The Richards Piano Quartet play Chausson and Martinu

Regular readers of this blog know that I have a soft spot for chamber music. Here's a very fine L'Oiseau Lyre lp c 1969 featuring the Richards Piano Quartet (named after founder-cellist Bernard Richards) performing the Piano Quartet in A of Chausson and the first piano quartet of Martinu. Indeed, very different styles these two composers, but it works well for the musicians are all top notch (the pianist is the well regarded Bernard Roberts) and they are sensitive to the contrasts between the styles of both composers. Chausson, of course, inhabits that lush world of late 19th century France while Martinu incorporates that spiky, almost jazzy quality that appeared during the 1920's. Neat stuff all around.

I could find no evidence that this record has been issued on cd. What a shame! I guess the Richards Piano Quartet did not have that kind of sexy quality that you get when you throw Barenboim, Zuckerman, Argerich...you get the idea, in the room together.


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Charles Munch conducts Martinu and Piston

Here's a transfer on request. I have uploaded the monaural LM series lp of Charles Munch and the BSO in the sixth symphonies of both Walter Piston and Bohuslav Martinu. Typical Munch here, exciting and bracing, full of raw energy. I wish Munch had recorded more by these two composers. He would have made a compelling Martinu cycle, I'm sure.

These recordings date from 1957 I believe.

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