The Operatic Pianist
This is a superbly entertaining program of transcriptions and fantasies on opera themes and arias, presented with style and flair by British pianist Andrew Wright, who also composed three of the fantasies. With well known themes from Verdi, Wagner, Bellini and Meyerbeer, in excellent solo-piano form, this is a tremendous tour-de-force! Also see volume 2 here
Track Listing
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Giuseppe Martucci:
- Concert Fantasy on Verdi's 'La Forza del Destino' (8:51) Vincenzo Bellini (arr. Thalberg):
- I Puritani - A te, o cara (5:40) Andrew Wright:
- Fantasy on Bellini's 'La Sonnambula' (8:00) Richard Wagner (arr. Franz Liszt):
- Tannhauser - O du mein holder, Abendstern (7:42)
- Tristan und Isolde - Isolde's Liebestod (7:48) Andrew Wright:
- Thalbergiana (6:25) Sigismund Thalberg:
- Concert Fantasy on Verdi's 'La Traviata' (8:26) Vincenzo Bellini (arr. Thalberg):
- Norma - Casta diva (6:25) Andrew Wright:
- Concert Fantasy on Meyerbeer's 'Robert le Diable' (5:22)
Reviews
“This fascinating CD includes not only 19th- century operatic extracts but some composed by Wright himself. They make intriguing listening. I think Meyerbeer would have been chuffed no end by Wright’s keyboard arrangement. It’s a winner.
” —Neville Cohn
“The focus of this challengingly virtuosic disc is Andrew Wright. It’s a measure of his aplomb that his own transcriptions fail to wilt even in the glare of such declamatory historical precedent. But for all the bravura there is also an awareness of the sheer musical refinement involved. These spirited readings receive good recorded sound and Wright’s own notes cap his recital with insightful commentary.
” —Jonathan Woolf
“Formidable playing … Wright displays great sensitivity in this lovely performance… beautifully done. There is writing of some virtuosity which Wright throws off with panache and abandon. This is a disc to sit back and enjoy while marveling at the many moments of virtuosity.
” —Bruce Reader
“The operatic melodies are part of the cultural vocabulary, as is the ornate, virtuosic garb in which they are presented. This Scottish pianist sells the repertory in question to listeners without cheapening it. He’s a very capable pianist too … these sincere, well-prepared performances have much in their favour.
” —Raymond Tuttle
“Martucci’s splendid Fantasy of Verdi’s La Forza del Destino… three plausible excursions into the 19th century by Wright himself… Liszt’s glorious version of Isolde’s Liebestod. Thalberg’s Concert Fantasy on La Traviata makes a gripping centrepiece.
” —Paul Driver
“Impressive playing as Andrew Wright walks in the footsteps of the 19th century pianist-composer giants, including some no-holds-barred-creation of his own. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
” —Jessica Duchen
