For a variety of reasons, the Romantic piano concerto remains one of the most engaging ambassadors for classical music. In the collective mind of the world audience, the names of Tchaikovsky, Liszt and Rachmaninov are synonymous with large and spectacular musical works during which a symphony orchestra and a dazzling pianist are set to engage in a musical contest in which all end up winners. All being well, the listener wins as well. Of course, these great works are much more than that but this strong image is important in keeping this repertoire in the public’s eyes and ears at a time when so much other music jostles daily for attention. Many of them have been made famous through their ‘silver screen’ associations and these sumptuous performances by Australian pianist, Isador Goodman, are now once more available.
ADDINSELL: Warsaw Concerto
RACHMANINOV: Paganini Rhapsody – 18th Variation
RÓZSA Spellbound Concerto
EVANS: Idyll
GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue
BATH: Cornish Rhapsody
LITOLFF: Scherzo
GOODMAN: New Guinea Fantasy
WILLIAMS: Dream of Olwen
RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto No. 2 – Adagio sostenuto
Isador Goodman, piano
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Patrick Thomas