BaL 12.04.14 - Schubert: Impromptus D899

[CallMePaul]

I too was surprised how little attention was given to period instrument performances. I have heard a number of such performances of Schubert's orchestral, chamber and instrumental works and generally found them illuminating. I also remember that some years ago, Robert Philip published an article in Early Music about early recordings of Elgar's music - not just those conducted by Sir Edward - and was illuminating about what could and could not be learned from these. He is not the reviewer I would have expected to pay so little attention to performances on period instruments!

His final choice (which I did not agree with - of those in contention to the end I preferred Andras Schiff's with Perahia also appealing) did have me thinking. I saw Radu Lupu give a recital in Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall in the early 70s but nothing has been heard of him for many years. At that time he had left Romania and was living with an English wife in London. I think I read somewhere that he returned to Romania after the breakdown of his marriage, but even if the Communist authorities then in power there had prevented him from travelling, I would have expected him to resume an international career after the overthrow of the Communists. Does anyone know what has happened to him? Has illness curtailed his career? I think he is in his late 60s so I would be surprised if he has been retired for 25 years or more.

[Barbirollians]

I too was surprised how little attention was given to period instrument performances. I have heard a number of such performances of Schubert's orchestral, chamber and instrumental works and generally found them illuminating. I also remember that some years ago, Robert Philip published an article in Early Music about early recordings of Elgar's music - not just those conducted by Sir Edward - and was illuminating about what could and could not be learned from these. He is not the reviewer I would have expected to pay so little attention to performances on period instruments!

His final choice (which I did not agree with - of those in contention to the end I preferred Andras Schiff's with Perahia also appealing) did have me thinking. I saw Radu Lupu give a recital in Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall in the early 70s but nothing has been heard of him for many years. At that time he had left Romania and was living with an English wife in London. I think I read somewhere that he returned to Romania after the breakdown of his marriage, but even if the Communist authorities then in power there had prevented him from travelling, I would have expected him to resume an international career after the overthrow of the Communists. Does anyone know what has happened to him? Has illness curtailed his career? I think he is in his late 60s so I would be surprised if he has been retired for 25 years or more.

CMP - Radu Lupu has apparently in recent years decided not to make any more recordings or allow any concerts to be recorded but he was merrily recording until pretty recently. There is someone's YT mobile phone recording of him playing the Beethoven 4 with Barenboim last September on You Tube ! - terrible recording but showing he is still playing very beautifully .

Indeed, he is due to play a recital in Dresden on Wednesday of Schubert and Schumann and apparently he now lives in Lausanne.

[LeMartinPecheur]

His final choice (which I did not agree with - of those in contention to the end I preferred Andras Schiff's with Perahia also appealing) did have me thinking. I saw Radu Lupu give a recital in Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall in the early 70s but nothing has been heard of him for many years. At that time he had left Romania and was living with an English wife in London. I think I read somewhere that he returned to Romania after the breakdown of his marriage, but even if the Communist authorities then in power there had prevented him from travelling, I would have expected him to resume an international career after the overthrow of the Communists. Does anyone know what has happened to him? Has illness curtailed his career? I think he is in his late 60s so I would be surprised if he has been retired for 25 years or more.

I don't think Lupu has disappeared as much as you imply.

The main thing about him is that despite his many highly successful LPs he decided that the whole concept of recording was one he didn't agree with, and so AFAIK he is a 'live or nothing' artist. I'm not sure whether he even does broadcast recitals - maybe even the risk of private off-air recordings does his head??

[verismissimo]

I too was surprised how little attention was given to period instrument performances. I have heard a number of such performances of Schubert's orchestral, chamber and instrumental works and generally found them illuminating. I also remember that some years ago, Robert Philip published an article in Early Music about early recordings of Elgar's music - not just those conducted by Sir Edward - and was illuminating about what could and could not be learned from these. He is not the reviewer I would have expected to pay so little attention to performances on period instruments!

Totally agree, CMP. How odd that Robert Philp should by and large ignore the HIPP performers, when his career and reputation have been substantially based on the study of performing practice as revealed by early recordings.

Looking forward to hearing the Vermeulen, which lobbed in while I was away for a few days.

[johnb]

Does anyone know what has happened to him [Radu Lupu]? Has illness curtailed his career? I think he is in his late 60s so I would be surprised if he has been retired for 25 years or more.

The Opus 3 Artist's website says:

In the 2013/14 season Mr. Lupu's concerto engagements will include the Bournemouth Symphony, Flanders Philharmonic, Santa Cecilia, Montreal Symphony, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Orchestre de Paris, Berlin Philharmonic, Stockholm Philharmonic, Gurzenich Orchestra Koln, Zurich Tonhalle, Frankfurter Museumsgesellschaft, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Monte Carlo Philharmonic and Lausanne Chamber. He will undertake his eleventh tour of Japan, and conclude his cycle of the Beethoven Piano Concertos at the new concert hall in Helsinki with the Finnish Chamber Orchestra (Jukka-Pekka Saraste). In addition, he will be Artist in Residence with the Dresden Staatskapelle.

It is a great pity that we don't see very much of him in the UK.

[VodkaDilc]

I saw Radu Lupu give a recital in Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall in the early 70s but nothing has been heard of him for many years. At that time he had left Romania and was living with an English wife in London. I think I read somewhere that he returned to Romania after the breakdown of his marriage, but even if the Communist authorities then in power there had prevented him from travelling, I would have expected him to resume an international career after the overthrow of the Communists. Does anyone know what has happened to him? Has illness curtailed his career? I think he is in his late 60s so I would be surprised if he has been retired for 25 years or more.

"Nothing heard of him for many years"? Perhaps Paul needs to seek him out. I heard him in Oxford two or three years ago - a stunning recital.

[CallMePaul]

[QUOTE=It is a great pity that we don't see very much of him in the UK.[/QUOTE]

I agree - I Googled him after my earlier post and reading some of the replies and saw that he has very recently played Brahms 2 with the Berlin Phil, and has anumber of concerts planned in substantial venues and with high-profile orchestras. From what I have seen it is nearly 5 years since he last played in the UK - the Oxford concert mentioned. He does not allow radio or TV recordings of his concerts, which makes it difficult for people not living in the cities he plays to hear him. In addition it seems to be many years since he gave an interview (in any language), hence I and others thought he had retired for health or other reasons.

Is there a reason why UK concert promoters shy away from booking him - is his fee too high, are conditions such as no recording an issue, or what?

[VodkaDilc]

I had not realised that the recital in Oxford was five years ago! Nor did I realise that he had not appeared in the UK since. It was an amazing experience; he was suitably grumpy-looking and used his trademark old chair rather than a piano stool. His bearlike, Brahmsian appearance seemed at odds with some of the wonderful quiet piano tone we heard.

I've just found the concert programme: 9th October 2009. He played Janacek: In the Mists, Beethoven's Appassionata and Schubert's late A major Sonata. His biography in the programme refers to the coming season, 2009/10, which was to include engagements in Zurich, Madrid, Geneva, Vienna, Rome, Florence and Milan. There are also references to concerts with the LSO and LPO, which suggests that the Oxford concert was not his last UK appearance (though they could have been overseas engagements, of course.)

This was certainly one of the highlights of my fifty-odd years of concert-going.

[gmw]

Yes, I use it often, £10/month for no adverts and the quality is reasonable into the hi-fi with an external DAC. It has enabled me to discover a lot of music.

I still buy CD's though.

[Don Petter]

Yes, I use it often, £10/month for no adverts and the quality is reasonable into the hi-fi with an external DAC. It has enabled me to discover a lot of music.

I still buy CD's though.

Subject?

[Barbirollians]

I am delighted by the Lupu disc - different from Perahia perhaps more delicate and less forthright but a very complementary set to the Perahia and I am very glad to have it .

[verismissimo]

Vermeulen Op 90 Impromptus - purchased. Thanks, vinteuil.

Just got around to listening to this and it turns out that the instrument on the recording is a terrific 1825 Troendlin from Leipzig, not the Streicher you mentioned, vinteuil. Different recording?

I like his playing a lot, although the speeds are a bit slower than I expected (and prefer).

[vinteuil]

Just got around to listening to this and it turns out that the instrument on the recording is a terrific 1825 Troendlin from Leipzig, not the Streicher you mentioned, vinteuil. Different recording?

I like his playing a lot, although the speeds are a bit slower than I expected (and prefer).

... ah, but checking again my #28 of 8 April 2014 I find -

... I find that Vermeulen has recorded these twice!

There is the recording which is part of vol 2 of the Works on the et'cetera label, with a Nannette Streicher of 1826, coupled with D935, D894, D568.

And an earlier (?) recording, vol 1 of the Works on the vanguard label, with a Johann Nepomuk Tröndlin of 1825, coupled with D845.

I haven't got the latter - but will soon find a way to get it....