Friedrich Wuhrer performs the 4th Piano Concerto of Beethoven

A very fine performance of the 4th Piano Concerto of Beethoven is up today. Accompanied by the Bamberg Symphony under Jonel Perlea, this partnership of like minds turns in a taut, yet flexible, reading which focuses on details that other gloss over.

Friedrich Wuhrer was an excellent craftsman and a sensitive interpreter of the classical and romantic repertoire. Though he recorded many lps for Vox, he never achieved the status of the most elite of pianists. I'm not sure why this is the case because he had the chops and fine musicianship of the best of the best. Whatever the reasons, I've not heard a recording of his that I did not find probing, intelligent and satisfying. This Beethoven concerto is one of the great ones and I believe much credit must be given to the excellent Jonel Perlea. Rather then go on, I'll point you to the third movement as proof of a collaboration that is vital and highly musical.

Coupled with the 4th concerto is the Choral Fantasy, this time from Vienna with Clemens Krauss conducting. Krauss' Akademie Kammerchor and VSO turn in spirited work and the more then competent choral soloists come from the ranks of the Kammerchor.

The Choral Fantasy dates from 1954 and I think the piano concerto is 1956/7 on this momaural record.

DOWNLOAD

Jonel Perlea conducts delights from Central Europe

I miss the Vox label. When I was growing up, Vox and Nonesuch offered me many points of discovery at an unbeatable bargain price. Typically these Vox issues could be found at a local bookstore with a big sticker advertising $1.98. Great price for a kid on a budget though I must admit that the productions were at times variable, as you all know.

One great, and consistent find, was the large body of work recorded by the underrated Romanian conductor Jonel Perlea. Advertised by Vox as an "exclusive Vox artist," Perlea recorded just about all the heavy hitters of the repertoire, most records made with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, an orchestra originally called the German Philharmonic of Prague and staffed by a majority of Central Europeans. To Be honest, I cannot recall a bad Perlea performance, though engineering, and often preparation were less then first rate due to money and time constraints.

I offer here the contents of two Perlea records, focusing on the music of Central Europe. PL 9500, from 1955, features Smetana's Moldau, Dvorak's Scherzo Capriccioso, Kodaly's Dances of Galanta and Enescu's Romanian Rhapsody No. 1. STPL 511.240, from 1963, contains the contents of Side 1: Brahms' Hungarian Dances 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 17, 19, and 21. This all adds up to a nicely filled cd of lively, well played and idiomatic music making. I especially want to point out the outstanding account of the Romanian Rhapsody. Perlea's got this in his blood for sure and the orchestra sound like they are enjoying it immensely!

DOWNLOAD