American Record Guide

This is Anthony Goldstone’s (1944-2017) last recording. He made more than 80 of them and was an active performer since his debut in 1965. His duo partner of 33 years, Caroline Clemmow, was also his wife of 28 years. There are at least 30 reviews in the ARG index of this man’s wonderful work both as soloist and part of the duo. Repertoire was almost always away from the mainstream: often arrangements, rranscriptions, and piano versions that preceded the better-known orchestral work. He completed works left unfinished and dug up versions long deleted.

I recently reviewed a remastered re-release of the complete Schubert Piano Duets (Divine Art 21201). Piano at the Ballet, Vol. 2 is a fitting finale to a great recording career. It is sort of an appendix to a trio of recordings titled “The Piano at the Ballet, Opera, and Carnival” There was plenty of additional material uncovered by Goldstone after doing the first Ballet volume (Divine Art 25073). The subtitle here is “The French Connection” and all the numbers here are believed to be premiere recordings. Goldstone also freely admitted that sometimes he used his own experience and abilities to modify the printed score for maximum effectiveness.

While almost half of the program is by well-known composers (Poulenc, Debussy, Stravinsky), the others are truly obscure. The entire program is balanced and a continuous joy to listen to. The Debussy is the largest, most serious piece and has to be quite difficult for a single pianist bring off. Others have the kind of humor we often associate with Poulenc and even some Gershwin-inspired jazz moments. Recorded sound and liner notes are up to the highest standards. I will miss getting a disc or two every year from this immensely talented, now departed pianist.

—James Harrington