November 5, 2018.Couperin and much more.François Couperin, Couperin le Grand, one of the greatest French composers of the end of the 17th – early 18th century, was born in Paris on November 10th of 1668. The most important French composer between Lully and Rameau, he was featured on these pages many times, for example here.We know him mostly as a composer for the harpsichord and the organ, but Couperin wasn’t confined to keyboard instruments.In 1714 he wrote the three Leçons de ténèbres (literally, Lessons of Darkness), vocal settings for the Tenebrae service, held during the three days preceding Easter.During the traditional Catholic service candles are extinguished, and the service ends in total darkness.The text is from the biblical Lamentations of Jeremiah.Many composers set the Ténèbres to music, especially during the Renaissance era, for example, Palestrina, Thomas Tallis and, famously, Orlando di Lasso.Couperin’s setting is among the best.Here is the third Leçon for two sopranos; it’s performed by Montserrat Figueras and Maria Cristina Kiehr, Jordi Savall conducts Le Concert Des Nation.
Walter Gieseking, a French-German pianist, was also born this week, on November 5th of 1895.Gieseking was born in Lyon; his father was a well-known German doctor.He began playing the piano at the age of four and didn’t receive any formal training till he entered the Hamburg Conservatory at the age of 16. When he was 20, still in Hamburg, he performed a cycle of almost all Beethoven sonatas; it was extremely well received.He then performed several very successful concerts in Berlin; his playing of the music of Debussy and Ravel was especially noted.While some of his compatriots emigrated, Gieseking stayed in Germany during the Nazi period; Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein both accused him of being a Nazi collaborator.After the war, he was practically banned from performing in the US but continued playing in the more forgiving Europe.He eventually was cleared of cultural collaboration and returned to the US.He was known is an outstanding performer of the music of Debussy and Ravel.Here’s the 1953 recording Gieseking made in London of Debussy’s Image, Book I.Gieseking died in London on October 26th of 1956.At the time he was in London, recording the full cycle of Beethoven’s sonatas.He was in the process of recording Sonata no. 15, Op. 28 (“Pastoral”) when he suddenly fell ill.By then, the first three movements had been already recorded; it was never finished.This incomplete recording was issued by HMV.
Ivan Moravec, a wonderful Czech pianist, is not as well known as he probably should be.He was born on November 9th of 1930 and died three years ago, on July 27th of 2015.Moravec studied in Prague and later with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli in Arezzo.Moravec’s playing wasn’t flashy but probing, highly musical and faithful to the composer’s ideas.He was rightly considered an exquisite performer of Chopin’s music.He was also wonderful in Ravel and Debussy – someday we’ll play his performances parallel to Gieseking’s.Here’s Chopin’s Nocturne, No. 1 In B-flat minor recorded in 1966.
Joan Sutherland, La Stupenda, was also born this week, on November 7th of 1926.We’ll wait for another time to properly celebrate this great soprano.
Couperin and much more, 2018
November 5, 2018. Couperin and much more. François Couperin, Couperin le Grand, one of the greatest French composers of the end of the 17th – early 18th century, was born in Paris on
November 10th of 1668. The most important French composer between Lully and Rameau, he was featured on these pages many times, for example here. We know him mostly as a composer for the harpsichord and the organ, but Couperin wasn’t confined to keyboard instruments. In 1714 he wrote the three Leçons de ténèbres (literally, Lessons of Darkness), vocal settings for the Tenebrae service, held during the three days preceding Easter. During the traditional Catholic service candles are extinguished, and the service ends in total darkness. The text is from the biblical Lamentations of Jeremiah. Many composers set the Ténèbres to music, especially during the Renaissance era, for example, Palestrina, Thomas Tallis and, famously, Orlando di Lasso. Couperin’s setting is among the best. Here is the third Leçon for two sopranos; it’s performed by Montserrat Figueras and Maria Cristina Kiehr, Jordi Savall conducts Le Concert Des Nation.
Walter Gieseking, a French-German pianist, was also born this week, on November 5th of 1895. Gieseking was born in Lyon; his father was a well-known German doctor. He began playing the piano at the age of four and didn’t receive any formal training till he entered the Hamburg Conservatory at the age of 16. When he was 20, still in Hamburg, he performed a cycle of almost all Beethoven sonatas; it was extremely well received. He then performed several very successful concerts in Berlin; his playing of the music of Debussy and Ravel was especially noted. While some of his compatriots emigrated, Gieseking stayed in Germany during the Nazi period; Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein both accused him of being a Nazi collaborator. After the war, he was practically banned from performing in the US but continued playing in the more forgiving Europe. He eventually was cleared of cultural collaboration and returned to the US. He was known is an outstanding performer of the music of Debussy and Ravel. Here’s the 1953 recording Gieseking made in London of Debussy’s Image, Book I. Gieseking died in London on October 26th of 1956. At the time he was in London, recording the full cycle of Beethoven’s sonatas. He was in the process of recording Sonata no. 15, Op. 28 (“Pastoral”) when he suddenly fell ill. By then, the first three movements had been already recorded; it was never finished. This incomplete recording was issued by HMV.
Ivan Moravec, a wonderful Czech pianist, is not as well known as he probably should be. He was born on November 9th of 1930 and died three years ago, on July 27th of 2015. Moravec studied in Prague and later with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli in Arezzo. Moravec’s playing wasn’t flashy but probing, highly musical and faithful to the composer’s ideas. He was rightly considered an exquisite performer of Chopin’s music. He was also wonderful in Ravel and Debussy – someday we’ll play his performances parallel to Gieseking’s. Here’s Chopin’s Nocturne, No. 1 In B-flat minor recorded in 1966.
Joan Sutherland, La Stupenda, was also born this week, on November 7th of 1926. We’ll wait for another time to properly celebrate this great soprano.