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MMD > Archives > September 2003 > 2003.09.16 > 03Prev  Next


Pianist Paul Wittgenstein
By Yenda Smejkal

-- non-subscriber, please reply to sender and MMD --

Dan Wilson mentions in 990203 MMDigest that [Richard] Strauss wrote
one work for Paul Wittgenstein, as did Britten and Ravel ["Concerto
for the Left Hand"].

In fact, Strauss wrote two concertante works for Wittgenstein: the
Parergon (which has a quadruple orchestra, causing Wittgenstein to
complain how could he with his one poor hand compete with the forces
of a quadruple orchestra?!) and then in response to that Strauss
wrote the Panathenaenzug, which places the piano at the fore.

Prokofiev wrote a concerto for Wittgenstein which he refused to play!
Now it is standard repertoire, but not as popular as the Ravel.

Ravel, incidentally, was not impressed by Wittgenstein's performances,
which were full of alterations as we can hear in his recorded
performances.  His recording of the Parergon is perhaps more successful,
but again he makes innumerable additions and so forth.  Strauss was
more content with this than Ravel was!

Yenda Smejkal

 [ At http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/e/emi64350a.html :
 [   "The Parergon (or 'addendum') to the Sinfonia Domestica tells the
 [ autobiographical tale of parents worried by their child's serious
 [ illness, namely typhoid.  The work begins in darkness and despair,
 [ but soon the sun breaks through, leading to a joyous and optimistic
 [ conclusion.  Less familiar -- and vastly more interesting -- is the
 [ all but unpronounceable Panathenaenzug, which describes in musical
 [ terms the atmosphere surrounding the ancient festival in honor of
 [ the goddess Athene."
 [ -- Robbie


(Message sent Tue 16 Sep 2003, 20:43:27 GMT, from time zone GMT+0100.)

Key Words in Subject:  Paul, Pianist, Wittgenstein

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