Pancho Vladigerov

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Enjoying these discs. Dynamic and lyrical music influenced by Bulgarian folk tradition. While the performance by the orchestras are average/fair, these unique compositions would sound great if performed by top-tier orchestras. Still, these recordings are beautiful and penetrating. There are only few recordings of Vladigerov. Hope somebody will release his symphonies someday.

[vandermolen]

I quite enjoy this CD:

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I quite enjoy this CD:

I was wondering about the disc. I will order it today. 😄😄😄


P.s. Nice review on Amazon, Jeffrey. This is OOP and the market price is ridiculous now. I will wait for a reissue.

[Christo]

'My CD' is the one at CPO & a wonderful one at that:

[vandermolen]

I was wondering about the disc. I will order it today. 😄😄😄


P.s. Nice review on Amazon, Jeffrey. This is OOP and the market price is ridiculous now. I will wait for a reissue.

Thank you DBK! I'd forgotten that I'd ever written that review and even more surprised that it is on Amazon.com rather than on Amazon.co.uk

[Symphonic Addict]

I heard the 5 piano concertos some days ago. Anyone who loves intense late-Romanticism alla Rachmaninov should find great enjoyment in them, albeit Vladigerov incorporated folk elements that make them somewhat distinctive.

[vandermolen]

I heard the 5 piano concertos some days ago. Anyone who loves intense late-Romanticism alla Rachmaninov should find great enjoyment in them, albeit Vladigerov incorporated folk elements that make them somewhat distinctive.

Possibly my next port of call.

[Scion7]

born: 13/25 March 1899 in Zurich; died: Sofia, 8 Sept 1978

A composer I'd not heard of.
There is a website devoted to him:  https://vladigerov.org/en/about-pancho-vladigerov/

The Grove has a write-up on him that is informative (of course.)

" One of the most important representatives of second generation Bulgarian composers, he underwent a natural creative evolution and formed an individual musical style following the traditions of Rachmaninoff, Richard Strauss and others. He wrote the first instrumental concerto in Bulgarian music, while his 6 Lyric Songs (1917) mark the beginning of many such vocal works in Bulgarian music. In general terms, his music is highly expressive and employs Romantic harmonies ... Vladigerov is a significant figure in 20th-century music. Influenced by German and Russian music (but also using elements of Bulgarian, Jewish, Romanian and Spanish music) ... "


chamber works
==========================
Sonata for violin & piano, op.1, 1914
Trio for piano, violin, cello, op.4, 1916
2 Improvisations, op.7, violin, piano, 1919
4 Pieces, op.12, 1921
Balgarska rapsodiya 'Vardar', op.16, violin, piano, 1922
Burlesque, violin, piano, op.14, 1922
Kontsertno shimi, violin, piano, 1924
2 Balgaski Parafrazi [2 Bulgarian Paraphrases], op.18, violin, piano, 1925
2 Pieces, op.20, violin, piano, 1926
String Quartet, op.34, 1940
Concert Fantasy, cello, orch, op.35, 1941
2 Pieces, violin, piano, 1964

orchestral music
================================
Symphonic Legend, op.8, 1919
violin concerto no.1, op.11, 1921
Scandinavian Suite 'The Dance of Death'], op.13, 1924
Bulgarian Suite, op.21, 1927
Balgarska rapsodiya 'Vardar', 1928
piano concerto no.1, op.6, 1928
piano concerto no.2, op.22, 1930
7 Symphonic Bulgarian Dances, op.23, 1931
Zemya [Land], ov., op.27, 1933
piano concerto no.3, op.31, 1937
Symphony no.1, op.33, 1939
Epizodi [Episodes], op.36, 1941, revised as Improvatsiya i tokata, 1942
Horo Stakato [Chain Dance Staccato], 1942, a collaboration with the composer Dinku
4 Symphonic Romanian Dances, op.38, 1942
2 Romanian Sym. Sketches, op.39, 1943
Suite no.1, op.40a, 1947 [from Legenda za Ezeroto (ballet)]
Deveti Septemvri [September 9th], heroic overture, op.45, 1949
Symphony no.2 'Maiska' [May] for strings, op.44, 1949
Evreiska Poema [Hebrew Poem], op.47, 1951
piano concerto no.4, op.48, 1953
Suite no.2, op.40b, 1953 [from Legenda za Ezeroto (ballet)]
Song about Peace, dramatic poem, op.52, 1956
piano concerto no.5, op.58, 1963
violin concerto no.2, op.61, 1968
Lyulin Impressions, op.63, 1972

piano music
===========================
4 Pieces, op.10, 1920 -- 3 Pieces, op.15, 1922 -- 6 ekzotichni prelyudii [6 Exotic Preludes], op.17, 1924 -- Klasichno i romantichno [Classic and Romantic], op.24, 1931 -- Shumen Miniatures, op.29, 1934 -- Sonatina konchertante, op.28, 1934 -- Epizodi [Episodes], op.36, 1941 -- Akvareli [Aquarelles], op.37, 1942 -- Kartini [Pictures], op.46, 1950 -- Suite, op.51, 1954 -- 3 Pieces, op.53, 1957 -- 3 Concert Pieces, op.57, 1959 -- Novelettes, op.59 -- 1964 -- 5 harakterni piesi [5 Characteristic Pieces], op.60, 1965 -- 3 Short Pieces, op.63, 1972 -- 4 Pieces, op.65, 1973 -- 5 Silhouettes, op.66, 1974 -- 5 Poetic Pictures, op.68, 1976 -- 4 Frescoes, op.69, 1977 -- 3 Bagatelles, op.70, 1978

an opera: Tsar Kaloyan, op.30, 1936
a ballet: Legend of the Lake, op.40, 1946

a horde of incidental music:  Caesar and Cleopatra (G.B. Shaw), 1920 -- Sanna igra [The Dance of Death] (A. Strindberg), 1921 -- Judith (F. Hebel), 1922 -- Venetsiyanskiyat targovets [The Merchant of Venice] (W. Shakespeare), 1924 -- Tebeshireniyat krag [The Chalk Circle] (Klabund), 1925 -- Yuarets i Maksimiliyan [Juarez and Maximilian] (F. Werfel), 1926 -- Mnogo shum za nishcho [Much Ado about Nothing] (Shakespeare), 1928 -- Yusik (O. Dimov), 1929 -- Dvanaiseta noshch [Twelfth Night] (Shakespeare), 1932 -- Elenovo Tsarstvo [Deer Kingdom] (G. Raichev), 1934 -- Vetriloto [The Fan] (C. Goldoni), 1935 -- Shchastie [Happiness] (O. Vasilev), 1954

and songs, including 6 Lyric Songs, high vocalist & piano, 1917, folksong arrangements, and a choral work-Turbulent Days, 1945

[Roasted Swan]

I listened to the recent Naxos disc.  I must admit a slight sense of "meh...."  Well crafted, well played but very much in the style of 'colourful nationalistic' dance music - the sort of thing to my ear that Enescu and the like did earlier and better.  Perhaps too much folky-nationalism in one go for me.  I guess other facets of his music show a wider stylistic range....?

[Scion7]

... that Enescu and the like did earlier and better

Maybe Bulgarian folk tunes are not as rich as Romanian ones?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

'My CD' is the one at CPO & a wonderful one at that:

Solid performance, and possibly/arguably the best recording available as of now.

[Roy Bland]

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The jackets look so cool. Do you own some of them? I am envious!

[Roy Bland]

You have to buy here:
https://bookstore.ubc-bg.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=83602&search=vladigerov+&page=3

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

You have to buy here:
https://bookstore.ubc-bg.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=83602&search=vladigerov+&page=3

Thank you. I will order this weekend!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Orchestral Works, Vol. 1 will be released from Capriccio on Nov. 6.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8829242--vladigerov-orchestral-works-vol-1

[vandermolen]

Orchestral Works, Vol. 1 will be released from Capriccio on Nov. 6.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8829242--vladigerov-orchestral-works-vol-1

Interesting! Thanks for posting DBK.
PS The First Symphony, in a very crackly recording, is on You Tube. It sounds like the sort of crash-bang-wallop symphony which appeals to me. I shall investigate.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I quite enjoy this CD:

I bought the disc for a reasonable price. The music sounds very good!

[vandermolen]

I bought the disc for a reasonable price. The music sounds very good!

Good to know - I've pre-ordered the symphonies CD.

[Symphonic Addict]

Oh, I'm gonna want it!