Ilse von Alpenheim

ILSE von ALPENHEIM
Austrian pianist (b 1927)

Ilse von Alpenheim studied with Winfried Wolf, also the teacher of the legendary Spanish conductor Ataúlfo Argenta who still had aspirations to be a pianist at the time, and with Franz Ledwinka. She married the renowned Hungarian conductor and composer Antal Doráti who wrote a number of works for piano for her, and with whom she collaborated on the six Haydn concerti presented below. She was also a fine chamber musician who performed with Henryk Szeryng, the Amadeus Quartet and the Camerata Bern.

As pleasingly as these Haydn concerti were played, I thought it might be interesting to compare Ilse von Alpenheim/Doráti recording of the well known D major concerto to one in which the performers, among the finest alive today, view this music very seriously. I find the performance by Argerich and Rabinovitch to be glorious. Appreciation of Haydn and dedication to excellent performances of his music have come a long way.

We are privileged to have a two-plus hour recording of the complete Mendelssohn Songs Without Words. I don't know that anyone plays them more beautifully, but it doesn't matter. Ilse von Alpenheim obviously loves this music and her performances are stunning.

Haydn Piano Concerti
Antal Dorati conducting the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra

in D major
21:40 ➢ 4 in G major, Hob XVIII:4
40:10 ➢ 3 in F major, Hob XVIII:3
59:04 ➢ in G major
1:16:34 ➢ 11 in D major, Hob XVIII:11
1:35:48 ➢ in C major

Haydn Piano Concerto 11 in D major, Hob XVIII:11
Martha Argerich, piano
Alexandre Rabinovitch conducting l'Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana

recorded live in 2006

Mendelssohn Songs Without Words

Op 19
1 Andante con moto in E major
2 Andante espressivo in A minor
3 Molto allegro e vivace in A major (Hunting Song)
4 Moderato in A major
5 Poco agitato in F♯ minor
6 Andante sostenuto in G minor (Venetian Boat Song 1)

Op 30
1 Andante espressivo in E♭ major
2 Allegro di molto in B♭ minor
3 Adagio non troppo in E major
4 Agitato e con fuoco in B minor
5 Andante grazioso in D major
29:48 ➢ 6 Allegretto tranquillo in F♯ minor (Venetian Boat Song 2)

Op 38
33:10 ➢ 1 Con moto in E♭ major
2 Allegro non troppo in C minor
3 Presto e molto vivace in E major
4 Andante in A major
5 Agitato in A minor
6 Andante con moto in A♭ major (Duetto)

Op 53
1 Andante con moto in A♭ major
2 Allegro non troppo in E♭ major
3 Presto agitato in G minor
4 Adagio in F major
5 Allegro con fuoco in A minor (Volkslied)
6 Molto Allegro vivace in A major

Op 62
1 Andante espressivo in G major
2 Allegro con fuoco in B♭ major
3 Andante maestoso in E minor (Trauermarsch)
4 Allegro con anima in G major
5 Andante con moto in A minor (Venetian Boat Song 3)
6 Allegretto grazioso in A major (Fruhlingslied or Spring Song)

Op 67
1 Andante in E♭ major
2 Allegro leggiero in F♯ minor
3 Andante tranquillo in B♭ major
4 Presto in C major (Spinnerlied)
5 Moderato in B minor
6 Allegro non troppo in E major

Op 85
1 Andante espressivo in F major
2 Allegro agitato in A minor
3 Presto in E♭ major
4 Andante sostenuto in D major
5 Allegretto in A major
6 Allegretto con moto in B♭ major

Op 102
1 Andante un poco agitato in E minor
2 Adagio in D major
3 Presto in C major
4 Un poco agitato, ma andante in G minor
5 Allegro vivace in A major (Kinderstuck)
6 Andante in C major