Many folks know the duo of Ferrante and Teicher for their quasi lounge/elevator music type programs. In that genre, they are truly excellent and here, in a program of Brahms, Saint Saens and Schumann, they are highly persuasive and strikingly individual. I never tire of the Haydn variations and this rendition held my attention - quicker tempos and softer dynamics are the features of this well thought out performance. An interesting take on this warhorse though, admittedly not my favorite one; I have a fondness for the Paratore brothers in this work. I do like the other major work in this program very much, Saint Saens' rarer Beethoven variations. In this work, I think Ferrante and Teicher get things just about right. It's a delightful work, not heard enough these days, I am sad to say. These performances date from a 50's Westminster recording.
I came across a Columbia 10 inch of Robert Casadesus' own Mediterannean Dances and these are simply delightful. Played alongside his partner, and wife Gaby, these colorful miniatures are wonderfully evocative of the south of France. Forgotten today is that Casadesus was a very fine composer; at some point I will post his piano and 3 piano concerto, performances featuring him, Gaby and son Jean.
