According to the Polish music critic Piotr Wierzbicki, Hofmann was "the greatest pianist of the 20th century".
It's easy to find the parts of this legendary concert, but not so easy to find the entire performance. So here it is:
Curtis Student Orchestra ; Fritz Reiner, conductor (in the Brahms, Rubinstein, and Hofmann works)
Recorded in the Metropolitan Opera House on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Josef Hofmann's American debut, Nov. 28, 1937. Originally this was made available as a set of 13 records. Only 20 sets were produced in 1937. Hofmann's wife Betty arranged for the recording without Hofmann's knowledge. Betty Hofmann did sent the records to Hofmann’s mother who could not attend the concert, this because she lived in Berlin. This particular exemplar (set) is archived at the Staatliches Institut für Musikforschung in Berlin Germany.
The Curtis Institute Student Orchestra conducted by Fritz Reiner:
1. Brahms - Academic Festival Overture Op.80
2. Introductory remarks by Walter Damrosch
3. Rubinstein - Piano Concerto No.4 in D minor
- Moderato assai - Allegro
- Andante
- Allegro
4. Chopin - Ballade op.23
5. Chopin - Nocturne op.9 No.2
6. Chopin - Waltz op.42
7. Chopin - Andante Spianato & Grand Polonaise op.22
8. Chopin - Nocturne op.15 No.2
9. Chopin - Waltz op.64 No.1
10. Chopin - Etude op.25 No.9
11. Chopin - Berceuse op.57
12. Hofmann - Chromaticon (for piano and orchestra)
13. Mendelssohn - Spinning Song op.67 No.4
14. Rachmaninoff - Prelude op.23 No.5
15. Beethoven-Rubinstein - Turkish March
16. Moszkowski - Carpice Espagnole op.37
Enjoy!
6 сен 2024
