A pity that a composer is overlooked who's centenary is December 23rd coming: Hans Henkemans. Not only a very skilled and enjoyable composer (died in 1995), but on top of that a pianist famous for his Debussy and Mozart interpretations (and a ground breaking psychiatrist, treating quite a lot of musicians).
Philips recorded all Debussy piano-solo works, as well as a nearly complete cycle of Mozart piano concertos with either the Mozarteum orchestra/Baumgartner or Concertgebouw/van Beinum or ditto/Rieu (sr, that is) in the 1950s.
Van Beinum and Haitink commissioned a couple of works, of which some have found a place in the Concertgebouw Radio Recordings Boxes.
Henkemans' 2nd pianoconcerto (Introduction and Passacaglia) was one of the first pieces played (premiered even) after the re-opening of the Concertgebouw in September 1945 following the Dutch liberation from the German occupation.
Zimerman is said to have started studying his Debussy-interpretations (for DGG) with Henkemans' recordings as point of departure.
Zimerman also commissioned a concert of Henkemans' (at the same time as Lutoslawski's), but that has been left unfinished).
Henkemans was present at the premiere of Britten's Spring Symphony, at which occasion they were introduced by Van Beinum. There should be some correspondence, but Henkemans destroyed nearly all his in 1990.....
Philips recorded all Debussy piano-solo works, as well as a nearly complete cycle of Mozart piano concertos with either the Mozarteum orchestra/Baumgartner or Concertgebouw/van Beinum or ditto/Rieu (sr, that is) in the 1950s.
Van Beinum and Haitink commissioned a couple of works, of which some have found a place in the Concertgebouw Radio Recordings Boxes.
Henkemans' 2nd pianoconcerto (Introduction and Passacaglia) was one of the first pieces played (premiered even) after the re-opening of the Concertgebouw in September 1945 following the Dutch liberation from the German occupation.
Zimerman is said to have started studying his Debussy-interpretations (for DGG) with Henkemans' recordings as point of departure.
Zimerman also commissioned a concert of Henkemans' (at the same time as Lutoslawski's), but that has been left unfinished).
Henkemans was present at the premiere of Britten's Spring Symphony, at which occasion they were introduced by Van Beinum. There should be some correspondence, but Henkemans destroyed nearly all his in 1990.....
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