Thomas de Hartmann in Ukraine. A Forgotten Master 2.0

Lyudkevych Concert Hall

Tuesday 14.09.2021 / 19:00

Lyudkevych Concert Hall

150-550

Program

Thomas de Hartmann (1885-1956) was a once famous composer, born in Ukraine, whose classical music fell into obscurity after his death. The project aims to recover the composer’s work as well as his rightful place in the classical repertoire.

A few years ago I embraced the aim to help bring out de Hartmann’s orchestral music, a logical next step following the successful initiative led by Elan Sicroff to record de Hartmann’s solo piano, vocal, and chamber music, brought to fruition in 2016 with the Basta release of a 7 CD box set. In April of this year the Uk label, Nimbus Alliance, re-issued those recordings in three releases- a double disc of chamber music, a double disc of piano music, and a single disc of songs. All have received excellent reviews.

Following a fortuitous introduction, a collaboration has developed with Theodore Kuchar an accomplished American/Ukrainian conductor in Lviv, Ukraine, in conjunction with the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine. Maestro Kuchar, who is the most recorded conductor of our time (over 100 classical CDs), is very enthusiastic about the discovery of de Hartmann’s music, in light of its high quality, cultural legacy for Ukraine, and historic significance for early/mid 20th Century music in general.

Together, we have organized a festival of three orchestral concerts in Lviv Ukraine to occur on Sept 10, 14, and 17 this year. Each concert will feature its own distinct repertoire and will be followed by recording sessions, the result of which will be 3 new CDs of music not previously recorded or performed in our time. This is the first phase of a plan to record a comprehensive selection (5-6 CDs) of de Hartmann orchestral music, as well as possibly the opera, Esther.

The first concert program will include de Hartmann’s Concerto Andaluz (1949) for flute, strings, and percussion, performed by flutist Bülent Evcil. The second concert will feature the composer’s first Symphonie Poeme (1935), a major 55 min work. One of those programs will likely include the concerto for contrabass performed by the renowned UK artist, Leon Bosch.

The third concert will feature Elan Sicroff performing de Hartmann’s remarkable piano concerto, to be conducted by Tian Hui Ng, Mt Holyoke College professor, and conductor of the Pioneer Valley Symphony.

 

Performers:

  • Leon Bosch, kontrabass
  • Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine
  • Theodore Kuchar, conductor

 

Programme:

Thomas de Hartmann (1885-1956)      

  • Musique pour la fête de la Patronne, Op. 77 (1949)
    • Intrada et Polka
    • Valse langoureuse
    • Quadrille
    • Galoppe
  • Fantaisie – Concerto pour contrabasse et orchestre, Op. 64 (1942)
    • Allegro con brio
    • Romance 1830 – Adagio
    • Finale: Allegro commode
  • Symphonie – Poeme No. 1, Op. 50 (1934)
    • Lent – Maestoso; Alla breve-Allegro; Tranquillo; Tempo I; Allegro  Risoluto; Fuga (Sempre molto pesante e portamento); Grandioso
    • Scherzo – Allegro con spirito
    • Andante – Marziale pesante; Moderato molto
    • Final – Sauvage, avec un rythme très précis

 

Official site: https://www.thomasdehartmannproject.com/

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