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Classical Clip of the Month Archive: /

Classical Clip of the Month for June 2012
(clickable links in the text are in bold)

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Henry Charles Litolff

Concerto Symphonique #4 in D minor, op. 102

Peter Donohoe, piano
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Litton, conductor

   

Like Ippolitov-Ivanov, this month's composer's fame rests upon a single piece. The Scherzo from Litolff's Concerto Symphonique #4 rendered him such a one-hit wonder that, as a child, I was led to believe that it was literally the only work of his which had survived. I was later quite thrilled to learn that not only did the entire fourth Concerto Symphonique survive, but actually four of his five works in this unique genre had, as well as several other pieces. The concerti, which were quite influential on Liszt, are really interesting, too. (Liszt dedicated his first concerto to Litolff and famously includes triangle and piccolo in the work, directly drawing on Litolff's writing). Based on these works, I personally think his output should be re-thought in the same vein of other somewhat neglected composers (like Zemlinsky, Janáček and others).


       

Launch date: 21 November 2001.
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