Alexander Scriabin's Piano Concerto in F-sharp Minor, Op. 20 (1897), has a rather peculiar history.Its inception and early performances were beset by problems.The initial versions of the score, as well as first public performances, were met with harsh criticisms.Then, in 1899, the critics' and the public's reaction suddenly went from disparaging to admiring.Subsequently, Scriabin's own performances of the Concerto continued to consistently gather highest accolades throughout Russia, Western Europe, and the US.After the composer's death in 1915, however, the Concerto has gradually faded into virtual obscurity.This article will examine circumstances surrounding the history of the Concerto, Scriabin's interpretive approach to his published scores, and a recent endeavor by Mikhail Pletnev to revise and revive the Concerto in accordance with Scriabin's performance practice principles. The inauspicious beginningsScriabin first mentioned that he had begun working on the Concerto in his letter of 15 [27] October 1896 1 to Mitrofan Belyaev, his publisher at the time. 2 Apparently, Scriabin was working so precipitously that, within five days, he had already started the third movement.Less than a month later, on 12 [24
Reviews of clarinet performance in Paris and London, c. 1770 – c. 1810 make specific reference to 18th-century performance ideals, as identified by the contemporary writer Charles Burney who described the “principal excellencies of perfect execution”. The performance qualities described by Burney and their inclusion in contemporary reports is particularly valuable in assessing performances featuring the newest woodwind instrument, the clarinet. References to many of these performance qualities combine to form detailed accounts of the sonorities, technical execution and expressive qualities evident in performances given by clarinet players in Paris and London.
DVD Review: Rossi, Luigi. L’Orfeo. Pygmalion, musical direction by Raphaël Pichon, staging by Jetske Mijnssen. Recorded at L’Opéra National de Lorraine (Nancy), February 7 and 9, 2016. Arles: Harmonia Mundi, 2017. HMD 9859058.59 DVD and Blu-ray Disc.
Score review: Rameau, Jean-Philippe. Les Indes galantes: Symphonies, RCT 44 ed. Sylvie Bouissou, ed. no. BA 7568. Paris: Société Jean-Philippe Rameau; international distributor: Bärenreiter, 2017; Rameau, Jean-Philippe. Daphnis et Eglé, RCT 34, ed. Érik Kocevar, piano reduction François Saint-Yves. Paris: Société Jean-Philippe Rameau; international distributor: Bärenreiter, 2017.
