Gershwin and Ravel: Music for Piano Duo
With over forty CDs to their credit and a busy concert schedule stretching back more than thirty years, the British piano duo of Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow was firmly established as a leading force. Their recordings are not only brilliant performances but usually innovatively programmed, leading to rave reviews for every album. Sadly Goldstone died in January 2017 but their legacy lives on.
This album was originally released in 2007 (dda 25057) but withdrawn due to complex issues regarding one track. Now available again (without that track!) this is a superb rendition of music inspired by jazz and popular idioms, including the original piano duo versions (not transcriptions) of several of the pieces. The combination of these two great composers and one of the world’s best-ever duos makes for a stunning recital album.
Track Listing
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George Gershwin:
- Rhapsody in Blue (15:34) Maurice Ravel:
- Ma mère l’Oye - I. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant (1:39)
- Ma mère l’Oye - II. Petit Poucet (2:29)
- Ma mère l’Oye - III. Laideronnette, Impératrice des Pagodes (3:29)
- Ma mère l’Oye - IV. Les entretiens de la Belle et la Bête (3:35)
- Ma mère l’Oye - V. Le jardin féerique (3:08) George Gershwin:
- Cuban Overture (9:49) Maurice Ravel:
- Sites auriculaires - I. Habanera (2:35)
- Sites auriculaires - II. Entre cloches (3:12) George Gershwin:
- 'I Got Rhythm' Variations (9:07) Maurice Ravel:
- Boléro (14:00)
Reviews
“There is such full engagement and energy in all this playing. Goldstone and Clemmow never falter. They breathe and play as a single mind, whether at one keyboard or two. The disc’s closing track is perhaps both the most novel and amazing. Ravel’s version of Bolero for piano duet (that’s four hands at one very crowded keyboard) is simply impossible to imagine as it unfolds.
” —Alex Baran
“This new CD is a cause for celebrating a life as Goldstone plays (with his wife Caroline Clemmow) some tunes that will bring a smile if not some tapping of toes.
” —Jeremy Condliffe
“The performance [of Rhapsody in Blue] is packed with poetic exuberance and well worth the cost of the CD in its own right…the other Gershwin pieces offer new facets to Gershwin. Ravel’s Mother Goose is a delight and played with an enormous sense of imagery.
” —Denby Richards
“Their influence [Gershwin and Ravel] on each other is evident in this delightful disc from the British husband-and-wife team Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow.
” —Anthony Holden
“This disc is a delight from start to finish… such inspired piano playing throughout. The disc is fabulous as it is but the added bonus of detailed notes by Anthony Goldstone make for a truly indispensable package. Thumbs up to the enterprising label that is Divine Art for providing us with such a barnstormer of a disc. Here’s to more from this fine stable.
” —Gerald Fenech
“Disc further enhances [the duo’s] considerable reputation. Very worthy performances, the programme is an attractive one for its variety…and the sound quality is ideal.
” —Nicholas Salwey
![19 September brings Gerard McChrystal & Richard Shaw's recording of Edward Cowie: Because They Have Songs! Listen to the first track today on #AppleMusicClassical and more: listn.fm/becausetheyhavesongs [in bio]](https://scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/538972555_18288426868283342_5911419903410525110_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=ClaN-8cyw04Q7kNvwEQV1bg&_nc_oc=AdkH-jvKrmAbq1WMKEchFdswj3uHV1QTbBaHLG1rMwaYsZ_MjjE-kHJ8hGtT_QbnFPQ&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=IqjOLUoZWducR_u3r4VD0g&oh=00_AfZSrq3GSTVaTnwt3-mS9Wnzb6WVRgeVEvkB0TYLz-rXDA&oe=68C10E3F)
