What distinguishes a virtuoso from a merely great musician? This week we feature these musicians who had it all. We start in the 16th century with the development of violin and keyboard instruments that brought the rise of the virtuoso. Composers created music for artists who claimed these instruments as their own. Generations of musicians forever challenged and one-upped those who led the way, playing concertos to delight us. Join Bill as he follows his ear through the centuries from Sephardic composer Thomas Lupo, played by violinist Andrew Manze, through Niccolò Paganini performed by Michael Rabin, to the present day with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra playing The Octet for Wind Instruments by Igor Stravinsky.
Virtuoso, The World of
Playlist
Episode 1
di Lasso, Orlando: Pavan on Susanna un jour
The Parley of Instruments Baroque Orchestra, Paul Nicholson, conductor
English 18th-century Keyboard Concertos
Hyperion 66700
2:51
Lupo, Thomas: Ardo, sì, a5 – Prima Parte
Ardi et gela – Seconda Parte
The English Fantasy
Consort Music
ASV 149
3:58
Lupo, Thomas: Fantasia, a3 No.12
The English Fantasy
Consort Music
ASV 149
1:50
Castello, Dario: Sonata I, from “Sonate concertate in stil moderno,” Lib. II
Romanesca/Andrew Manze, violin
Fantastic Style (17th C. Violin Music)
HM 2907278
4:53
Marnini, Biaggio: Sinfonia Sesto Tuono; Curiose & Moderne Inventioni
Romanesca/Andrew Manze, violin
Fantastic Style (17th C. Violin Music)
HMU 2907278
2:21
Monteverdi, Claudio: Pur ti miro
From ‘l’incoronazione di Poppea
Joshua Bell, violin
Romance of the Violin
Sony 87894
3:37
Biber, Heinrich Ignaz Franz: Violin Sonata #3 – Praeludium, Aria E
Variation, Variation (excerpt)
Romanesca Andrew Manze, violin
Violin Sonatas
HMU 907134.35
1:38
Tartini, Giuseppe: La Sonata Del Diavolo In G Minor
lll. Andante, Allegro, Adagio
Andrew Manze
The Devil’s Sonata And Other Works
HMU 907213
6:24
Rebel, Jean-Féry: Violin Sonata #6 In B Minor – 3. Gracieusemen
Andrew Manze, violin, Richard Egarr, Harp
Violin Sonatas
HMU 907221
2:47
Handel, George Frideric: Concerto Grosso #6 in G Minor, Op. 6/6 Allegro
Andrew Manze: Academy of Ancient Music
Geminiani – Concerti Grossi
HMU 907261
2:51
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Concerto in C Minor for Oboe and Violin, BWV 1060R – 3. Allegro
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Kahane, conductor
Hilary Hahn, violin Allan Vogel, oboe
Bach Concertos
DG 474 199-2
3:12
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Violin Concerto No. 2 in E, BWV 1042 – 1. Allegro
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Kahane, conductor
Hilary Hahn, violin
Bach Concertos
DG B0000986
5:53
Episode 2
O’Connor, Mark: Limerock (excerpt)
Yo-Yo Ma, Mark O’Connor, Edgar Meyer
Appalachian Journey
Sony 756140
1:11
Boccherini, Luigi: Cello Concerto #9 In B Flat, G 482
1. Allegro
Jacqueline Du Pré; Daniel Barenboim: English Chamber Orchestra
Cello Concerto in D / Cello Concerto in B Flat
EMI 47840
9:30
Paganini, Niccolò: Moto Perpetuo, Op. 11
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra, Felix Slatkin, conductor
Michael Rabin, violin
Michael Rabin 1936-1972
EMI 64123
3:12
Mendelssohn, Felix: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64
2. Andante
3. Finale
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Claudio Abbado, conductor
Nathan Milstein, violin
Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn: Violin Concertos
DG 419067
7:51
De Sarasate, Pablo: Habanera
Michael Rabin, violin; Leon Pommers, piano
Michael Rabin 1936-1972
EMI 64123
4:18
Stravinsky, Igor: Violin Concerto in D
4. Capriccio
London Symphony Orchestra, Mstislav Rostropovich, conductor
Maxim Vengerov, violin
Shchedrin, Stravinsky, Et Al / Vengerov, Rostropovich, Et Al
EMI 56966
6:17
Standard: Willow Weep for Me
Jean-Luc Ponty, Stuff Smith; Stéphane Grappelli , violins
Jazz Violin Summit
Legacy International CD 477
3:45
O’Connor, Mark: Limerock
Yo-Yo Ma, Mark O’Connor, Edgar Meyer
Appalachian Journey
Sony 756140
2:11
Ellington, Duke: Come Sunday
Duke Ellington, Ray Nance
Black, Brown, and Beige
Philips 07337
3:54
Kupkovič, Ladislav: Souvenir
Gidon Kremer, violin; Elsbeth Moser , accordion
Opus Scherzando (Lockenhaus Collection)
CBS 42404
5:11
Episode 3
Bull, John: The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book,
No. 51: – Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la
Peter Watchorn, harpsichord
Music Of Tudor And Jacobean England
Musica Omnia 0104
6:22
Gibbons, Orlando: The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book
The Italian Ground
Peter Watchorn, harpsichord
Music Of Tudor And Jacobean England
Musica Omnia 0104
2:20
Scarlatti, Domenico: Sonata in E, K. 380
Ralph Kirkpatrick
Sonatas for Harpsichord
DG Archive 2533072
2:55
Scarlatti, Domenico: Harpsichord Sonata in F Minor, K 386
David Schrader, Fortepiano
Scarlatti on Fortepiano
Cedille 900000042
3:13
Scarlatti, Domenico: Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, K 141
Martha Argerich
Live From The Concertgebouw
EMI 56975
3:13
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 –
Variation 1 A 1 Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Glenn Gould, piano
Goldberg Variations BWV 988 (The Historic 1955 Debut Recording)
SONY 52594
4:38
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau, piano
Great Pianists Of The 20th Century
Phil 456706
11:02
Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel: Sonata In D, WQ 61/2 – Mvt. 1
Mikhail Pletnev, piano
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Sonatas & Rondos
DG 459614
1:41
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Piano Concerto No. 7 in F For 3 Pianos, K 242,
3. Rondeau: Tempo Di Menuetto
English Chamber Orchestra
András Schiff, Daniel Barenboim, Georg Solti, pianos
Mozart/Concertos
London 430 232
5:41
Beethoven, Ludwig Van: Piano Sonata #14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27/2, “Moonlight”
3. Presto Agitato
Daniel Barenboim, piano
Complete Piano Sonatas
EMI 72912
7:42
Episode 4
Chopin, Frédéric: Mazurka No. 2 in C, Op. 24
Artur Rubinstein, piano
The Chopin Collection, The Mazurkas
RCA 5614
2:16
Chopin, Frédéric: Etude No. 12 in C Minor, Op. 10/12, CT 25, “Revolutionary”
Maurizio Pollini, piano
Etudes
DG 413794
2:38
Chopin, Frédéric: Barcarolle in F-Sharp, Op. 60, B 158
Arthur Rubinstein, piano
Recital in Moscow Vol. 62
RCA 63062
9:29
Liszt, Franz: Rhapsodie Espagnole, S 254
Stephen Hough, piano
Stephen Hough Plays Liszt
Virgin Classics 90700
13:13
Bartók, Béla: Sonata For 2 Pianos & Percussion, SZ 110
3.Allegro Non Troppo
Murray Perahia, Georg Solti, David Corkhill, Evelyn Glennie
Sonata For 2 Pianos & Percussion / Haydn Variations For 2 Pianos
CBS 42625
6:41
Debussy, Claude: L’Isle Joyeuse, L 106
Zoltán Kocsis, piano
Images / 2 Arabesques / L’Isle Joyeuse / Berceuse Héroïque
Phil 422404
6:09
Prokofiev, Sergei: Piano Sonata #7 In B Flat, Op. 83, “War Sonata #2”
3. Precipitato
Martha Argerich, piano
Live from The Concertgebouw
EMI 56975
3:21
Bernstein, Leonard: The Age of Anxiety
(Symphony No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra, After W.H. Auden; 1949 Version)
Part II. The Masque;
Part II. The Epilogue
New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, conductor
Lukas Foss, piano
The Age of Anxiety (Symphony No. 2 For Piano And Orchestra After W. H. Auden)
DG 2530969
4:52
Charlie Parker: Donna Lee
Clare Fischer, piano
Introspectivo
M&L Music S.A. de C.V.
:34
Episode 5
Ravel, Maurice: Introduction & Allegro pour harpe, flute
clarinette & quatuor a cordes
Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute; Lily Laskine, harp Ulysse Delécluse, clarinet; Quator Pascal
La Flute Enchantee
EMI 69642
10:43
Stravinsky, Igor: Octet: 2. Theme & Variations
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra members
Shadow Dances
DG 453 458
8:01
Williams, Vaughan: Tuba Concerto in F Minor
1. Allegro Moderato; 2. Romanza
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim, conductor
Arnold Jacobs, tuba
The Chicago Principal
DG B0000025
8:33
Debussy, Claude: Sonate pour flute, alto & harpe:
III- Final
Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute Odette Le Dentu, harp, Pierre Pasquier, viola
La Flute Enchantee
EMI 69642
4:25
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-Flat, K 417
2. Andante; 3. Rondò
Philharmonia Orchestra/Herbert Von Karajan, conductor
Dennis Brain, horn
MOZART: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4 / Piano and Wind Quintet
Naxos 8.111070
7:10
Evans, Toldchard: Lady of Spain
Dick Contino, accordio
The Accordion Legends
Rhino Records 71847
1:49
Tatum, Art: Pole Boogie
Art Tatum, piano
Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues
Columbia 512571
2:25