HENRI HERZ (1803–1888)

 

The Romantic Piano Concerto – 40

 

Piano Concerto No.3 in D minor Op.87

Piano Concerto No.4 in E major Op.131

Piano Concerto No.5 in F minor Op.180

 

Howard Shelley piano/conductor

Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

 

Herz never tried to be a ‘great’ artist, though he was often judged against such criteria; he was an entertainer. Of course the concerto lends itself perfectly to this role and his eight concertos are full of charm, almost operatic melody and scintillating virtuosity. Needless to say Howard Shelley, who has made such exceptional recordings of the concertos of Hummel and Moscheles, is just the man for the job. If we can accept that music need not be profound to be enjoyed we should join the international music press in welcoming this revival of these works, the pop music of their time:

 

on Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 7 and 8 (CDA67465): ‘Shelley and the Tasmanians are persuasive advocates for these three piano concertos: this is charming, tuneful music, deftly orchestrated by a man who obviously knew his Chopin, Rossini and, in the nocturne-like slow movements, John Field’ (The Sunday Times) ‘If you’ve enjoyed previous volumes in Hyperion’s Romantic Piano Concerto Series, you’ll certainly warm to this delightful release’ (BBC Music Magazine) ‘There are few more dextrous or musicianly pianists then Shelley … and I am more than grateful for an artist who, like Herz himself, can make you think “that a bird had escaped from his fingers and went undulating and singing through the air” (The New York Times in 1946)’ (Gramophone) ‘… Shelley et les Tasmaniens jouent avec une verve, une beauté de sonorité, un noble abandon qui attisent les bravos’ (Diapason, France) ‘Howard Shelley, who performs the dual role of piano soloist and orchestral director, delights in the charm and the considerable technical challenge of it all, and with his always fluent and controlled fingerwork, he makes it sound easy’ (International Record Review)

 

Hyperion CDA67537