Ossy Renardy Eugene LIst play Franck and Ravel Sonatas

I have to confess that after all these years listening to records, I was not familiar with Ossy Renardy. I bought the record assuming, rightly, that it is not well represented digitally. It's a shame; the performances are worth hearing. Renardy doesn't really "get" the blues movement of the Ravel; although it is well executed, it's not really bluesy. A quibble, since it is convincingly played.  The Franck is one of the best performances on record.  Although the live Oistrakh and Richter performance is still my gold standard, this comes close, though with less expansive phrasing. It's well worth listening to more than once.

Renardy was already concertizing at 17 (and before) when he left Europe for the U.S. via the United Kingdom in 1937. He served in the U.S. armed forces during WWII and only recommenced his concert career in the late forties, recording a well received Brahms concerto with Munch in 1948.  He died in an auto accident in northern New Mexico in December 1953 at the age of 33, on his way from a recital in Las Cruces to a booking in Monte Vista Colorado.   Listening to these recordings one can only regret what might have been.  This time Remington graced us with a good sound recording and a decent pressing. 

All the files and cover art can be found at the link below. 

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/tg8978wkdvp5y/Renardy._List._Franck._Ravel

Enesco Octet for Strings, Op. 7, Enesco, Conducting

 

Here is presented an important performance under the direction of the composer of an important work by George Enescu, unfortunately recorded and pressed by Remington Records. It was a challenging recording to renovate with audible distortion either from the original tapes or, more likely, from the pressing and record wear.  A well played 1953 Remington issue (with a copyright date on the jacket of 1951). Enough said.  Surprisingly enough, given the composers involvement in the project, the recording does not appear to have been reissued.

The music itself is wonderful and inexplicably neglected. It should be at least as commonly recorded as the Mendelssohn Octet, which I admit is not exactly over-represented, but a number of excellent recordings have been made over the years, including a fantastic essay by the combined forces of the  Janacek and Smetana Quartets, another record that I should consider posting, as it doesn't seem to have made it to CD after several LP reissues.  

I apologize for the unavoidably rough sonics. It's the best I could do, and the recording itself is, I feel, important enough post warts and all.

All the files for download can be found here:

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/6csld6wu78b1p/Enesco_String_Octet_Enesco_conducting

E. Power Biggs plays Organ Music of Spain and Portugal

  

This record is one of the most interesting of E. Power Biggs' many compelling recordings.   He presents several organs from the Iberian peninsula in all their quirky glory. The music demonstrates the various organ's unique potentials, from ferocious to dainty, quite well, and no doubt was chosen for that reason.  It is delightful and sometimes fun.  It was released in 1957, in the issue I own, and the only reissue, as far as I can tell,  was in Australia on the Coronet LP. Discogs gives no date for that.

Since Biggs is one of my favorite musicians, I find it shocking that so little was ever available on CD, which is by now , I realize, a dying format.  Some of Bach's most popular pieces came out, but Biggs recorded prolifically and and the oeuvre is meagerly represented on CD.  His Buxtehude at Lüneberg: The Glory of the Baroque Organ  seems never to have made it, and it might well be titled, "The Glory of E. Power Biggs Playing Baroque Organ."  

I'll stop preaching. But do download and enjoy these neglected and delightful gems: 

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/d1j5srm6hn9kv/E._Power_Biggs_Organs_of_Spain_and_Portugal