Boris Papandopulo - Works for Piano & Strings (Oliver Triendl; etc.)

Information

Composer: Boris Papandopulo

• Concertino in modo antico, Op. 56
• Fantasy for Violin & Piano
• Lyrical Trio
• Rapsodia Concertante
• 3 Musical Movements for Orlando

Oliver Triendl, piano

Amaury Coeytaux, violin

Vanessa Szigeti, violin II

Andrei Ionita, cello

Date: 2021

Label: CPO

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Review

Boris Papandopulo was one of Croatia’s most important composers. Almost single-handedly he created a national style of classical music. Papandopulo incorporated Croatian folk music into his work. But that was just the starting point.

He had very eclectic tastes and brought other musical forms into his compositions. Twelve-tone technique, jazz, and even post-war avant-garde concepts were fair game.

Papandopulo also had a sense of humor. Many of his compositions have a light-hearted or even an ironic feel to them.

This release collects a sampling of chamber music from this prolific composer. The Concertino in modo antico, Op. 58 is probably the best known. Papandopulo, like Stravinsky and Respighi, recast earlier music forms into neo-classical gems.

The concertino has the frothiness of Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony. And it’s just as masterfully composed. Papandopulo shows his skill at fugal writing and melodic lyricism.

That melodic gift is also apparent in the Fantasy for Violin and Piano. Papandopulo alternates between passages of thrilling intensity and heart-breaking poignancy. The Rapsodia Concertante for Cello and Piano has a similar construction. Here, though, the folk elements are closer to the surface.

The Lyrical Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano delivers on the title’s promise. Papadopulos’ development of his themes seems effortless.

The musicians on this release all play with energy and tasteful expression. They also understand Papandopulo’s intent. To me, it sounded like they were having a good time as they played.

A thoroughly enjoyable collection of music!

— Ralph Graves

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Boris Papandopulo (25 February 1906 – 16 October 1991) was one of the most distinctive Croatian musicians of the 20th century. Educated in Zagreb and Vienna, he built a diverse career as a conductor, teacher and music director across major Croatian institutions, including the Zagreb and Rijeka Operas, and worked internationally as a guest conductor. Beyond conducting, he was active as a pianist, writer, and critic. His most significant achievements lie in composition, with an extensive output of around 460 works spanning orchestral, chamber, vocal, stage and film music, many of which are considered artistically significant.

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Oliver Triendl (born 1970 in Mallersdorf, Bavaria) is a German pianist. Trained by distinguished teachers including Gerhard Oppitz and Oleg Maisenberg, he is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions. Triendl has performed globally as a soloist and chamber musician, appearing with leading orchestras such as the Munich Philharmonic, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg and Shanghai Symphony. His unique repertoire includes around 90 piano concertos and hundreds of chamber works, many of which he has premiered or recorded first. His tireless commitment is reflected in more than 100 CD recordings.

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