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The Music Room => Composer Discussion => Topic started by: ritter on May 27, 2015, 05:37:46 AM

Title: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on May 27, 2015, 05:37:46 AM


  (http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/976x549/p01br5k0.jpg)

Le pleur qui chante au language
Du poète, Reynaldo
Hahn, tendrement le dégage
Comme en l'allée un jet d'eau
1
Stéphane Mallarmé

1 I cannot find an English translation of Mallarmé's little tribute to the teenager Reynaldo, and wouldn't dare to translate it myself  ;D

It seems there is no thread dedicated to Reynaldo Hahn. By popular demand (hat tip to Mirror Image and Brian  ;)), I cross-post my recent comment in the "Purchases Today" thread:

Quote from: ritter on May 25, 2015, 06:06:17 AM
I must start by saying that my appreciation of Hahn is tinged by several extra-musical issues. It's probably  clear by now to many that I'm a bit of a francophile. I'm also fascinated by the world of Marcel Proust (with whom Reynaldo had a close liaison), and am myself a Venezuelan living in Europe. Furthermore, my grandmother's family was acquainted with the Echenagucias (Hahn's maternal family). None of this, of course, makes Hahn's music better or worse, or more or less interesting. And yet...

The most popular segment of Hahn's oeuvre is clearly his art songs, or mélodies (a genre which IIRC you don't care much for). He excelled at this from an early age, and some of his settings (in many occasions, of major French poets) are actually quite accomplished, and certainly go beyond the "salon music" label that has often been attached to Hahn's compositions. For example, the Chansons grises (on Verlaine) and À Chloris (on Théophile de Viau) are IMHO at the same level as anything Fauré composed in this form.

Then there's the piano music, with the four suites that make up Le Rossignol éperdu enjoying a sort of renaissance as of late. A string of minatures, some of which are character pieces, others are travel-inspired, unpretentious as a whole, and quite pleasant in general (perhaps too long to listen to in one go).

The stage works are particularly "French". His opera Le Marchand de Venise is quite beautiful (but avaialable only from semi-private sources), and his operettas (Ciboulette being the most famous one) are good if you like that sort of thing (but knowledge of the French language is a requisite to appreciate them, I venture to say).

Finally, there's the orchestral and ensemble stuff, like the CD I just bought. Here Hahn's backward-looking attitude in music is very palpable. Le Bal de Béatrice d'Este is delightful, with a curious orchestration of winds, piano, two harps and percussion. It's not really neo-classical avant la lettre, it's trying to emulate the "spirit" (more than the "style") of some renaissance music ("archaïsant" is the French term that would apply, and I cannot find an exact English equivalent).  The Concerto provençal (for flute, clarinet, bassoon, horn and strings) is a delight, very atmospheric and very carefree (surprisingly so, as it was composed in 1944, when Hahn was stearing clear in the South of France from the Nazis in occupied Paris).

Well, this is turning out too long already, and I haven't answered your question: what does his music sound like? We're in a world that rejects any sort of harmonic innovation, but that is well crafted and has a definite charm, even if at times it turns (deliberately) into pastiche and, at others (seldom), can almost be kitsch   I'd say it's compeltely imbued by nostalgia, pleasant to the ear,  and deliberatly démodé by the time it was composed. But, with these features, Hahn does have a very personal style, which could not be confused with that of any other composer. The sound world of a certain period  in France that had ended long before Hahn stopped compsoing, and directed to some social circles ("le grand monde") whose influnece had also vanished by then.

If you wish to explore Hahn's orchestral/ensemble music, then the new Timpani CD is great (it's the best performance of Béatrice d'Este I've heard). Another good entry point would be the Piano concerto, where this "nostalgic" fealing is really accomplished, and which I think is a piece that deserves wider recognition:

[asin]B000002ZYF[/asin]

Here it's performed by the wondeful Magda Tagliaferro (under the composer):

https://www.youtube.com/v/mEFe46xfIXg

The above, of course, is only a cursory (and very personal) appreciation of Hahn's oeuvre, and I hope other GMGers share their views on his music.

Fortunately, some record companies have recently released some CDs whose focus is on music other than Hahn's mélodies . Three highlights, IMHO:

[asin]B00ARWDQQ6[/asin]
[asin]B00U2U9VZS[/asin]
[asin]B00NO5BVEC[/asin]

And Actes Sud in France has published a rather thick collaborative tome on the composer, that seems to be a major addition to the bibliogarphy on the composer (I've already bought it, but haven't had the time to start reading it  :-[).

[asin]2330048033[/asin]

Bien cordialement,
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: pjme on May 27, 2015, 06:28:23 AM
https://www.youtube.com/v/d2jyRovBYT4

Hahn wrote some lovely music.

I wonder how his La pastorale de Noël sounds...
(http://imslp.org/images/thumb/3/3d/Hahn_Pastorale_Noel.png/395px-Hahn_Pastorale_Noel.png)


P.

Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on May 27, 2015, 06:37:12 AM
Quote from: pjme on May 27, 2015, 06:28:23 AM
I wonder how his La pastorale de Noël sounds...
(http://imslp.org/images/thumb/3/3d/Hahn_Pastorale_Noel.png/395px-Hahn_Pastorale_Noel.png)


P.
The Pastorale de Noël is available on this album:

[asin]B00H7EEXKA[/asin]

Cute, unpretentious and quaint are the words that come to mind... :)
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: pjme on May 27, 2015, 06:40:32 AM
Thanks!

I might explore...

Sincerely,

Peter
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on June 29, 2015, 12:59:09 PM
Stephen Greenbank has reviewed the recent Timpani issue of Hahn orchestral pieces for www.musicweb-international.com . IMHO, a  well written and positive review, which can be found here (http://musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/June/Hahn_divertissement_1C1231.htm)

[asin]B00U2U9VZS[/asin]
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Spineur on February 15, 2016, 01:17:00 PM
So I went ahead and bought this set of Reynaldo Hahn mélodies, with among others, Felicity Lott and Graham Johnson as interpreters.  In this repertoire, the marvelous Felicity Lott, is unsurpassable: she has this music in her veins.
All Hahn melodies are based on very famous poems from Victor Hugo, Paul Verlaine, Francois Coppée, Théophile Gauthier, Charles d'Orléans, Théodore de Banville, Heinrich Heine and of course, his lover Marcel Proust.  The music is designed to enhance the text meaning, very much in the same way that Schubert and Schumann provide the drama on Goethe and Schiller poems.  These mélodies are Lieders "à la française".
Everything is meaningful here.  It is not simply mellow tunes of the early 20th century.  We are not in wild rhythms and dramatic crescendos.  No just the phrasing that fits best the verses.  This is why I enjoy his songs much more than Fauré cycles which texts are "convenus" and academics, in fact pretty boring.  This is I am sure a very unpopular opinion among some GMG members.

Among the other works mentioned here, I am most interested by "Le marchand de Venise".  Hahn was 1/2 Jewish and he had to go in hiding during WW2 in the south of France.  He has a particular relationship and interest toward israelites.  So this work may reflect quite a bit from his feelings.  Furthermore Hahn was one of Massenet students, so he knew a great deals about lyric opera.  It turns out that this opera was recreated last year (2015) in Saint Etienne and I missed it.  Apparently they filmed it and there are some plans to broadcast it on Mezzo, so I may have a second chance.

Finally, I found out that there is a Reynaldo Hahn association, http://www.reynaldo-hahn.net/ (http://www.reynaldo-hahn.net/) and guess who is the the honorary president ?  "Dame Felicity Lott" of course !!!

I am heading on holidays (Portugal) for a couple of weeks.  So don't get angry if there are no answers.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Scion7 on October 02, 2017, 01:21:21 AM
Chamber Music
====================================================
Le carnaval des vieilles poules, string qt, piano,  1891
Serenade, string qt,  1892
Piano Trio, f, 1896
Romance, A, vn, pf, 1901
Sarabande, thème variée, cl, pf, 1903
Pavane d'Angelo, fl, cl, guitar, harp, string qt,  1905
Variations chantantes, cello, pf, 1905
Variations on a Theme by Mozart in Eb, fl, pf,  1905
Romanesque in C, fl, viola, piano,  1905
Nocturne in Eb, vn, pf, 1906
2 Improvisations on Irish Airs, cello, piano,  1911
2 Pieces, Danse pour une déesse-L'enchanteur, fl, pf, 1913
Piano Quintet, 1921
Sonata C, violin, pf, 1926
Divertissement pour une fête de nuit, str qt, 1931
Eglogue, wind trio, 1936
Soliloque et forlane, va, pf, 1937
String Qt Nr.1 in a, 1939
Romance, fl, va, vc,  1939
2 préludes, org
String Qt Nr.2 in F, 1943
Serenade, fl, ob, cl, bn,  1942
Piano Quartet No.3, G, 1946
Lamento et tarantelle, cl, pf

Orchestral
==================================================
Illustration pour le jardin de Berenice, chamber orch., 1891
Nuit d'amour bergamasque, sym. poem, 1893
Marine, chbr orch, 1898
Prelude, valse et rigaudon, hp, strings,  1903
Le bal de Beatrice d'Este suite, 1905
Wedding March, chamber orch, 1905
Cello Conc. in a, 1905
En sourdine, chamber orch,  1914
Violin Conc. in D, 1927
Piano Conc. in E, 1930
Divertissement pour une fete de nuit, sax, piano, string qt, orchestra,  1931
3 Cadenzas for K.299-Mozart, 1939
Conc., 5 insts, orch, 1942
Conc. provençal, fl, cl, bn, hn, str, 1945
Suite honogroise, vn, pf, perc, str,  1948
Cello Conc. 'Révision et cadence de Ferdinand Pollain' (Paris, 1955), unfinished

Piano
=========================
Une abeille, 1889
Suite concertante, 1889
Hippomène et Atalante, 1890
Les impressions, 1890
Scherzo lent, 1891
Notturno alla italiana, 1891
Variations sur un thème de Charles Levadé, pf 4 hands, 1892
3 préludes sur des airs populaires irlandaises, pf 4 hands, 1895
Portraits de peintres, 1896
Premières valses, 1897
Le rossignol éperdu, 1902–10
Berceuses, pf 4 hands, 1904
Variations puériles sur une mélodie de Carl Reinecke, 1905
Bacchante, 1905
Les jeunes lauriers, 1915
Pour vercer un convalescent, 1915
Le ruban dénoué, 1915
2 études, 1927

Opera
====================

Incidental Music
====================

Film Scores
====================
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Jay F on October 02, 2017, 07:40:38 AM
Quote from: Scion7 on October 02, 2017, 01:21:21 AM
Orchestral
==================================================
Le bal de Beatrice d'Este suite, 1905

I saw this performed by Carnegie-Mellon's Wind Ensemble on Saturday. Just delightful. If you happen to be local, they're doing it again this Saturday afternoon (October 7 @ 4 PM).

This is from New York's Harmonie Ensemble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pup_oKtj8X4&list=PLhg0Zg758_1zJSiPkF4Orw6B4xvgF6_V5
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: kyjo on October 02, 2017, 08:36:08 AM
Quote from: Jay F on October 02, 2017, 07:40:38 AM
I saw this performed by Carnegie-Mellon's Wind Ensemble on Saturday. Just delightful. If you happen to be local, they're doing it again this Saturday afternoon (October 7 @ 4 PM).

Oh, are you a fellow Pittsburgher? I'm a student at Carnegie Mellon!

The only work by Hahn I know is Le bal de Beatrice d'Este, which is delightful. Must investigate more of his music.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Jay F on October 02, 2017, 11:12:19 AM
Quote from: kyjo on October 02, 2017, 08:36:08 AM
Oh, are you a fellow Pittsburgher? I'm a student at Carnegie Mellon!

The only work by Hahn I know is Le bal de Beatrice d'Este, which is delightful. Must investigate more of his music.

Are you in the orchestra?
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: André on October 02, 2017, 12:23:07 PM
Civilized music at its best. Hahn's music defines good taste, wit and complicity with his listeners.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Spineur on October 02, 2017, 01:13:44 PM
Since I heard Hahn Venizia (in venizian dialect) cycle sung by Felicity Lott earlier this year, I cant get it out of my head.  Here it is sung by Anna Caterina Antonacci

https://www.youtube.com/v/KumBHuX4DLg


Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: kyjo on October 02, 2017, 03:07:47 PM
Quote from: Jay F on October 02, 2017, 11:12:19 AM
Are you in the orchestra?

Yep, I'm a cellist.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Jay F on October 02, 2017, 04:33:46 PM
Quote from: kyjo on October 02, 2017, 03:07:47 PM
Yep, I'm a cellist.

Well, then I have heard you perform. I enjoy the CMU concerts very much. My friend and I sit in the first balcony, right over the bass and cello section, so I can't say I've actually seen you.

Are you taking the Mahler class, by any chance?
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: kyjo on October 02, 2017, 06:27:31 PM
Quote from: Jay F on October 02, 2017, 04:33:46 PM
Well, then I have heard you perform. I enjoy the CMU concerts very much. My friend and I sit in the first balcony, right over the bass and cello section, so I can't say I've actually seen you.

Are you taking the Mahler class, by any chance?

Great to hear! No, I'm not taking the Mahler class, but I might in the future.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on November 15, 2017, 11:25:43 AM
Cross-posted from the WAYLTN thread:

Quote from: ritter on November 15, 2017, 06:52:22 AM
Some Reynaldo Hahn today. Portraits de peintres, for speaker and piano, on texts by Marcel Proust.

(https://img.discogs.com/K-LxtGBxRsXzr2xJ5h9npFBT0Fc=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-12529874-1537059442-5749.jpeg.jpg)
I knew the work in recordings sans voix, but it makes much more sense as originally conceived (as a mélodrame, that is). I am not particularly keen on how Mme. Gautier declaims the text, as she is simultaneously too vehement and does not enunciate it all that clearly, but the superimposition of spoken text on the piano line is most agreeable. Both authors (who were starting an intimate liaison at the time) were very young men in  1894, the year of the piece's composition (Proust 23 and Hahn 20 years old).

Just as Proust's text--short prose poems "portraying" Albert Cuyp, Paulus Potter, Anton Van Dyck and Antoine Watteau--does not really presage the greatness of things to come, Reynaldo's music already shows a full command of his capabilities. Actually, it's fair to say that Hahn the composer was better known than Proust the author at the time.

The first piece is the most engaging IMHO, with some very seductive modulations, and well-thought  changes in the piano line. It's also nice to hear in the last piece ("Watteau") a phrase that Reynaldo had already used in his setting of Paul Verlaine's Mandoline a year earlier (in his song Fêtes galantes); this is quite fitting, as Verlaine's poem is a Watteau-esque as it gets.   8)

Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Spineur on November 15, 2017, 01:08:36 PM
Two nice CDs of Reynaldo Hahn chamber music which I may or may not have posted in the WAYLTN thread

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51AA5n6iCFL._SX425_.jpg)

[asin]B00004RBWS[/asin]

Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on June 01, 2018, 12:00:21 PM
Cross-posted from the WAYLTN thread:

Quote from: ritter on June 01, 2018, 11:49:27 AM
...
First listen to this recent release of Reynaldo Hahn's chamber music:
Rr
[asin]B079B2ZDRS[/asin]

The major pieces on this CD (the Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor from 1921, and the late Piano Quartet No. 3 in G major from 1946) were already available in other releases (on the Hyperion and Maguelone labels), but these idiomatic and very convincing renditions by pianist James Baillieu and his fellow musicians are a welcome addition to the composer's discography. The main attraction IMO is the Quartet, where Hahn deploys his skills in his usual arch-conservstive idiom, and producies a work of poignant nostalgia. Of the four movement piece, the third (and longest), andante, seems to me some of the best music in its composer's catalogue. and has some interesting (for Hahn, I'd even say daring) harmonies. In case anyone gets confused, as far as I understand it, there are no piano quartets Nos. 1 & 2. This Quartet No. 3  was preceded by two string quartets (in F major and in A minor), from the late 30s / early 40s, and recorded by the Quatuor Parisii (on an OPP Naïve CD).

The transcriptions of two of Hahn's most famous mélodies for violin (À Chloris) and cello (Si mes vers avaient des ailes) and piano are much less interesting, as they emphasise the "salon" side of the music, and rob us of the possibility of appreciating Hahn's considerable talent in setting French verse to music.

A highly recommended release for anyone interested in Hahn's music.

The release has been favourably reviewed on musicweb-international (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/May/Hahn_chamber_CHRCD139.htm) and by The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/19/home-listening-reynaldo-hahn-james-baillieu-belcea-quartet-shostakovich-lady-macbeth-mtsensk-iplayer).
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on July 21, 2018, 01:52:57 AM
Cross-posted from the WAYLTN thread:

Quote from: ritter on July 21, 2018, 01:43:15 AM
Some Reynaldo Hahn this morning:

[asin]B000A7XJPQ[/asin]
Venezia is a delightful cycle of six songs (on texts in Venetian dialect), famously first performed on a gondola (how they managed to get an upright piano on to a gondola beats me), during the trip that Hahn, Proust and other members of the Parisian glitzy set undertook to the city on the lagoon in 1900–a trip that is evicated in À la recherche... . This is the recording to have, as all the other ones I know either omit the sixth song (the joyful La primavera), which requires several voices, or arrange it for a solo voice.

[asin]B00015U6BC[/asin]
Portraits de peintres was Hahn and Proust's only artistic collaboration, a set of four piano pieces written by the 20 year old Hahn to accompany Proust's four prose poems on Cuyp, Potter, van Dyck and Watteau. Here they are beautifully performed by Ronald Brautigam sans récitation*.

* As opposed to the "Mélodrames Français" CD on the Accord label mentioned a couple of posts above. The absence of the spoken text probably makes the work more approachable to non-French speakers,
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Zeus on July 21, 2018, 10:30:03 AM
Is anyone familiar with this disc?
Hahn: Oeuvres Concertantes, Vol. 1
Maguelone Music

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51E0rRZeVGL._SS500.jpg)

I can't say I've even heard of the record label Maguelone Music.  But they seem to have a few interesting Hahn discs, all recorded around 2001 to 2002.  I have no idea about the recording quality or musicianship.

Any thoughts would be appreciated, as I'm considering buying it.

By the way, I don't have a lot of Hahn (yet), but I have and love Susan Grahams's album of Hahn's songs on Sony; and I have also the Timpani disc with Le bal de Beatrice d'Este.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on July 21, 2018, 11:43:53 AM
Quote from: Bubbles on July 21, 2018, 10:30:03 AM
Is anyone familiar with this disc?
Hahn: Oeuvres Concertantes, Vol. 1
Maguelone Music
2013

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51E0rRZeVGL._SS500.jpg)

I can't say I've even heard of the record label Maguelone Music.  But they seem to have a few interesting Hahn discs, all recorded around 2001 to 2002.  I have no idea about the recording quality or musicianship.

Any thoughts would be appreciated, as I'm considering buying it.

By the way, I don't have a lot of Hahn (yet), but I have and love Susan Grahams's album of Hahn's songs on Sony; and I have also the Timpani disc with Le bal de Beatrice d'Este.
The Maguelone label seems to be a boutique operation specialising in French composers (some of them really obscure). They've done a series of Hahn CDs (including several premiere recordings), a couple of Jolivet releases, and—rather fittingly—some CDs of music by Brahms. In my experience, I've had no quibbles about  the production values and musicianship.

A couple of years ago, I caught the Hahn Piano Concerto (started) on Spanish National Radio and said to myself "What a lovely performance!". It turned out to be this one by Angéline Pondepeyre under Fernand Quattrocchi (which had been in my collection for years). The alternatives are Magda Tagliaferro under the composer, and Stephen Coombs on Hyperion (the latter restores some measures missing from the other recordings).

The Piano Concerto is IMHO one of Hahn's best works in any genre, where his very personal blend of nostalgia and carelessness finds a very accomplished expression. I'm less fond of the more "conventional" Violin Concerto, and should revisit the Suite hongroise soon, as I don't have any particular recollection of the piece.

There's a  detailed, positive review (perhaps less enthusiastic than me about the performance of the Plano Concerto)  of this CD by Ian Lace in musicweb-international (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Mar02/Hahn.htm).

Regards
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Zeus on July 21, 2018, 11:51:47 AM
Super!  Thanks!

I'm about to pull the trigger on Le rossignol éperdu (Eidi, Timpani) at the moment – I really like the sound samples I listened to.

But at the moment I am listening to Le bal de Beatrice d'Este!
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau PIANO MUSIC
Post by: snyprrr on July 23, 2018, 06:32:15 AM
Is anyone familiar with Hahn's big Piano Work... some "bird" thing...??...

Earl Wild and Billy Eidi have recordings... anyone???
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Zeus on July 23, 2018, 11:23:17 AM
I recently bought Eidi's Le rossignol éperdu (Timpani), and I think it's really great.

I can't imagine Wild's version could be better.  I'm completely satisfied.

[asin] B00NO5BVEC[/asin]

Ok, maybe the cover could be better.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on September 30, 2019, 06:28:15 AM
Cross-posted from the "New Releases" thread:

Quote from: ritter on September 30, 2019, 06:13:06 AM
The Palezzetto Bru Zane - Centre de Musique Romatique Française will be issuing a 4 CD set of the complete songs of Reynaldo Hahn, with baritone Tassis Christoyannis and Jeff Cohen at the piano.

(https://d27t0qkxhe4r68.cloudfront.net/t_900/bruzanebz2002.jpg?1568290522)

AFAIK, this is the first such traversal of Reynaldo's mélodies on record. The excellent Hyperion set (with Graham Johnson at the piano and several distiguished soloists, including Felicty Lott) did not claim to be complete
This release coincides with a "Reynaldo Hahn Festival" the Palazzetto Bru Zane is holding this season. Details can be found here (https://bru-zane.com/en/ciclo/ciclo-reynaldo-hahn/#). Interestingly, the festival will include performances of Hahn's early operas L'île du rêve (an "idylle polynésienne" based on Pierre Loti) and La Carmélite (on a libretto by Catulle Mendès--I don't expect that to be great poetry, Mendès's text for Chabrier's Gwendoline being one of the worst librettos I've ever come across  ::)). Neither of these pieces has ever been recorded AFAIK. The Bru Zane website mentions that both works will appear in their (lavishly produced) "Opéra Français" collection of CDs housed within hardback books with a wealth of essays, background information and librettos of the works presented.

Also, the Palazzetto Bru Zane  recorded in September in Avignon the comédie musicale Ô mon bel inconnu i (libretto by Sacha Guitry), with Véronique Gens among the cast. The release should be imminent.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: pjme on October 01, 2019, 09:51:43 AM
(https://anghamicoverart1.akamaized.net/?id=230895&size=296)

This cheap EMI cd has an excellent recording of Le bal de Béatrice d'Este. It is a 1974 recording of the Orchestre de Paris and Jean Pierre Jacquillat conducting.
I see that, already in 2015 I, sang my praises of the violinconcerto. The slow movement ("Chant d'amour", no less ) I find meltingly beautiful.
And I think this short choral work "O fons Bandusiae" needs a good recording...

https://www.youtube.com/v/aG9UYLweop8
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: pjme on October 02, 2019, 02:07:47 AM
I rather like Mel Odom's art.
Let's call it Neo- Art Déco / neo-Art nouveau and it is  quite erotic. That suits Hahn well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Odom_(artist)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDo48nkPhPU/Tc3XhMszPbI/AAAAAAAAHAA/jTxFOA4_b80/s400/0130.jpg)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5xEi1O7w8Y/Tc3XdgyxIbI/AAAAAAAAG_Y/nY9fgJckYiw/s400/0030.jpg)

Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: SymphonicAddict on October 02, 2019, 11:28:49 AM
Quote from: pjme on October 02, 2019, 02:07:47 AM
I rather like Mel Odom's art.
Let's call it Neo- Art Déco / neo-Art nouveau and it is  quite erotic. That suits Hahn well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Odom_(artist)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TDo48nkPhPU/Tc3XhMszPbI/AAAAAAAAHAA/jTxFOA4_b80/s400/0130.jpg)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W5xEi1O7w8Y/Tc3XdgyxIbI/AAAAAAAAG_Y/nY9fgJckYiw/s400/0030.jpg)

Striking paintings. Timpani label has at least one featuring his art:

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81pKDuvC6pL._SL1429_.jpg)
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on October 03, 2019, 11:37:02 AM
Quote from: pjme on October 01, 2019, 09:51:43 AM
...
And I think this short choral work "O fons Bandusiae" needs a good recording...

https://www.youtube.com/v/aG9UYLweop8
Lovely little piece. Yes, it would be Niceto have a good recording of it...
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on November 30, 2019, 08:40:07 AM
Cross-posted from the reading thread:

Quote from: ritter on November 17, 2019, 07:20:43 AM
More proustian stuff:

[asin]8804716207[/asin]

Lorenza Foschini enjoyed an international success some years ago with Proust's Overcoat, which dealt with Jacques Guérin's obsessive quest to save all things related to Proust (manuscripts and personal belongings) from dispersion or destruction. In this new (short—169 pages) book, she deals with Proust's and Reynaldo Hahn's romance and later friendship. Very well written, in short chapters that are precisely located and dated (and profusely annotated, with clear indication of the sources of each and every statement made), this is a very enjoyable read. The book (released in September 2019) was immediately translated into French, and I expect an English version will appear soon.
I just finished this short book, and it was an immensely enjoyable read. Still, I'm afraid that Signora Foschini isn't really that familiar with Reynaldo's music (which, granted, is not the subject matter of the book—Proust's Recherche doesn't get much attention either), and perhaps exaggerates Hahn's apparent bitterness when, years after his romantic liaison with Proust had ended and had morphed into a close friendship, the latter became a lauded author, while Hahn didn't fulfill  the promise of his enfant prodige years and failed to be regarded as a composer of the first rank. Still, the author does correctly emphasise  the nostalgic component of much of Hahn's music. In any event, a well researched and well written book, which I highly recommend (as mentioned in my quoted post above, I'd expect an English translation to appear relatively quickly).
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: kyjo on December 02, 2019, 11:55:47 AM
My exposure to Hahn's music is rather limited, though I very much enjoy his graciously melodic Violin Sonata (what an opening theme!) and Piano Quintet. I remember being rather disappointed by his Piano Concerto.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on December 02, 2019, 12:47:01 PM
Quote from: kyjo on December 02, 2019, 11:55:47 AM
My exposure to Hahn's music is rather limited, though I very much enjoy his graciously melodic Violin Sonata (what an opening theme!) and Piano Quintet. I remember being rather disappointed by his Piano Concerto.
I should revisit the Violin Sonata soon. The thing is, I have this (irrational  ::)) aversion to the violin + piano combination. I can't think of any violin sonata I really like ( Enescu's Third Sonata, « dans le caractère populaire roumain » is the one to come closest  :-[).

If you enjoy the Piano Quintet, do explore the Piano Quartet (Hahn at the top of his game IMHO), and the Second SQ in F major. A new recording of it, along with the Debussy SQ and a (curious) arrangement of the Ariettes oubliées for string quartet, performed by the hitherto unknown to me Noga Quartet will be released by Challenge Records at the end of this week.

(https://shop.new-art.nl/content/img/new_products/1571922834.jpg)
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Symphonic Addict on December 02, 2019, 03:05:40 PM
The charming Violin Concerto is not to be missed either. The 2nd movement is sublime.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: kyjo on December 02, 2019, 04:52:29 PM
Quote from: ritter on December 02, 2019, 12:47:01 PM
I should revisit the Violin Sonata soon. The thing is, I have this (irrational  ::)) aversion to the violin + piano combination. I can't think of any violin sonata I really like ( Enescu's Third Sonata, « dans le caractère populaire roumain » is the one to come closest  :-[).

If you enjoy the Piano Quintet, do explore the Piano Quartet (Hahn at the top of his game IMHO), and the Second SQ in F major. A new recording of it, along with the Debussy SQ and a (curious) arrangement of the Ariettes oubliées for string quartet, performed by the hitherto unknown to me Noga Quartet will be released by Challenge Records at the end of this week.

(https://shop.new-art.nl/content/img/new_products/1571922834.jpg)

Violin+piano isn't one of my favorite combinations either, but Hahn's Violin Sonata is an exception and is probably among my top 10 violin sonatas. I've heard the Piano Quartet, and IIRC it struck me as pleasant but not particularly memorable. I'll have to check out the string quartets next.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: pjme on December 03, 2019, 01:29:06 AM
Hahn is a master in creating little gems.

https://www.youtube.com/v/badkMGiLGdk

https://www.youtube.com/v/-8K6pRWProg

I like the tenor's name: Enguerrand de Hys (less so the rolled "r"s..)
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Papy Oli on December 03, 2019, 02:20:01 AM
Quote from: pjme on December 03, 2019, 01:29:06 AM
Hahn is a master in creating little gems.

That's beautiful, that...and i am usually not keen on hearing classical singing in my own language.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: pjme on December 03, 2019, 02:26:36 AM
Ah, so you are French?  ???
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Papy Oli on December 03, 2019, 02:35:25 AM
Quote from: pjme on December 03, 2019, 02:26:36 AM
Ah, so you are French?  ???

Last time I checked, yes  :laugh:
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: kyjo on December 03, 2019, 09:22:19 AM
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on December 02, 2019, 03:05:40 PM
The charming Violin Concerto is not to be missed either. The 2nd movement is sublime.

That's on my radar to explore, for sure!
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on December 08, 2019, 12:03:29 PM
Quote from: ritter on September 30, 2019, 06:13:06 AM
The Palezzetto Bru Zane - Centre de Musique Romatique Française will be issuing a 4 CD set of the complete songs of Reynaldo Hahn, with baritone Tassis Christoyannis and Jeff Cohen at the piano.

(https://d27t0qkxhe4r68.cloudfront.net/t_900/bruzanebz2002.jpg?1568290522)

AFAIK, this is the first such traversal of Reynaldo's mélodies on record. The excellent Hyperion set (with Graham Johnson at the piano and several distiguished soloists, including Felicty Lott) did not claim to be complete.

Presto gives October 25 as release date.
Michael Cookson has reviewed this new set for MusicWeb International  (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Dec/Hahn_songs_BZ2002.htm). I agree with Mr. Cookson's generally favourable review, but also coincide with him that having the—otherwise excellent—Tassis Christoyannis in all the songs does lead to some monotony (particularly since the composer specified different voice types for songs within sone of his collections). Additionally, it must be noted that the set is not absolutely complete, as those songs that require choral accompaniment (some of the Douze rondels and of the Études latines) are omitted. Also, the last number of Venezia, La Primavera, is deprived of the—I presume ad libitum—supporting voices (AFAIK, the only recording presenting it with additional voices is Anthony Rolfe-Johnson's with Graham Johnson on Hyperion).

In any case, this is a valuable set, produced with great care, and with wonderful performances by both Mr. Christoyannis and pianist Jeff Cohen.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on February 19, 2020, 11:02:34 AM
Another, very positive review of the "Complete Songs" set on MusicWeb International, this time by Stephen Greenbank: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/Feb/Hahn_songs_BZ2002.htm
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Mirror Image on February 19, 2020, 01:01:48 PM
G'day to you, Rafael. Out of curiosity, what is so attractive about Hahn's music? I heard a few works (can't remember what they are at the moment), but charming comes to mind, but that's about it. I don't hear a particular individualistic composer. As you may (or may not know), I'm really into harmony and composers that had a remarkable ear for fascinating chordal sequences or colors. I don't really hear this in Hahn's music or, at least, the works I've heard from him.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on February 20, 2020, 01:42:41 AM
Quote from: Mirror Image on February 19, 2020, 01:01:48 PM
G'day to you, Rafael. Out of curiosity, what is so attractive about Hahn's music? I heard a few works (can't remember what they are at the moment), but charming comes to mind, but that's about it. I don't hear a particular individualistic composer. As you may (or may not know), I'm really into harmony and composers that had a remarkable ear for fascinating chordal sequences or colors. I don't really hear this in Hahn's music or, at least, the works I've heard from him.
Hello John!

I tried to explain the allure that Hahn's music has for me in the OP of this thread (probably no too eloquently  :-[).

"... I haven't answered your question: what does his music sound like? We're in a world that rejects any sort of harmonic innovation, but that is well crafted and has a definite charm, even if at times it turns (deliberately) into pastiche and, at others (seldom), can almost be kitsch   I'd say it's completely imbued by nostalgia, pleasant to the ear,  and deliberately démodé by the time it was composed. But, with these features, Hahn does have a very personal style, which could not be confused with that of any other composer. The sound world of a certain period  in France that had ended long before Hahn stopped composing, and directed to some social circles ("le grand monde") whose influence had also vanished by then."

Reading this now, I think there's a couple of things to add (or to amend). Firstly, it is clear that harmonic innovation is certainly not Reynaldo's thing, but there are (in his late chamber music) some very subtle and rather accomplished harmonic twists to be found, which add interest to the music. And, as our former GMGer Spineur (whose departure is much lamented) points out in this same thread, Hahn was a master in setting (usually top-quality) French poetry to music. Some of his mélodies are IMHO among the best in the whole repertoire. Finally, there's an undeniable melodic gift.

Apart from this, as also mentioned in the OP, there's some extra-musical aspects that make Reynaldo's figure alluring to me: we both come from a similar cultural background, and are attracted to a certain milieu (the whole Proust world and French artistic circles of the early 20th century). He, of course, became an integral part of that world, while I have not  ;).

Where I disagree with you is in the lack of individuality in his music. The features I try to highlight in his style do make for a very personal voice, unmistakably his.

Having said all this, you're probably right: Hahn doesn't seem to be the type of composer you would "get into", but I think you shouldn't dismiss him completely either.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Mirror Image on February 20, 2020, 06:52:12 AM
Quote from: ritter on February 20, 2020, 01:42:41 AM
Hello John!

I tried to explain the allure that Hahn's music has for me in the OP of this thread (probably no too eloquently  :-[).

"... I haven't answered your question: what does his music sound like? We're in a world that rejects any sort of harmonic innovation, but that is well crafted and has a definite charm, even if at times it turns (deliberately) into pastiche and, at others (seldom), can almost be kitsch   I'd say it's completely imbued by nostalgia, pleasant to the ear,  and deliberately démodé by the time it was composed. But, with these features, Hahn does have a very personal style, which could not be confused with that of any other composer. The sound world of a certain period  in France that had ended long before Hahn stopped composing, and directed to some social circles ("le grand monde") whose influence had also vanished by then."

Reading this now, I think there's a couple of things to add (or to amend). Firstly, it is clear that harmonic innovation is certainly not Reynaldo's thing, but there are (in his late chamber music) some very subtle and rather accomplished harmonic twists to be found, which add interest to the music. And, as our former GMGer Spineur (whose departure is much lamented) points out in this same thread, Hahn was a master in setting (usually top-quality) French poetry to music. Some of his mélodies are IMHO among the best in the whole repertoire. Finally, there's an undeniable melodic gift.

Apart from this, as also mentioned in the OP, there's some extra-musical aspects that make Reynaldo's figure alluring to me: we both come from a similar cultural background, and and are attracted to a certain milieu (the whole Proust world and French artistic circles of the early 20th century). He, of course, became an integral part of that world, why I have not  ;).

Where I disagree with you is in the lack of individuality in his music. The features I try to highlight in his style do make for a very personal voice, unmistakably his.

Having said all this, you're probably right: Hahn doesn't seem to be the type of composer you would "get into", but I think you shouldn't dismiss him completely either.

Thanks for the well-considered response, Rafael. I think your last sentence pretty much sums it for me. His harmonic language just isn't attractive to me or, rather the way he constructs his harmonies. Poulenc wasn't harmonically adventurous either compared to his contemporaries, but it's the way he constructed these harmonic sequences in conjunction with his incredible melodic gift that I find attractive. I now remember what I heard of Hahn's: the Violin Sonata and the song cycle, Les feuilles blessées. I believe I have heard a few of the orchestral works, too, but I can't remember those now. It's difficult not to dismiss a composer that doesn't do much for me, but I suppose I'll try again at some point.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Christo on February 20, 2020, 11:15:48 AM
Quote from: Papy Oli on December 03, 2019, 02:35:25 AM
Last time I checked, yes  :laugh:

Good to know, hadn't realized it before (actually hate this misty hiding behind our masks, but OK): bien étonné de se trouver ensemble, Papy.   ;D
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Florestan on February 20, 2020, 11:53:17 AM
Quote from: ritter on February 20, 2020, 01:42:41 AM
Hello John!

I tried to explain the allure that Hahn's music has for me in the OP of this thread (probably no too eloquently  :-[).

"... I haven't answered your question: what does his music sound like? We're in a world that rejects any sort of harmonic innovation, but that is well crafted and has a definite charm, even if at times it turns (deliberately) into pastiche and, at others (seldom), can almost be kitsch   I'd say it's completely imbued by nostalgia, pleasant to the ear,  and deliberately démodé by the time it was composed. But, with these features, Hahn does have a very personal style, which could not be confused with that of any other composer. The sound world of a certain period  in France that had ended long before Hahn stopped composing, and directed to some social circles ("le grand monde") whose influence had also vanished by then."

Reading this now, I think there's a couple of things to add (or to amend). Firstly, it is clear that harmonic innovation is certainly not Reynaldo's thing, but there are (in his late chamber music) some very subtle and rather accomplished harmonic twists to be found, which add interest to the music. And, as our former GMGer Spineur (whose departure is much lamented) points out in this same thread, Hahn was a master in setting (usually top-quality) French poetry to music. Some of his mélodies are IMHO among the best in the whole repertoire. Finally, there's an undeniable melodic gift.

Apart from this, as also mentioned in the OP, there's some extra-musical aspects that make Reynaldo's figure alluring to me: we both come from a similar cultural background, and and are attracted to a certain milieu (the whole Proust world and French artistic circles of the early 20th century). He, of course, became an integral part of that world, why I have not  ;).

Where I disagree with you is in the lack of individuality in his music. The features I try to highlight in his style do make for a very personal voice, unmistakably his.

Having said all this, you're probably right: Hahn doesn't seem to be the type of composer you would "get into", but I think you shouldn't dismiss him completely either.

Excellent post, Rafael. Needless to say, Hahn is among my favorite 20th century composers. I simply love characters like him, Wolf-Ferrari, Paul Graener or Sergei Bortkiewicz who went on writing music which could have been written 50 years before and did it not because of any reactionarism opposed in principle to modernism but because they could do no other.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Florestan on February 20, 2020, 11:55:19 AM
Quote from: Mirror Image on February 20, 2020, 06:52:12 AM
Thanks for the well-considered response, Rafael. I think your last sentence pretty much sums it for me. His harmonic language just isn't attractive to me or, rather the way he constructs his harmonies. Poulenc wasn't harmonically adventurous either compared to his contemporaries, but it's the way he constructed these harmonic sequences in conjunction with his incredible melodic gift that I find attractive. I now remember what I heard of Hahn's: the Violin Sonata and the song cycle, Les feuilles blessées. I believe I have heard a few of the orchestral works, too, but I can't remember those now. It's difficult not to dismiss a composer that doesn't do much for me, but I suppose I'll try again at some point.

Given that lately you've been into solo piano music, you should try Le rossignol eperdu. If it doesn't do anything for you, then kiss Hahn good bye and that's it.  :)
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Pohjolas Daughter on February 20, 2020, 12:58:49 PM
Ritter and others here,

Have you heard any of the recordings from this album?  It was my first (and so far only) exposure to Hahn's works.  Alas, I haven't heard any other types of music from him...am curious now!

I love Susan Graham's voice and interpretations of Hahn (and other French and non-French works/composers).   :)

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/811MtTRa5sL._SY355_.jpg)

Best wishes,

PD
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Florestan on February 20, 2020, 01:04:09 PM
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on February 20, 2020, 12:58:49 PM
Ritter and others here,

Have you heard any of the recordings from this album?  It was my first (and so far only) exposure to Hahn's works.  Alas, I haven't heard any other types of music from him...am curious now!

I love Susan Graham's voice and interpretations of Hahn (and other French and non-French works/composers).   :)

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/811MtTRa5sL._SY355_.jpg)

Best wishes,

PD

Have it, love it.

Hugs.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Pohjolas Daughter on February 20, 2020, 01:08:45 PM
Quote from: Florestan on February 20, 2020, 01:04:09 PM
Have it, love it.

Hugs.
:)
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Florestan on February 20, 2020, 01:13:44 PM
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on February 20, 2020, 01:08:45 PM
:)

Try this:

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61iU6N28GuL.jpg)

and let us know what you think.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Mirror Image on February 20, 2020, 06:40:12 PM
Quote from: Florestan on February 20, 2020, 11:55:19 AM
Given that lately you've been into solo piano music, you should try Le rossignol eperdu. If it doesn't do anything for you, then kiss Hahn good bye and that's it.  :)

I'll give that work a listen, Andrei. Thanks for the recommendation.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on February 21, 2020, 12:15:48 AM
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on February 20, 2020, 12:58:49 PM
Ritter and others here,

Have you heard any of the recordings from this album?  It was my first (and so far only) exposure to Hahn's works.  Alas, I haven't heard any other types of music from him...am curious now!

I love Susan Graham's voice and interpretations of Hahn (and other French and non-French works/composers).   :)

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/811MtTRa5sL._SY355_.jpg)

Best wishes,

PD
I agree with Florestan. This is an excellent overview of Hahn's songs, beautifully  performed by Graham and Vignoles.   :)

Best regards,
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Pohjolas Daughter on February 21, 2020, 02:51:48 AM
Quote from: Florestan on February 20, 2020, 01:13:44 PM
Try this:

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61iU6N28GuL.jpg)

and let us know what you think.
I'll see if I can round up a copy to listen to--thanks for the rec!

PD
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Pohjolas Daughter on February 21, 2020, 02:58:16 AM
Quote from: ritter on February 21, 2020, 12:15:48 AM
I agree with Florestan. This is am excellent overview of Hahn's songs, beuatifully  performed by Graham and Vignoles.   :)

Best regards,

Happy to hear that the founder of this thread enjoys this album too!

A number of years ago, I heard her perform Berlioz's "Les Nuits d'Été"....wonderful!  A special evening.   :)

PD
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: vers la flamme on February 26, 2020, 03:16:53 PM
I've never heard a note of Hahn's music, but hearing of Pierre Boulez's passionate dismissal of his music has piqued my curiosity. Usually, the composers he felt strongly about, good or bad, are worth a listen or two ;D

To all of the Hahn fans out there—what are two or three of his essential works? I also do not understand the thread title and would be curious if someone could explain it to me... what do water jets have to do with Reynaldo Hahn?  ::)
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Florestan on February 27, 2020, 12:15:07 AM
Quote from: vers la flamme on February 26, 2020, 03:16:53 PM
To all of the Hahn fans out there—what are two or three of his essential works?

I'll give you three essential recordings instead:

(https://img.discogs.com/LRNzdGB6SI6GFeAJ2fgCRkB8gyQ=/fit-in/600x597/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-12026507-1526822891-5912.jpeg.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81pKDuvC6pL._SL1429_.jpg) (https://albumart.primephonic.com/s900/5099706016823.jpg)

Quote
I also do not understand the thread title and would be curious if someone could explain it to me... what do water jets have to do with Reynaldo Hahn?  ::)

On one occasion, the poet Paul Verlaine wept when hearing Hahn's setting of some of his poems. The poet Stephane Mallarme, a witness of that event, wrote on the spot the following stanza:

                                Le pleur qui chante au langage
                                Du poète, Reynaldo
                                Hahn, tendrement le dégage
                                Comme en l'allée un jet d'eau.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on February 27, 2020, 01:57:56 AM
Quote from: vers la flamme on February 26, 2020, 03:16:53 PM
I've never heard a note of Hahn's music, but hearing of Pierre Boulez's passionate dismissal of his music has piqued my curiosity. Usually, the composers he felt strongly about, good or bad, are worth a listen or two ;D

To all of the Hahn fans out there—what are two or three of his essential works? I also do not understand the thread title and would be curious if someone could explain it to me... what do water jets have to do with Reynaldo Hahn?  ::)
Quote from: Florestan on February 27, 2020, 12:15:07 AM
I'll give you three essential recordings instead:

(https://img.discogs.com/LRNzdGB6SI6GFeAJ2fgCRkB8gyQ=/fit-in/600x597/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-12026507-1526822891-5912.jpeg.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81pKDuvC6pL._SL1429_.jpg) (https://albumart.primephonic.com/s900/5099706016823.jpg)

On one occasion, the poet Paul Verlaine wept when hearing Hahn's setting of some of his poems. The poet Stephane Mallarme, a witness of that event, wrote on the spot the following stanza:

                                Le pleur qui chante au langage
                                Du poète, Reynaldo
                                Hahn, tendrement le dégage
                                Comme en l'allée un jet d'eau.

I second Florestan's recommendations (even I'm not particularly fond of Le rossignol éperdu myself). The recital by Susan Graham is an excellent survey of Reynaldo's mélodies, beautifully sung and played. The Piano Quartet is one of Hahn's best chamber compositions, and if you like it and wish to explore that facet of the composer's output further, then the Piano Quintet and the String Quartet No. 2 are also worthwhile:

[asin]B079B2ZDRS[/asin][asin]B07Z74DLJZ[/asin] 

And then there's Le bal de Béatrice d'Este (available in several recordings, including the one pictured a couple of posts above--in reply to a question by Pohjolas Daughter).

But, I insist, Florestan's recommendations are an excellent entry point to Hahn's music.

Regards,

Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: vers la flamme on February 27, 2020, 03:21:25 AM
Great! Thanks, Florestan, and Ritter. I am glad y'all provided recordings rather than just works so I know exactly what to look out for. That Hyperion disc with the chamber music looks really good, I'll sample that one first, and then check out some of the songs—it seems he's primarily remembered as a song-writer, no? That Susan Graham disc can be had really cheap so I think that will be one of the first to check out, too.

edit: OK, yes. I'm definitely getting this Susan Graham disc. I love what I'm hearing.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Pohjolas Daughter on February 28, 2020, 03:23:18 AM
Quote from: vers la flamme on February 27, 2020, 03:21:25 AM
Great! Thanks, Florestan, and Ritter. I am glad y'all provided recordings rather than just works so I know exactly what to look out for. That Hyperion disc with the chamber music looks really good, I'll sample that one first, and then check out some of the songs—it seems he's primarily remembered as a song-writer, no? That Susan Graham disc can be had really cheap so I think that will be one of the first to check out, too.

edit: OK, yes. I'm definitely getting this Susan Graham disc. I love what I'm hearing.
Yeah!   ;D

I'll have to fish around on youtube (and via inter-library loan) to see if I can listen to some of his chamber works.

PD
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: pjme on October 07, 2020, 07:02:59 AM
(http://www.classiquenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ile-du-reve-hahn-cd-niquet-dubois-cd-critique-classiquenews-CLIC-de-classiquenews-octobre-2020-BZ-1042-PHYSICAL-front-OK-654x1024-cd-classiquenews-opera-critique.jpg)

REYNALDO HAHN : L'île du rêve, 1898. 1 LIVRE DISQUE, 1 cd, 127 pages. Enregistrement réalisé au Prinzregententheater, Munich, les 24 et 26 janvier 2020.

The French press is happy to have this work in good sound. Alas, not all the singers get favorable comments..
http://www.classiquenews.com/cd-evenement-reynaldo-hahn-lile-du-reve-dubois-sargsyan-niquet-2020-1-cd-opera-francais-pal-bru-zane/

"L'Île du rêve condenses into an hour of music all the charms of French Romantic opera. The youthful Reynaldo Hahn – just seventeen at the time – reveals colouristic talents inherited from Bizet, a prosodic originality anticipating Debussy, and above all the passionate outpourings he learnt from his teacher Jules Massenet. On reading through the score of L'Île du rêve, Massenet told Hahn: 'To have written that, you must be a poet.' The plot recounts a French naval officer's love affair with a young Polynesian girl he is forced to abandon. This subject – also treated musically by Puccini (Madama Butterfly) and Delibes (Lakmé) – is approached in an almost Symbolist style: the Romanticism of the music contrasts with a contemplative, introspective treatment of the narration."

You can hear a teaser at:
https://bru-zane.com/en/pubblicazione/lile-du-reve/


Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on October 19, 2020, 11:44:50 AM
Cross-posted from the New Releases thread:

Quote from: ritter on October 19, 2020, 11:43:10 AM
A new recording of chamber music by Reynaldo Hahn (the two String Quartets, and the Romance in A major for violin and piano):

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61UgEv6t7fL._SL1000_.jpg)

This is the link (https://www.amazon.fr/Hahn-Tr%C3%A9sors-Retrouv%C3%A9s-Quatuor-Tchalik/dp/B08KQ37DZN/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dchild=1&keywords=HAHN+Tchalik&qid=1602984977&s=music&sr=1-1) to Amazon France.

The artists and the label are unknown to me. The CD is released "with the support of the Palazzetto Bru Zane".

Release date is October 23rd.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: kyjo on October 21, 2020, 08:01:49 AM
I'll have to investigate his SQs. I can't emphasize enough what a great work his Piano Quintet is! Truly first-rate stuff. I also greatly enjoy his Violin Concerto and Sonata.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Florestan on October 21, 2020, 08:08:05 AM
Quote from: kyjo on October 21, 2020, 08:01:49 AM
I'll have to investigate his SQs. I can't emphasize enough what a great work his Piano Quintet is! Truly first-rate stuff. I also greatly enjoy his Violin Concerto and Sonata.

Don't forget Le rossignol eperdu, 4 books of charming piano pieces.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on October 21, 2020, 09:51:22 AM
Quote from: kyjo on October 21, 2020, 08:01:49 AM
I'll have to investigate his SQs. I can't emphasize enough what a great work his Piano Quintet is! Truly first-rate stuff. I also greatly enjoy his Violin Concerto and Sonata.
IMHO, the two SQs are Reynaldo at his very best (especially SQ No. 2). They have a nostalgic grace, a  certain calssical purity, whcih makes them disarming to me, and they are far removed from the salon-music quasi-kitsch atmosphere that e.g. some of the piano pieces almost (but not quite) inhabit.

Do give the SQs a try.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Florestan on October 21, 2020, 11:00:00 AM
Quote from: ritter on October 21, 2020, 09:51:22 AM
IMHO, the two SQs are Reynaldo at his very best (especially SQ No. 2). They have a nostalgic grace, a  certain calssical purity, whcih makes them disarming to me,

In short, they are Mozartian.  8)

Quote
and they are far removed from the salon-music quasi-kitsch atmosphere that e.g. some of the piano pieces almost (but not quite) inhabit.

If I were a musicologist-cum-cultural-historian the first book I'd write were titled In Praise of Salon Music: From Mozart to Rachmaninoff. This best seller mops the floor with any preconceived notions about salon music being kitschy and shallow.  ;D

Muy buenas tardes, Rafael. Tienes correos, desde algunos dias.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on May 01, 2021, 02:42:24 PM
A major new biography of Reynaldo Hahn will be released next week by Fayard (the French publishing house with a most impressive series of books on music):

(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41ZenI13FjS._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)

The author, Philippe Blay, is widely considered as the leading living authority on Hahn. He's already published to books on the composer: Marcel Proust et Reynaldo Hahn - une creation à quatre mains and—as editor— Reynaldo Hahn: un eclectique en musique (the latter being probably the most important addition to the bibliography on Hahn of recent years).
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Stürmisch Bewegt on May 01, 2021, 05:15:31 PM
Thanks for alerting us to that biography, ritter.  Most interesting.  I love his mélodies, though I find them best appreciated in small batches, amuse-bouches, if you will.  And of course his Ciboulette, which is both witty and endearing as well as loads of fun, worthy of any music fan's attention. 
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on June 24, 2021, 04:35:16 AM
Cross-posted from the opera sub-forum:

Quote from: ritter on June 24, 2021, 04:31:56 AM
Revisiting Reynaldo Hahn's Le marchand de Venise, while reading the chapter dedicated to this work in Philippe Blay's biography of the composer.

(https://www.premiereopera.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/14073.jpg)
This is the only recording of the work circulating on CD, made live in 1978 at the Salle Favart with the forces of the Paris Opéra (where the work was first performed in 1935). It's conducted by Manuel Rosenthal, and has  Michèle Command, Annick Dutertre, Éliane Lublin, Christian Pouliac, Armand Arabian, Marc Vento, Léonard Pezzino, Tibère Raffali et al. as soloists. The sound of the broadcast (only available from "private"  sources) is perfectly acceptable.

What a lovely and peculiar work this is! It takes the focus away from Shylock's tragedy, and instead puts the love stories of the three couples at the centre. All this in Mozartian structure (a sort of The Rake's Progress avant la lettre?), but with Hahn's hyper-conservative, yet simultaneously highly personal, musical style (and great melodic invention). The work clearly places the singing in the forefront (no symphonic music drama this), but the discreet orchestral tapestry is very effective and delicately scored.

Interesting to read (in Blay's book) the reactions of critics at the time of the premiere, ranging from "absolute masterpiece" to "boring, boring, boring" and "a bloated operetta". I personally love the piece and, particularly, some of its set numbers (the quartet "L'amour, qui pourtant n'est pas bête" and the closing, Don Giovanni-like septet "Car il faut, que l'amour ait le dernier mot") and it certainly is Hahn's magnum opus. A work that deserves wider circulation, and should receive a modern, studio recording (Bru Zane, are you there?  ;)).
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on September 01, 2021, 10:29:47 AM
Pianist Shani Diluka will release a Proust-themed album in late October, with an eclectic program, the centrepiece of which is a new recording of Hahn's Piano Concerto, with the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris conducted  by Hervé Niquet:

(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiOTI0Njg3Mi4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MzAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE2Mjk3OTI0MDl9)
The fact the Hahn's concerto was composed almost a decade after Proust's death IMHO does not detract interest from this release, particularly since we get a new recording of the rather beautiful concerto.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on December 17, 2021, 01:51:34 PM
Impressions — after a first hearing— of this new recording of Hahn's Piano Concerto (cross-posted from the WAYLTN thread):

Quote from: ritter on December 17, 2021, 01:39:54 PM
First listen to this intelligently programmed CD, inspired in the world of Marcel Proust:

(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61HWafplXIL._SL1200_.jpg)

First and foremost: the hitherto unknown to me Shani Diluka is a superb pianist. Her phrasing, clarity of tone, and nuanced handling of dynamics are quite extraordinary. First, and I mean really first, rate!

We start with the Piano Concerto of Reynaldo Hahn, a person very close to Proust throughout his life (even if Proust could not have known this piece, as it was composed after his death). Diluka is excellent as the soloist, capturing the nostalgic mood of this music perfectly. Unfortunately, Hervé Niquet's conducting is not entirely to my liking: tempi that feel slow (even if the timings do not differ much from those of alternative recordings) and, particularly, a lack of "snap" and playfulness when the music livens up (e.g. in the march-like second theme of the first movement). In any case, it's good to have a new recording of this charming concerto, and even more so with such a great soloist.

We then get Debussy's early Rêverie, not among my favourite pieces by the composer, but beautifully played here (as is a more languorous than usual L'Isle joyeuse near the end of the disc). A Hahn trifle, Ninette, goes by almost unnoticed, but Wilhelm Kempff's arrangement of Gluck's Orpheus' Lament is quite wonderful. Nathalie Dessay sings Fauré's Au bord de l'eau really touchingly (she later does Le Secret).

Some more Fauré (the Romance sans paroles No. 3 and Les berceaux arranged by Diluka for solo piano) is also very good, as are the Prélude from Franck's opus 18 (I found this surprisingly enjoyable), a Nocturno by Richard Strauss (billed as a world première recording) and Wagner's Elegie (one of the better of the composer's not too significant or representative piano works). At the end, we get actor Guillaume Gallienne reading the famous madeleine episode from Du côté de chez Swann, with another, more substantial and enjoyable Hahn miniature (Les Rêveries du Prince Églantine from Le Rossignol Éperdu) as a backdrop. It works beautifully (actually almost brought me to tears — what a text!).

What doesn't work that well IMHO is a concocted "Sonate de Vinteuil" for violin and piano, which uses the Hahn Nocturne as its first movement, a quite terrible Ysaÿe Mazurka as the second, and a bland Sérénade Espagnole by Chaminade as its finale. Here we're really in salon music territory, and it's played as such (with an adequate thin tone) by Pierre Fourchenneret. And, of course, the mystery of the "petite phrase" remains unsolved.  :D

Despite the not so fantastic orchestral accompaniment of the concerto, and the failed recreation of the fictional "Sonate de Vinteuil", this generous (81') CD is very enjoyable, and the playing of Mme. Diluka is simply wonderful.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on January 17, 2022, 01:24:50 PM
Michael Cookson reviews —very favourably— Shani Diluka's 'The Proust Album" for MusicWeb International. Read here (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Jan/Diluka-Proust-9029667625.htm).
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Mirror Image on January 17, 2022, 02:28:02 PM
Quote from: ritter on January 17, 2022, 01:24:50 PM
Michael Cookson reviews —very favourably— Shani Diluka's 'The Proust Album" for MusicWeb International. Read here (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Jan/Diluka-Proust-9029667625.htm).

Nice, Rafael. I just bought this recording even though I already had this one in my collection (coupled with the Violin Concerto):

(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzk2ODU3OC4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1Mzl9)
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on January 18, 2022, 07:48:11 AM
A new release (it appeared at the beginning of this month) that can be very interesting, given the artists involved.

(https://storage.highresaudio.com/2022/01/06/remsz4-debussyhah-preview-m3.jpg)

Christiane Karg (a wonderful soprano, whose recording of Ravel's Shéhérazade conducted by David Afkham is excellent IMHO), the Bavarian Radio Chorus, and pianist Gerold Huber (best known for his work with Christian Gerhaher -- they form one superb duo in the lieder repertoire!), give us Reynaldo Hahn's complete Études latines (all ten songs, including the three with choral accompaniment and minor solo contributions--which were omitted from Tassis Christoyannis' traversal for Bru Zane). AFAIK, the complete set has only been recorded twice before: on the Hyperion set of Hahn mélodies with pianist Graham Johnson (Ian Bostridge and Stephen Varcoe alternate in the songs), and by baritone Didier Henry on the Maguelone label.

We also get some Debussy works on the CD, the main ne being the piano version of La Damoiselle élue (which should suit Mrs. Karg's voice and artistry very well).


Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Mirror Image on January 18, 2022, 09:37:53 AM
Quote from: ritter on January 18, 2022, 07:48:11 AM
A new release (it appeared at the beginning of this month) that can be very interesting, given the artists involved.

(https://storage.highresaudio.com/2022/01/06/remsz4-debussyhah-preview-m3.jpg)

Christiane Karg (a wonderful soprano, whose recording of Ravel's Shéhérazade conducted by David Afkham is excellent IMHO), the Bavarian Radio Chorus, and pianist Gerold Huber (best known for his work with Christian Gerhaher -- they form one superb duo in the lieder repertoire!), give us Reynaldo Hahn's complete Études latines (all ten songs, including the three with choral accompaniment and minor solo contributions--which were omitted from Tassis Christoyannis' traversal for Bru Zane). AFAIK, the complete set has only been recorded twice before: on the Hyperion set of Hahn mélodies with pianist Graham Johnson (Ian Bostridge and Stephen Varcoe alternate in the songs), and by baritone Didier Henry on the Maguelone label.

We also get some Debussy works on the CD, the main ne being the piano version of La Damoiselle élue (which should suit Mrs. Karg's voice and artistry very well).

Looks like a nice looking recording. I was certainly considering it when I bought some Hahn recordings the other night. The piano version of La Damoiselle élue is exquisite, but I have several great recordings of it already.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Florestan on January 18, 2022, 11:32:22 AM
Quote from: ritter on January 18, 2022, 07:48:11 AM
A new release (it appeared at the beginning of this month) that can be very interesting, given the artists involved.

(https://storage.highresaudio.com/2022/01/06/remsz4-debussyhah-preview-m3.jpg)

Christiane Karg (a wonderful soprano, whose recording of Ravel's Shéhérazade conducted by David Afkham is excellent IMHO), the Bavarian Radio Chorus, and pianist Gerold Huber (best known for his work with Christian Gerhaher -- they form one superb duo in the lieder repertoire!), give us Reynaldo Hahn's complete Études latines (all ten songs, including the three with choral accompaniment and minor solo contributions--which were omitted from Tassis Christoyannis' traversal for Bru Zane). AFAIK, the complete set has only been recorded twice before: on the Hyperion set of Hahn mélodies with pianist Graham Johnson (Ian Bostridge and Stephen Varcoe alternate in the songs), and by baritone Didier Henry on the Maguelone label.

We also get some Debussy works on the CD, the main ne being the piano version of La Damoiselle élue (which should suit Mrs. Karg's voice and artistry very well).

Many thanks for this most interesting tip, Rafael.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on September 01, 2022, 09:12:27 AM
Cross-posted from the WAYLTN thread.

Quote from: ritter on September 01, 2022, 08:59:28 AM
....

Some piano music [...] this afternoon, with this recent acquisition (first listen):

(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ECCyoTfhL._SL1200_.jpg)

Pavel Kolesnikov's recently released recital of piano music by Reynaldo Hahn (selections from Le Rossignol éperdu and from the Premières valses) has received almost unanimous accolades and (from what I've listened to so far —I'm halfway through the disc) they are fully justified. Kolesnikov plays with elegance, expressiveness, and sensitivity, but without sentimentality. The tempi are generally slower than the ones those familiar with these pieces are used to, and the music gains in weight and substance as a result. The selection of pieces is also very intelligently made, with nine extracts from Le Rossignol followed by six of the waltzes. The CD the concludes with another 10 pieces from Le Rossignol.

I must admit I'm not that keen on the waltzes as compositions (perhaps with the exception with the most substantial one (at 4' plus), Sans rigueur, but they are well played. But the pieces from Le Rossignol make a very coherent cycle, with each one nevertheless having its own "flavour ", and the pianist makes the most out of them individually and in context.

The end effect is to these ears the most satisfying all-Hahn piano CD I've encountered (and I have a very extensive collection of CDs of Reynaldo's music). Highly recommended!
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Mandryka on September 09, 2022, 10:36:46 AM
Can someone help me out? I'm looking for the tracklist to Hahn's own recordings of his songs, the double CD. I have the recordings, but never tagged them.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: MusicTurner on September 09, 2022, 11:47:44 AM
Lists for the Romophone 3CD box can be found on the web (CD 82015-2, from 2000), but you seem to mean a 2 CD set

https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=82015-2
https://reynaldo-h50ahn.net/Html/discographie.htm

A French site says that there are a couple of errors in that list of content, however.

Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Mandryka on September 10, 2022, 12:20:54 AM
What I have is 13 tracks tagged "Reynaldo Hahn sings Reynaldo Hahn" - I vaguely remember it was Romophone.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Mandryka on September 10, 2022, 12:23:38 AM
Eureka! Found a listing

01. R. HAHN - L'enamour�e (lyrics by T. de Banville)
02. R. HAHN - La paix (lyrics by T. de Banville)
03. R. HAHN - Offrande (lyrics by P. Verlaine)
04. Joseph DARCIER - La Tour Saint-Jacques (lyrics by E. Hachin)
05. ANONYMOUS - Musette (17th century)
06. Emmanuel CHABRIER - L'Ile heureuse (lyrics by E. Mikha�l)
07. Charles GOUNOD - Le premier jour de mai (lyrics by J. Passerat)
08. R. HAHN - Offrande (lyrics by P. Verlaine)
09. R. HAHN - "Qu'est-ce qu'il faut pour �tre heureux", from O mon bel
inconnu
10. R. HAHN - L'heure exquise (lyrics by P. Verlaine)
11. R. HAHN - L'enamour�e (lyrics by T. de Banville)
12. R. HAHN - Phyllis (lyrics by Leconte de Lisle)
13. Emile PALADILHE - Psych� (lyrics by P. Corneille)

01-08. Reynaldo Hahn sings and accompanies himself on the piano.
01-03: recorded in 1919 for the "Compagnie Fran�aise du Gramophone"
04-08: recorded in 1909 for the "Compagnie Fran�aise du Gramophone"
09. Arletty's voice is unique and easy to spot! She sings this duet with
R. Hahn.
recorded in 1934 for Path�
10-13. Arthur Endr�ze (baritone), Reynaldo Hahn (piano)
recorded in 1937 for Path�


Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Mandryka on September 10, 2022, 12:24:43 AM
In my head, it's Proust playing the piano. They're in the cork lined bedroom, it's filled with cigarette smoke. Or maybe opium. If anyone wants the recordings, tagged (!), PM me. He was not a great singer, but the whole thing is unbelievably evocative.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: MusicTurner on September 10, 2022, 12:38:25 AM
I didn't know of these recordings, own some modern stuff, but found it interesting, so tried looking them up.
Thanks for bringing the attention to them.
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on October 24, 2022, 01:16:18 AM
In mid-November, Gallimard will be releasing an "anthology" (416 pages) of Reynaldo Hahn's diaries, spanning the years 1890 - trough 1945. The book is edited by leading Hahn specialist Philippe Blay and the great Proust scholar Jean-Yves Tadié.

(https://www.gallimard.fr/var/storage/images/product/22c/product_9782072990007_195x320.jpg)

I presume some extracts of these journals will have appeared in Hahn's lifetime in the (long OOP) book Notes - Journal d'un musicien (Plon, Paris, 1933 - 293 pages).
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: ritter on January 29, 2024, 06:39:04 AM
Interesting comments by our fellow GMGer @Todd on William Youn's recently released recording of Hahn's Piano Concerto (plus the pianist's own arrangements of À Chloris and L'Heure exquise for solo piano, and works by Fauré and Nadia Boulanger).

Quote from: Todd on January 28, 2024, 02:37:40 PM(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/MEDIAX_849526-T3/images/I/41GsgQyPCYL._SX425_SY425_QL70_FMwebp_.jpg)


Ridiculous.  That's a word that popped into mind multiple times while listening to the latest from William Youn, or as I prefer to think of him, Korean Piano Jesus.  Hot off belatedly devouring his third Schubert sonata installment and passionately hating myself for waiting so long to buy it, I snapped up and listened to this collection of French music for piano and orchestra, with some solo piano fare tossed in.  Most of the music is new to me, but some is old hat.

The set opens with something new to me, Reynaldo Hahn's Piano Concerto in E Major.  Now, I know me some Hahn, but only songs.  Without fail, they sound meltingly beautiful, and whenever I spin them, they beguile for the duration of the recording.  This here concerto is cut from the same cloth.  It opens with the soloist spinning out beautiful music, and then the band enters, winds dominating, in music that sounds so purely charming and beautiful it is ridiculous.  The movement slowly unfolds and dances around until the second movement Danse, which sounds so elegant and refined that it is ridiculous.  Finally, in the closing movement, starting with a reverie, the gentle, soft, hazy strings overwhelm the listener with impossible levels of beauty, and so does the solo playing.  It is ridiculous.  As the movement winds on, with some boisterous marches, wide dynamics swings, and a fleeting, almost vaudevillian feel, it imparts nearly limitless music enjoyment.  It is ridiculous.  While the recording is definitely modern, it most certainly does not offer clinical clarity of each instrument; everything sounds beautifully blended.  There are not too many recordings of this piece, though Shani Diluka recorded it recently, so perhaps that recording needs to find its way to my ears.

Faure's well-known Ballade, Op 19 follows.  As with pretty much everything he wrote, the music sounds either beautiful or stupid beautiful. Youn plays with nutso refinement and tonal gradation, with impossibly gentle dynamic changes.  Listen to his gentle runs.  They are so subtle it is ridiculous.  The orchestral accompaniment, with a cello peeking out here, the winds there, bewitches while KPJ spins out limitless beauty.  It's just so ridiculous.  (Seriously, if any pianist alive and recording should record every note of Faure's piano music, it's KPJ.  I mean, sure, Jean-Rodolphe Kars is alive, but the Father will not be making any more recordings.) 

KPJ then treats the ridiculously lucky listener to his own arrangement of Hahn's À Chloris.  In the brief three minutes, it's like hearing Bach filtered through a hyperromantic sensibility, stripped of the usual pesky voice muddying things, with the result being pure musical beauty.  But it sounds rough, ugly, and gauche compared to KPJ's transcription of L'heure exquise.  So sublime, so flawless, so hypnotic, the listener is forced to surrender to the sheer ridiculousness of it all. 

Low strings bellow beauteously to open Nadia Boulanger's Fantaisie variée pour piano et Orchestre.  The music sounds like a literally perfect stereotype of Fin de siècle music.  Thick and often orchestrally opaque, with piano writing that nearly mimics organ writing in places, the music floods the listener.  Slight hints of Straussian goodness can be heard, some Gounod, too.  Instruments jump in and out, flitting by.  While French, there's an almost Russian excess sentiment, a Rachy gooiness that's so ridiculously mesmerizing that one wallows in the music as it moves from one (probably too) thickly textured variation to the next.  And are those hints of Ravelian waltzes one detects?  Probably.  It is easy to hear why this is not core rep, but at least as delivered here, one certainly thinks it deserves a bit more love than it has received to date.

Faure's Fantaisie for piano & orchestra, Op 111 follows, and it would be ridiculous to think it's not every bit as good as the Ballade.  KPJ produces a stream of beauty.  And then, to cap everything off, is his arrangement of Après un rêve for solo piano.  This piece, which also works well for Cello and Piano, is played in beautiful fashion, but also with more drive and tension than expected, though on evidence of this (and all prior recordings), KPJ can't produce an ugly sound no matter how loud he plays.  How ridiculous.

So, here's nearly ninety minutes of musical gorgeousness and excess too good to be true.  Yet it's true.  No, the non-core pieces are not quite elevated to core rep levels, though the rendition of the Hahn as played here comes pretty gosh darned close.  The whole thing just washes over the listener, generating giddiness and unlimited satisfaction.  Is this a purchase of the year?  It would be ridiculous if it were not. 


Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Pohjolas Daughter on January 30, 2024, 08:27:23 AM
Quote from: ritter on January 29, 2024, 06:39:04 AMInteresting comments by our fellow GMGer @Todd on William Youn's recently released recording of Hahn's Piano Concerto (plus the pianist's own arrangements of À Chloris and L'Heure exquise for solo piano, and works by Fauré and Nadia Boulanger).


@Todd and @ritter I'll have to see whether or not I can listen to at least some of this recording.  I've enjoyed the CD that I have of his songs (with Susan Graham) and I particularly remember being enchanted by the song and her recording of À Chloris.  Don't know his piano concerto, but am intrigued.  Love what I've heard by Fauré too.  Heard of Nadia Boulanger, but don't know her works.

PD
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Pohjolas Daughter on January 30, 2024, 08:37:05 AM
À Chloris:


There's also a video uploaded by the artist which isn't available to watch in the US, but this one (uploaded by Sony) is.

It's lovely!  :)

PD

p.s.  Sorry, I've gone a bit off-track!

EDIT:  Looks like Sony uploaded a number of tracks from that album!
Title: Re: Reynaldo (Hahn's) jet d'eau
Post by: Brian on January 30, 2024, 09:48:53 AM
I love the piano concerto coupling of Hahn's concerto with the rather more swashbuckling/extrovert concerto by Massenet on Hyperion. Just listened to Youn's new version and can't insightfully comment on the differences - they seemed very similar to me. Of course, the Youn pairings are very different...the encore miniatures are lovely.