Track Listing
CD 1 (78:16) | ||
| BRAHMS | ||
| Three Intermezzi, Op. 117 | ||
| 1. | No. 1 in E-flat | 4:52 |
| 2. | No. 2 in B-flat Minor | 4:42 |
| 3. | No. 3 in C-sharp Minor | 5:15 |
| 11 December 1983, Amsterdam | ||
| HAYDN | ||
| Sonata No. 62 in E-flat, Hob. XVI/52 | ||
| 4. | I Allegro Moderato | 6:51 |
| 5. | II Adagio | 5:59 |
| 6. | III Finale: Presto | 4:19 |
| 22 February 1987, Amsterdam | ||
| MENDELSSOHN | ||
| Fantasy in F-sharp Minor, Op. 28 | ||
| 7. | I Con moto agitato | 6:02 |
| 8. | II Allegro con moto | 2:46 |
| 9. | III Presto | 4:59 |
| 27 December 1981, San Francisco | ||
| 10. | Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 | 12:32 |
| 27 October 1974, New York City | ||
| BEETHOVEN | ||
| Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2, “Tempest” | ||
| 11. | I Allegro | 6:14 |
| 12. | II Adagio | 8:22 |
| 13. | III Allegretto | 5:24 |
| 7 April 1974, New York City | ||
CD 2 (79:50) | ||
| CHOPIN | ||
| 1. | Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49 | 13:04 |
| 7 April 1974, New York City | ||
| 2. | Etude in E Minor, Op. 25, No. 5 | 3:40 |
| 22 February 1987, Amsterdam | ||
| 3. | Waltz in D-flat, Op. 64, No. 1, “Minute” | 2:00 |
| 22 February 1987, Amsterdam | ||
| 4. | Waltz in E Minor, Op. Post. | 3:06 |
| 2 February 1984, New York City | ||
| 5. | Nocturne in F-sharp Minor, Op. 48, No. 2 | 9:26 |
| 12 March 1985, Philadelphia | ||
| DONIZETTI-LISZT | ||
| 6. | Réminiscences de Lucia di Lammermoor, S. 397 | 6:20 |
| 3 October 1970, New York City | ||
| VERDI-LISZT | ||
| 7. | Rigoletto: Concert paraphrase, S. 434 | 7:05 |
| 3 October 1970, New York City | ||
| LISZT | ||
| 8. | Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12, S. 244 | 10:41 |
| 27 October 1974, New York City | ||
| 9. | Venezia e Napoli: Gondoliera, S. 162, No. 1 | 5:06 |
| 11 December 1983, Amsterdam | ||
| 10. | Venezia e Napoli: Tarantella, S. 162, No. 3 | 9:34 |
| 11 December 1983, Amsterdam | ||
| WAGNER-LISZT | ||
| 11. | Spinnerlied aus Der fliegende Holländer, S. 440 | 5:14 |
| 11 November 1971, New York City | ||
| SCHUMANN-LISZT | ||
| 12. | Widmung, S. 566 | 3:50 |
| 11 November 1971, New York City | ||
CD 3 (79:06) | ||
| LISZT | ||
| 1. | Ballade No. 2 in B Minor, S. 171 | 15:14 |
| 3 November 1985, Minneapolis | ||
| FRANCK | ||
| Prelude, Aria, and Finale | ||
| 2. | Prelude | 10:06 |
| 3. | Aria | 6:23 |
| 4. | Finale | 7:35 |
| 26 May 1974, Arnhem, The Netherlands | ||
| GRIEG | ||
| 5. | Ballade in G Minor, Op. 24 | 19:46 |
| 22 February 1987, Amsterdam | ||
| DEBUSSY | ||
| 6. | Danseuses de Delphes (No. 1 from Préludes, Book I) | 3:41 |
| 7. | La sérénade interrompue (No. 9 from Préludes, Book I) | 2:22 |
| 8. | La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune (No. 7 from Préludes, Book II) | 4:54 |
| 9. | Feux d’artifice (No. 12 from Préludes, Book II) | 4:06 |
| 7 April 1974, New York City | ||
| 10. | Clair de lune (No. 3 from Suite Bergamasque) | 5:00 |
| 1980 private recording; Baldwin LP BDW 701 | ||
CD 4 (79:55) | ||
| VOŘIŠEK | ||
| 1. | Impromptu in E, Op. 7, No. 5 | 4:55 |
| 8 March 1975, New York City | ||
| SCHUBERT | ||
| 2. | Impromptu in G-flat, Op. 90 (D. 899), No. 3 | 7:14 |
| 2 October 1988, Carmel, California | ||
| SCHLÖZER | ||
| 3. | Etude in A-flat, Op. 1, No. 2 | 3:14 |
| 26 May 1974, Arnhem, The Netherlands | ||
| RACHMANINOFF | ||
| 4. | Prelude in G-flat, Op. 23, No. 10 | 3:34 |
| 5. | Prelude in F Minor, Op. 32, No. 6 | 1:25 |
| 6. | Prelude in F, Op. 32, No. 7 | 2:32 |
| 7. | Prelude in G-sharp Minor, Op. 32, No. 12 | 2:33 |
| 6 January 1966, Berlin | ||
| 8. | Variations on a theme of Chopin, Op. 22 | 30:03 |
| 11 December 1983, Amsterdam | ||
| 9. | Polka de V.R. | 4:46 |
| 23 February 1974, Amsterdam | ||
| TCHAIKOVSKY-RACHMANINOFF | ||
| 10. | Lullaby | 4:09 |
| 15 March 1978, Philadelphia | ||
| CHASINS | ||
| 11. | Prelude No. 14 in E-flat Minor, Op. 12, No. 2 | 2:18 |
| 7 December 1987, Bonn | ||
| 12. | Prelude No. 15 in B-flat Minor, Op. 12, No. 3 | 1:27 |
| 7 December 1987, Bonn | ||
| WEBER-GODOWSKY | ||
| 13. | Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65 | 11:47 |
| 25 August 1980, Edinburgh | ||
CD 5 (79:56) | ||
| RAMEAU-GODOWSKY | ||
| 1. | Minuet in A Minor (No. 3 from Renaissance) | 5:15 |
| 18 January 1980, Atlanta | ||
| SCHUBERT-GODOWSKY | ||
| 2. | Rosamunde: Ballet Music | 3:03 |
| 11 December 1983, Amsterdam | ||
| 3. | Moment Musical, Op. 94 (D. 780), No. 3 | 2:10 |
| 14 February 1978, Philadelphia (Intimate gathering) | ||
| CHOPIN-GODOWSKY | ||
| 4. | Study No. 25 (after Op. 25, No. 1) | 3:42 |
| 10 October 1976, Amsterdam | ||
| 5. | Study No. 5 (after Op. 10, No. 3, for the left hand) | 6:14 |
| 15 March 1979, Philadelphia | ||
| 6. | Study No. 7 (after Op. 10, No. 5) | 1:57 |
| 10 October 1976, Amsterdam | ||
| 7. | Study No. 12 (after Op. 10, No. 5) | 2:09 |
| 8. | Study No. 13 (after Op. 10, No. 6, for the left hand) | 4:22 |
| 11 December 1983, Amsterdam | ||
| 9. | Study No. 15 (after Op. 10, No. 7) | 4:30 |
| 10. | Study No. 1 (after Op. 10, No. 1) | 2:16 |
| 15 March 1979, Philadelphia | ||
| 11. | Waltz in D-flat, Op. 64, No. 1, “Minute” | 2:30 |
| 1965, Berlin | ||
| JOHANN STRAUSS-GODOWSKY | ||
| 12. | Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes from Die Fledermaus | 10:09 |
| 17 May 1973, Köln | ||
| RICHARD STRAUSS-GODOWSKY | ||
| 13. | Ständchen, Op. 17, No. 2 | 3:05 |
| 18 April 1980, New York City | ||
| SAINT-SAËNS-GODOWSKY | ||
| 14. | The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals) | 2:53 |
| 26 May 1974, Arnhem, The Netherlands | ||
| BIZET-GODOWSKY | ||
| 15. | Adagietto (from L’Arlésienne, Suite No. 1) | 2:49 |
| 22 February 1987, Amsterdam | ||
| ALBÉNIZ-GODOWSKY | ||
| 16. | Tango in D, Op. 165, No. 2 | 3:58 |
| 15 March 1979, Philadelphia | ||
| GODOWSKY | ||
| 17. | Elegy (for the left hand) | 3:12 |
| 19 July 1982, College Park, Maryland | ||
| 18. | The Gardens of Buitenzorg (No. 8 from Java Suite) | 4:43 |
| 28 November 1983, Milan | ||
| 19. | The Salon (No. 21 from Triakontameron) | 3:00 |
| 7 April 1974, New York City | ||
| MOSZKOWSKI | ||
| 20. | Caprice Espagnole, Op. 37 | 6:01 |
| 16 March 1961, Köln | ||
| 21. | La Jongleuse, Op. 52, No. 4 | 1:58 |
| 26 May 1974, Arnhem, The Netherlands | ||
CD 6 (78:11) | ||
| BACH | ||
| 1. | Toccata in D, BWV 912 | 11:03 |
| 1944, location unknown; Lira Panamericana transcription disc | ||
| MOZART | ||
| 2. | Rondo in D, K. 485 | 5:20 |
| 1944, location unknown; Lira Panamericana transcription disc | ||
| BEETHOVEN | ||
| Sonata No. 26 in E-flat, Op. 81a, “Lebewohl” | ||
| 3. | I Das Lebewohl: Adagio—Allegro | 6:40 |
| 4. | II Abwesenheit: Andante espressivo | 3:49 |
| 5. | III Das Wiedersehen: Vivacissimamente | 3:58 |
| 30 October 1939, Philadelphia | ||
| RACHMANINOFF | ||
| 6. | Prelude in E-flat, Op. 23, No. 6 | 2:43 |
| 20 October 1937, Philadelphia | ||
| CHASINS | ||
| 7. | Schwanda Fantasy (after Weinberger) | 6:58 |
| 1944, location unknown; Lira Panamericana transcription disc | ||
| MOZART-LISZT | ||
| 8. | Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418 | 18:43 |
| 9 November 1975, New York City | ||
| WAGNER-LISZT | ||
| 9. | Tannhäuser: Overture, S. 442 | 18:28 |
| 16 April 1989, New York City | ||
Producers: Francis Crociata and Ward Marston
Audio Conservation: Ward Marston
Audio Assistance: J. Richard Harris and Raymond J. Edwards
Booklet notes: Francis Crociata and Ira Levin
Booklet Design: Takeshi Takahashi
Marston would like to thank Frank Bell, Gregor Benko, Max Brown, Douglas Cairns, Dr. Richard Carlson, Dr. Luca Chierici, Frank Cooper, Raymond Edwards, André Gauthier, Michael Glover, Daniel Greenhouse, Hans Heynis, Dr. Christian Johansson, Ira Levin, Donald Manildi, Joe Patrych, Jon Samuels, Jonathan Summers, Mattheus Smits, and Peter Ziegler.
Produced in association with Houston A. Cummings, administrator of the Bolet Estate.
This Bolet edition is dedicated to the memory of Mac T. Finlay with gratitude for his kindness and support over many years.
Marston would like to extend special thanks to Richard Childers, Peter Greenleaf, the International Piano Archives at Maryland, and Donald Manildi whose major sponsorship gifts made the production of Jorge Bolet Vol. 2 a reality.
Marston would also like to thank the following individuals for their generous contributions to Jorge Bolet Vol. 2: Thomas Baugh; Gregor Benko; R. J. Campbell; Francis and Anna Crociata; William DesChamps; Raymond Edwards; Curtis Givan; Mark Gustafson; Ira Levin; David McMillan; Sheldon Nadler; Peter J. Rabinowitz; Joseph Simunac; Timothy J. Snider; and Lawrence E. Yungk
Jorge Bolet, Volume 2
Ambassador from the Golden Age: A Connoisseur's Selection for the Bolet Centennial
Arthur Rubinstein, during a visit to the Curtis Institute of Music in 1938, singled out just one young artist who was likely to achieve a major career, the twenty-four-year-old Cuban pianist Jorge Bolet, who already (like Rubinstein) had an inimitably beautiful piano tone. The confirmation of Rubinstein’s prediction, however, was to be many decades in coming. Bolet (arguably similar to Rubinstein) had a narrative power and visceral excitement when playing before an audience that he seldom achieved in the recording studio. To celebrate Bolet’s centennial, Marston presents this six-CD collection of concert performances, many of which are all new to the Bolet discography. Jorge Bolet was not the only pianist to have been called “the last romantic,” but he was the only one to have worn the appellation “an old-fashioned Romantic pianist” as a proud badge of honor. He frequently invoked the memories of the pantheon of pianists who were his inspiration—Hofmann, Rachmaninoff, Friedman, Rosenthal, Moiseiwitsch, Cortot, Gieseking, and Paderewski. He said simply, “I wanted to be one of them.”
Here is a collection to prove he achieved just that. Although more than seven hours of Bolet playing, the recordings contained on this set are carefully-selected to highlight Jorge Bolet at his spontaneous best. Included are a number of Godowsky compositions that Jorge never recorded commercially; two selections from the 1970 International Piano Library benefit concert; and several pieces that are unique to the Bolet discography such as the Bach Toccata, the Mozart Rondo, the Chasins Schwanda Fantasy, and the Vořišek Impromptu in E.
