amongst the reams of lesser arrangements trotted out through the 19th century.

[storyseller]

A blast from the past....

This piece was one of my very first posts in the audition room, over four years ago. Since then I've worked on it, put it aside, and now returned to it. I'd like to thank the forum member who gave me detailed suggestions on the piece by email a while back: I've not incorporated all of them, but I've discussed them with my teacher (who was impressed with the input) and the suggestions provided considerable food for thought.

Since that reffers to me I thought I should answer even if this was an older post. Thank you for the mention. This is deffinately very much improved, and I love the way you "change" the finale, allowing a more spontaneous/improvised playing of it.

4 years!!! Times goes by... but fundamental thing apply.... as the song goes. Isn't this one the best paraphrase out there? Or at least as good as any of the best of Liszt's?

Keep up the good work.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

4 years!!! Times goes by... but fundamental thing apply.... as the song goes. Isn't this one the best paraphrase out there? Or at least as good as any of the best of Liszt's?

Keep up the good work.

It's definitely a semi-forgotten gem: it's a pity Martucci didn't do any other paraphrases from opera. People usually don't look past Liszt in this genre, which is unfortunate (Pabst's transcriptions on Tchaikowsky are I think also as good as Liszt). What really impresses me about it is that he was 16 or 17 when he wrote it, and a quick look at the score tells you that even at that age he had clearly assimilated all the techniques used by Liszt and Thalberg in their paraphrases.