Michael Korstick - Milhaud: Complete Piano Concertos (2007)
Michael Korstick - Milhaud: Complete Piano Concertos (2007)
WEB FLAC (tracks) - 604 MB | Tracks: 34 | 134:23 min
Style: Classical | Label: CPO
WEB FLAC (tracks) - 604 MB | Tracks: 34 | 134:23 min
Style: Classical | Label: CPO
This two-disc set makes an excellent companion to CPO's fine set of Milhaud symphonies, also conducted (very well, as here) by Alun Francis. If anything, the music for piano and orchestra is even more appealing. For some reason, bitonality works even better with two competing partners, both of which have the ability to make a full mass of harmony on their own. Or maybe Milhaud simply enjoyed this combination. Whatever the reason, there isn't a dull moment here, from the popular Carnaval d'Aix, to the magical Ballade, to the extremely colorful sonorities of the Fifth Concerto.
Pianist Michael Korstick takes all of this music in stride. It ranges from the fairly easy pieces written for Milhaud's own use, to the extremely complex and difficult. All of the music requires plenty of character, a certain insouciant boldness, and no mean degree of poetic sensibility in the slow movements. The main reason we never hear this music probably stems from the fact that most of these concertos are quite short–around 20 minutes or less. This makes them difficult to program in concert, though Ravel's Left Hand Concerto lasts about the same time (but then it's a tour-de-force; Prokofiev's very brief First Concerto doesn't get much play either).
In any event, none of these considerations matters on disc, and I can imagine that many listeners will welcome the music's brevity as much as its vitality and pungent lyricism. Some of these concertos have been recorded previously, but never with such authority (or ready availability) as to challenge the supremacy of this set. The engineering also is very good, letting the music speak with the clarity and brightness that it needs, but without undue hardness. Music like this is a tonic. A little may go a long way, but Milhaud is one of the very few composers who understands that and writes accordingly. Highly recommended.
Tracklist:
CD1:
01. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: I. Le corso
02. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: II. Tartaglia
03. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: III. Isabelle
04. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: IV. Rosetta
05. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: V. Le bon et le mauvais tuteur
06. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: VI. Coviello
07. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: VII. Le capitaine Cartuccia
08. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: VIII. Polichinelle
09. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: IX. Polka
10. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: X. Cinzio
11. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: XI. Souvenir de Rio
12. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b: XII. Final
13. Ballade, Op. 61
14. 5 Études, Op. 63: No. 1, Vif
15. 5 Études, Op. 63: No. 2, Doucement
16. 5 Études, Op. 63: No. 3, Fugues. Vif et rythmé
17. 5 Études, Op. 63: No. 4, Sombre
18. 5 Études, Op. 63: No. 5, Romantique. Très animé
19. Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 127: I. Très vif
20. Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 127: II. Barcarolle
21. Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 127: III. Finale
22. Fantaisie pastorale, Op. 188
FILE: 01. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ I. Le corso.flac
Size: 7562398 Hash: F8DA7C755D448538DCA25FBC6EA652B5 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 2E265B8F6F88C5C06C6F23504F6185BE3C9BF54D
FILE: 02. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ II. Tartaglia.flac
Size: 6477728 Hash: 2C7B37C028B882F172CF5513AEDDAD6F Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: C699B63F2CC61837907E50B490B98DC382A30637
FILE: 03. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ III. Isabelle.flac
Size: 6937591 Hash: 70A1E42F4A58347695A32A7B23520964 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: E2D33758A7BCF6B98358E6F83B4448BFDE9F8B71
FILE: 04. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ IV. Rosetta.flac
Size: 9121124 Hash: D0F14E63D2D106B37A991449DCE50E9B Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 87%
Signature: 40F7A7F3D3526285DE4E5E5D8362619E517C1241
FILE: 05. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ V. Le bon et le mauvais tuteur.flac
Size: 9625596 Hash: FE33BAD5CB39EC368EFD51CBB6F800EE Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: E4D95F07AEFFFAAE6858E5B4F2FE88DC0F115087
FILE: 06. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ VI. Coviello.flac
Size: 3160426 Hash: 00880785F6CCB3CCEC2ED8FCCB4B2B83 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 7B36382CCC4FE92749AD287FBFB13C35477A65AA
FILE: 07. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ VII. Le capitaine Cartuccia.flac
Size: 13325216 Hash: 6EA270A9B97EB4D846BF0ABDF15771D3 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 99%
Signature: D5977EEBCF63CE7B30D713D91246618B30A5A6CF
FILE: 08. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ VIII. Polichinelle.flac
Size: 2947630 Hash: 363786B1CFA038F6FC7E233DAC45A0E2 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 99%
Signature: F17F2AB9F35FC21B420C415C509FD76EFFE692D3
FILE: 09. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ IX. Polka.flac
Size: 6628699 Hash: E6AABFEEC9AB99B5159E22E1120C7526 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 437CF0223B2D525C2A48E656DECB51CA8266C6B6
FILE: 10. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ X. Cinzio.flac
Size: 8289497 Hash: DEDCCDDF6E209ECEB7609004694B355B Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 1F08EC1D49C1F0A1852A66754D784784E9645A00
FILE: 11. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ XI. Souvenir de Rio.flac
Size: 9826262 Hash: 7060C91635366607709B3664BFE87F67 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: F6CC8CD7CA0AB8635060A0EB1AEE531058430A68
FILE: 12. Le carnaval d'Aix, Op. 83b_ XII. Final.flac
Size: 8387288 Hash: E27E7E0BD1E31F1642CFC839C5EA7802 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 18615CC21BAB3E4BAFE02C8DB071D1B589BCCDC8
FILE: 13. Ballade, Op. 61.flac
Size: 40403699 Hash: 20D799F08AF58D6025A9261457F6D59F Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 383006831DBFE82B039CBDFCF3AF53E6076E9B02
FILE: 14. 5 Études, Op. 63_ No. 1, Vif.flac
Size: 5671460 Hash: 03671BD16B46257599224EE5C85FF6D1 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 30E3863EA7FCDA25B0154CB9087D30F29AB64616
FILE: 15. 5 Études, Op. 63_ No. 2, Doucement.flac
Size: 13380807 Hash: 23A5B0D0435539C20F1A105A85CBBFB6 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 43%
Signature: E291E6FA6F0771F695CFCEF52427BDA356EA6542
FILE: 16. 5 Études, Op. 63_ No. 3, Fugues. Vif et rythmé.flac
Size: 5363165 Hash: C655C4DF932E15525EE5C18BB3537DF3 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: D719FEAEDD628788BA91B7936006E54072489B71
FILE: 17. 5 Études, Op. 63_ No. 4, Sombre.flac
Size: 16024254 Hash: C81C449C061932AF2644D692F27F794C Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: CE1AC189F7D5AB66FA7475ABC50DECD00DC4A558
FILE: 18. 5 Études, Op. 63_ No. 5, Romantique. Très animé.flac
Size: 11783755 Hash: B27BA18388104483A042DA80120898CC Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: A35D39C2C2100D6E37E6BFC38D83BF4F33548EAD
FILE: 19. Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 127_ I. Très vif.flac
Size: 18566541 Hash: C25C4422B706FB75B8C50ED9D7FAC5AA Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 715D5482EF27951A7A020A9A86F6DD58CE19A2E7
FILE: 20. Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 127_ II. Barcarolle.flac
Size: 21888069 Hash: 2E71CF35E87D1D4FEABF324F68A77B2C Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: C8C69DF5B233F0048C2BD115BE0FF2B17AD48229
FILE: 21. Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 127_ III. Finale.flac
Size: 22426638 Hash: A1FD8FF3DEF34B10E54F3DC7000DBDB3 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 86%
Signature: B4B85E3067FEF674EE79998D7C07755DF20593F1
FILE: 22. Fantaisie pastorale, Op. 188.flac
Size: 44063232 Hash: 8CED81B8A1C1D90C9271086F76CC4DAF Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 87%
Signature: 3500FC419A25F7E44A09277AEC3B14893C40E86C
CD2:
01. Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 225: I. Animé
02. Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 225: II. Romance. Lent
03. Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 225: III. Bien modérément animé
04. Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 270: I. Alerte et avec élégance
05. Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 270: II. Lent
06. Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 270: III. Avec esprit et élégance
07. Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 295: I. Animé
08. Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 295: II. Très lent
09. Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 295: III. Joyeux
10. Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 346: I. Alerte
11. Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 346: II. Nonchalant
12. Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 346: III. Joyeux
FILE: 01. Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 225_ I. Animé.flac
Size: 18090445 Hash: E177C7F738DB517EA5E27C46D6BBC857 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 99AD3A67F1FE096B166B48FDF5E5E2979575CD6F
FILE: 02. Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 225_ II. Romance. Lent.flac
Size: 23533933 Hash: 03B8147952A3F424296C066F85F80642 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 85%
Signature: 8CB3272F1F920C0381C13513D3B98CD1C0BEC91A
FILE: 03. Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 225_ III. Bien modérément animé.flac
Size: 17241078 Hash: DD181C1095EAE9143AED27A658A7DF65 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 39150318B4002BEAF41D9ABD0C53F20CA882DCD0
FILE: 04. Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 270_ I. Alerte et avec élégance.flac
Size: 25118517 Hash: 524503B854D320AAFA0CBA8F4ECF8E56 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 99%
Signature: B2D259C0A64808C16CA20DD4FF838C64C6C16FC3
FILE: 05. Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 270_ II. Lent.flac
Size: 36180123 Hash: 995154C7CDAC1AE08CF31254036F5078 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 85%
Signature: DDAD6B453CB413E5CC5FC9AF8A040BF69796C402
FILE: 06. Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 270_ III. Avec esprit et élégance.flac
Size: 27028667 Hash: DF73C041FD7D237F9FAF0E0D4AD13314 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: DC2311274099E3F5CF935EAB0984E32DA89CBB67
FILE: 07. Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 295_ I. Animé.flac
Size: 26333273 Hash: 732B4A490B814BBDF0E0E5B44408320A Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: F4A0D9E9B3F329FF070FAB885A56371EB7457E8F
FILE: 08. Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 295_ II. Très lent.flac
Size: 43626588 Hash: 72CBC860854BCAC63F913C791D968271 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: CC4B0361269ACB17413C068DA031320C06DB383A
FILE: 09. Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 295_ III. Joyeux.flac
Size: 26610571 Hash: 49C514E48EC50EB8EDB4D366E1519462 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: FE3718B490A603BF4B128A4A6150DD0A2DB33792
FILE: 10. Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 346_ I. Alerte.flac
Size: 24968724 Hash: EBB2B499FB4B1872C106C99F2F28E00E Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 4B11F353C52810FE7F36F1B429B4CEE31F6745DB
FILE: 11. Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 346_ II. Nonchalant.flac
Size: 43409027 Hash: 84BBEBDA2E39B6E46FA284B79456226E Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 58%
Signature: 94FA402EF826C8CE3A08E64D83DA5B08C367C2DB
FILE: 12. Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 346_ III. Joyeux.flac
Size: 29599639 Hash: C00B4D1B14E625E0ABDDA61EDB4AEC37 Accuracy: -m0
Conclusion: CDDA 100%
Signature: 02F022B6D7E8801119DBB341601DCDCEEB0835C4