Repertoire: The BEST Rzewski "The People United Will Never Be Defeated!"
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2020
- A contemporary masterpiece the compares favorably to Bach's Goldberg Variations and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, Frederic Rzewski's variations on a Chilean revolutionary song have already entered the repertoire of major pianists the world over. Find out why, and learn which recordings deserve your consideration.
(Musical Example played by Ursula Oppens, courtesy of Cedille Records) - เพลง
Wow, what a surprise Mr Hurwitz!
I have been lucky enough to catch Frederic Rzewski himself, playing this ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING piece, here in Athens (Greece) three years ago (May 2017). At almost 80, he was still absolutely mesmerizing and virtuosic, just a bit less flamboyant than in his Hat Art/1990 recording (that I had and cherished, until somebody stole it from me, agrhhh!) . His cadenza, quite different from the recorded one (I haven't checked what he plays in his later, Nonesuch I think, recording ) lasted for something like 5 minutes and was just thrilling! And he performed the wistling of var. 35 himself.
As if his own pianistic Everest was not enough, he started the recital by tossing off another set of variations, Cornelius Cardew's "Thalmann Variations" (ideologically comparable and interesting but nothing special, even less so if compared to "The People United"). And, after almost 80 minutes of very demanding music, he was as green as ever to chat backstage with some friends and members of the audience. About the piece, about global revolution (he is decidedly and unapologetically ultra left-wing) or about the greek debt crisis.
I was bold enough to present him the 3 recordings of the piece I still own, Hamelin's, Levit's and Oppens/Cedille, and ask him to autograph the one he thinks best. Very diplomatically, he told me that he admires Hamelin's playing and Levit's conception, but he picked and signed Oppens', "not because the others are less good but because (as you quite justly say in the video) she has been playing it for so long that the piece is and must be considered as much HERS as it is his". The composer's endorsment should not always be taken at face value (I do agree, p.ex. with what you have said about Messiaen's various endorsments) but, it this particular case, it is absolutely valid.
I strongly encourage anyone not familiar with this absolutely unique piece to give it a try, any recording of your shortlist will do. You're in for a treat!
And if anyone is lucky enough to have (or can find, at a reasonable price) the 1990/Rzewski recording, he must keep it locked.
Thank you, yet again, for this and for all the other stuff, here and in ClassicsToday.com!
Lucas Vidalis, Athens - Greece.
Thank YOU for such a wonderful story of your own experience, never mind your enthusiasm for this great work!
Someone came in and played this piece at a concert when I was in music school in the late 1980s. I can't remember the performer's name, but it and his performance just blew me away. So a few days later I went to the music library and made a cassette copy of the concert so I could listen to it more. That whole spring I played it on my boom box in my dorm room at least a few times a week. I would just sit in the window and listen to the whole thing. I never got tired of it and it moved me so strongly every time. I felt like I was just flying. (I think I drove my roommate crazy). Just hearing that little bit you played at the end of this video brought back so many memories. Amazing piece of music. I want to go on that wonderful trip that is that music again.
Terrific, Dave! I heard Ursula Oppens give the NYC premier back in 1976 at a concert where Frederic played Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" on the first half, believe it or not. Technically speaking, Frederic actually made four commercial recordings of The People United: the first was for an extremely obscure local Italian label on LP only, then the HatArt CD you mention, the Nonesuch, and, lastly a 2007 DVD from a live concert. I almost forgot that I had written the booklet notes to the Marc-André Hamelin Hyperion recording.
Thanks Jed. Helpful, as always. Great notes to the Hamelin, by the way!
@@DavesClassicalGuide Glad you liked the notes, and Frederic himself was quite helpful to me when I was writing them back in 1998!
Fabulous. I have the Hamelin recording but have listened to it only once. I will make sure that I listen to this music again more attentively. Thanks!
Absolute masterwork. Hamelin, Levit, Rzewski is my (un)holy trinity. And the mnemonic aspect is the key: music lives flowing in time, we need handles to grasp it, one way or another.
I attended to the premiere in Buenos Aires (Argentina) by Stephen Drury (in 1991 I think it was). Drury played Ligeti’s etudes first book and then “The people” (all memorized). Immense work. Regards
That Levit set looks fantastic! Thanks for the recommendation.
I only discovered this work last year, through Levit's recording. It stunned me! Also, I felt so ignorant! I had the sense that Rzewski was putting this tune through the whole range of 20th Century music (to that time.) Your teaser doesn't begin to hint at that, but maybe that's just as well. It's an amazingly engaging work. The only reason I don't listen to it very often is because it is so long, but it's never a slog to sit through.
I saw the composer play this piece a few years ago; fantastic. And the best recording I've heard is Rzewski's first, which is on hatART and very hard to find, as you said. In concert, Rzewski 's improvised cadenza incorporated some crying-out sounds from an autistic man who was sitting in the front row.
Hi! I've been practicing this for two years. So far, I'm doing the opening, the first variation, and the ending. I love the music and what it stands for!
Wow what a great set of variations! They had several versions on Primephonic; I listened to Rzewski on Hat Hut, Oppens Cedille and Levit. Have to say I had a slight preference for the Oppens and Levit recording wise (the Rzweski has a quite dry, closely observed sound a bit too analytical for my taste). Anyway as has been said a remarkable work - thanks for letting me know about it!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know.
Very good review! This has been my favorite piece of all time for years now!! My favorite is Hamelin!
Good choice!
@@DavesClassicalGuide I must say, I missed the part where you mention it was composed for U. Oppens!
New composer for me. Heard some Presto samples before watching this video. Music sounds quite accessible.
Dave, I'd love you to do a video or three on American symphonies: best/worst, themes, influences, what was going on.
We'll get there.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Great! I'm fascinated by this. To me it appears like something that flickered through the likes of Copland, Barber and Harris, and then burned out.
Great review again. Do you also know the Ralph van Raat interpretation on Naxos?
Yes I do! He's done some terrific Rzewski, but I don't think he's a good as the recommended versions in this particular piece.
Hey David Thanks again for a wonderful review. I'm chilean myself and this song it's been part of my life since i am a child. I cannot begin to explain how extrange and beautiful it is to see it transfrom into clasical music. If you are interested you can check this video: th-cam.com/video/Cuzl_QTBlWI/w-d-xo.html As you can see this song still keeps its revolutionary powers to us chileans. Hugs!
Once you've imbibed the Rzewski, I highly commend the album "Avanti!"by Paris-based jazz pianist Giovanni Mirabassi. It has renditions of 16 songs about revolution, of which the first is El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido.
Absolutely the single greatest piano composition of modern times.. I'm always astonished listening to this and how the variations pick up various components of the tune not to mention the insane virtuosity required.. and for some reason I always find after listening to the whole piece that is slightly sad and I don't know why
Dave, how does the Rzewski Variations compare to Brahms's "Handel Variatons"?
I'm sorry, but I honestly don't think that's a meaningful question. Listen to both and draw your own conclusions.
I still think my favorite is the first Oppens on Vanguard but maybe because it was such a staggering knockout. I’ll have to check out the newer Oppens more… Rzewski’s improvs (I saw him play it live a number of times back when) were much better than anybody’s that I’ve heard to date that take the improv option though.
...Y pensar que alguien hizo variaciones por una consigna tan antiquísima como esa...
Y una obra maestra también.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Es que originalmente Quilapayun (Sergio Ortega y Eduardo Carrasco) hizo la canción. Luego se transformó en una consigna popular o al revés. Me resulta completamente tanto impensado, como asombrado. Y eso que es una canción de protesta. Después varios siguieron este sendero. El grupo "Los Prisioneros" entre ellos.
Check out the Steve Drury video from shortly after the 2016 election: th-cam.com/video/oax8C0j2RuM/w-d-xo.html
;(
@Felis Skalkotris Sorabjitus evet :(