Geza Anda – Troubadour of the Piano (5 CD box set, APE)

Performer: Ottomar Borwitzky, Géza Anda
Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Rafael Kubelik, Eduard Van Beinum, Ferenc Fricsay
Composer: Robert Schumann, Cesar Franck, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, Bela Bartok
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 5 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 1.54 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
Composed by Robert Schumann
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe
Conducted by Rafael Kubelik

Symphonic Etudes (“Etudes in the form of variations”) for piano (2 versions), Op. 13
Composed by Robert Schumann
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Symphonic Variations, for piano & orchestra (also arr. for 2 pianos), M. 46
Composed by Cesar Franck
Performed by Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe
Conducted by Eduard Van Beinum

Études d’exécution transcendante d’après Paganini (6), for piano, S. 140 (LW A52)
Composed by Franz Liszt
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
with Ottomar Borwitzky, Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe
Conducted by Ferenc Fricsay

Rhapsody for piano & orchestra, Sz. 27, BB 36b (Op. 1)
Composed by Bela Bartok
Performed by Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe
Conducted by Ferenc Fricsay

Waldesrauschen (Forest Murmurs), for piano (Zwei Konzertetuden No. 1), S. 145/1 (LW A218/1)
Composed by Franz Liszt
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Variations (32) on a waltz by Diabelli, for piano in C major (“Diabelli Variations”), Op. 120
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat major, D. 960
Composed by Franz Schubert
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Preludes (24) for piano, Op. 28, CT. 166-189
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Polonaise for piano No. 6 in A flat major (“Héroique”), Op. 53, CT. 155
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Davidsbündlertänze (18) for piano, Op. 6
Composed by Robert Schumann
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Etude for piano No. 17 in E minor, Op. 25/5, CT.30
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Mazurka for piano No. 45 in A minor, Op. 67/4. CT. 95
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Mazurka for piano No. 47 in A minor, Op. 68/2, CT. 97
Composed by Fryderyk Chopin
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Kreisleriana, 8 fantasies for piano, Op. 16
Composed by Robert Schumann
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Fantasie (Obolen auf Beethovens Monument) for piano in C major, Op. 17
Composed by Robert Schumann
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Symphonic Etudes (“Etudes in the form of variations”) for piano (2 versions), Op. 13
Composed by Robert Schumann
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
with Geza Anda, Alan Newcombe

Awesome Anda

Best known as the first pianist to record a complete cycle of Mozart’s Piano Concertos, Geza Anda shows his awesome power as both soloist and accompanist in a variety of works on “Troubadour of the Piano.” For me, the collection’s best moments were the opportunity to finally hear Anda’s highly acclaimed accounts of the Schumann Piano Concerto, with Rafael Kubelik and the Berlin Philharmonic in stereo from 1963, and the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2, with Ferenc Fricsay and the Berliners in stereo from 1960. The Schumann is outstanding, but the Brahms is truly brilliant! Those familiar with Anda will know that the pianist made his definitive readings of the Bartok PCs with Fricsay, and they capture that magic once again. The pace is never rushed, and the playing clear and distinct — it is a legendary performance. Speaking of Bartok, Anda and Fricsay also combine to perform the composer’s Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra. Recorded in 1960 and originally paired on vinyl with the Bartok 1st, it was unable to fit on the aforementioned disc of the three Concertos and I believe makes its CD debut here. Other highlights from this collection are stereo performances of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations and Chopin’s 24 Preludes, and two versions of Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes — one in mono from 1943 and the other in stereo twenty years later. Some of the historical recordings are marred by poor sound, in particular the Franck Symphonic Variations with Van Beinum from 1943, but are delightful as reference material. In all, “Troubadour of the Piano” is another gem in Deutsche Grammophon’s “Original Masters” series.