JOACHIM RAFF (1822–1882)
WORKS FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA
PIANO CONCERTO • ODE AU PRINTEMPS
CAPRICE ON THEMES FROM ‘KING ALFRED’
TRA NGUYEN
“This CD explores the synergy of Raff’s symphonic gift and pianistic elegance combined in one album. The dialogues between the piano and the orchestra in Ode Au Printemps and the Piano Concerto are lush with colours and shades to carry out the emotional gravitas, especially in the latter. World-première track Caprice on Motifs from Raff’s opera King Alfred gives us a glimpse into his operatic work through the composer’s own pianistic lens, often seen with an understated sense of humour.”
– Tra Nguyen
(1822–1882)
About this Recording
Of Raff’s nine works for solo instrument and orchestra three are for piano. The Ode au Printemps, Op. 76 is full of freshness, its atmospheric qualities and cantabile melodies enhanced by superb orchestration. Unjustly neglected but full of dreamlike delicacy, the Piano Concerto in C minor, Op. 185 offers one of the most delightful, lyrical and stirring works in the Romantic concerto canon. The Caprice, Op. 65, No. 2 balances assured development and passionate virtuosity.
TOTAL PLAYING TIME: 67:06
TRA NGUYEN
British-Vietnamese Tra Nguyen has performed worldwide at important venues, such as Queen Elizabeth Hall, Tokyo Opera City, Hong Kong City Recital Hall, Cadogan Hall and Wigmore Hall. Her imaginative programming balances core repertoire and lesser-known music, winning critical praise. Her recordings of Joachim Raff’s piano music have earned wide critical acclaim, including an Album of the Week award by The Independent. Tra Nguyen studied with Lev Naumov at the Moscow Conservatory and with Christopher Elton at the Royal Academy of Music. She was awarded the ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) for her “significant contribution to the music profession” in 2013. www.tranguyen.org
KERRY STRATTON
Kerry Stratton has conducted orchestras in Europe, North America and Asia including the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, and many others. Stratton won the 2000 Masaryk Award for his services to Czech and Slovak culture and was decorated by the Czech government in 2007 at Cernin Palace, Prague, with the Gratias Agit Award. He is currently conductor and music director of the Toronto Concert Orchestra.
PRAGUE RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (PRSO)
Established in 1926, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (PRSO) is a creative and versatile ensemble at the forefront of Czech music making. The orchestra has worked with a distinguished list of composers including Honegger, Khachaturian, Krenek, Penderecki, Prokofiev and Respighi as well as many of the world’s great conductors and soloists. www.rozhlas.cz
ALSO AVAILABLE
– MusicWeb International
– Gramophone
– International Piano
“Tra Nguyen brings a beautiful sonority and a firm technicity”
– Diapason ★★★★
– American Record Guide
– BBC Music Magazine ★★★★
– The Buffalo News
[6-CD Box Set]
– Raff.org –
The Essential Raff
