Thursday, December 16, 2010

Khachaturian to Prokofiev


Seriously, how many blog posts can start with that title?  Within this grouping, there is probably my top five piano composer, Franz Liszt.  He was quite the showman - would throw his green velvet gloves off at women in the audience during performances - kindof a rockstar of classical music - if there is such a thing.  His works are ridiculously impressive - I suggest taking the time to hear all the Hungarian Rhapsodies, but put down my favorites.  And if you were to see the sheet music of La Campanella while listening to someone perform it, it just doesn't seem possible.  
 
Mozart is here, but relatively small.  I think most people have heard more Mozart than they know, and it would just take too much time to put all the works of his that are impressive, so I did a top five.  
 
Khachaturian – Sabre Dance
 
Lecuona - Malaguena, Córdoba, Gitanerias
Liszt – Piano Concertos 1 & 2, Hungarian Rhapsodies 2, 4 and 6, Sospiro, La Campanella, Liebestraum
MacDowell – Hungarian Op. 39 No. 1
Mendelssohn – Violin Concerto in E minor, Concerto for Two Pianos,  Symphony #4

Mozart – Clarinet Concerto, Ave Verum Corpus, Symphony No. 40, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Marriage of Figaro
 
Mussorgsky – Night on Bald Mountain, Pictures at an Exhibition
 
OffenbachBarcarolle
 
Orff – O Fortuna (Carmina Burana)
Pachabel – Canon in D (strings)
Paderewski – Piano Concerto, Polish Fantasy
Parry -  Jerusalem
 
Puccini – Nessun Dorma, Humming Chorus (Madame Butterfly)

Prokofiev - The Montagues & Capulets (Romeo and Juliet)
 
Probably just one or two more posts on this subject matter - then on to other witty ideas :)
 

No comments: