Fou Ts’ong: Complete Westminster Recordings
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Label: Australian Eloquence
Cat No: ELQ4843712
Format: CD
Number of Discs: 10
Release Date: 4th March 2022
Contents
Works
Capriccio sopra la lontananza del suo fratello dilettissimo, BWV992Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV903
Piano Sonata no.30 in E major, op.109
Piano Sonata no.31 in A flat major, op.110
Ballades (4)
Berceuse in D flat major, op.57
Mazurkas (51)
Prelude in A flat major, KK IVb no.7
Prelude no.25 in C sharp minor, op.45
Chaconne in G major, HWV435
Keyboard Suite in B flat major, HWV434
Concerto for 2 pianos in E flat major, K365
Concerto for 3 pianos in F major, K242
Piano Concerto no.9 in E flat major, K271 'Jeunehomme'
Piano Concerto no.12 in A major, K414
Piano Concerto no.25 in C major, K503
Piano Concerto no.27 in B flat major, K595
Keyboard Sonata in B minor, K27
Keyboard Sonata in C major, K132
Keyboard Sonata in C major, K255
Keyboard Sonata in C minor, K11
Keyboard Sonata in C minor, K73
Keyboard Sonata in E major, K206
Keyboard Sonata in E major, K380
Keyboard Sonata in F major, K82
Keyboard Sonata in F major, K151
Keyboard Sonata in F major, K256
Keyboard Sonata in G major, K124
keyboard Sonata in F major, K483
Piano Sonata no.14 in A minor, D784
Piano Sonata no.21 in B flat major, D960
Piano Concerto in A minor, op.54
Artists
Fou Ts’ong (piano)Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano)
Daniel Barenboim (piano)
English Chamber Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
Vienna Radio Orchestra
Conductors
Daniel BarenboimVictor Desarzens
Peter Maag
Brian Priestman
Works
Capriccio sopra la lontananza del suo fratello dilettissimo, BWV992Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor, BWV903
Piano Sonata no.30 in E major, op.109
Piano Sonata no.31 in A flat major, op.110
Ballades (4)
Berceuse in D flat major, op.57
Mazurkas (51)
Prelude in A flat major, KK IVb no.7
Prelude no.25 in C sharp minor, op.45
Chaconne in G major, HWV435
Keyboard Suite in B flat major, HWV434
Concerto for 2 pianos in E flat major, K365
Concerto for 3 pianos in F major, K242
Piano Concerto no.9 in E flat major, K271 'Jeunehomme'
Piano Concerto no.12 in A major, K414
Piano Concerto no.25 in C major, K503
Piano Concerto no.27 in B flat major, K595
Keyboard Sonata in B minor, K27
Keyboard Sonata in C major, K132
Keyboard Sonata in C major, K255
Keyboard Sonata in C minor, K11
Keyboard Sonata in C minor, K73
Keyboard Sonata in E major, K206
Keyboard Sonata in E major, K380
Keyboard Sonata in F major, K82
Keyboard Sonata in F major, K151
Keyboard Sonata in F major, K256
Keyboard Sonata in G major, K124
keyboard Sonata in F major, K483
Piano Sonata no.14 in A minor, D784
Piano Sonata no.21 in B flat major, D960
Piano Concerto in A minor, op.54
Artists
Fou Ts’ong (piano)Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano)
Daniel Barenboim (piano)
English Chamber Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper
Vienna Radio Orchestra
Conductors
Daniel BarenboimVictor Desarzens
Peter Maag
Brian Priestman
About
Having undertaken further studies in Poland, Fou Ts’ong left his family behind and settled in London to escape the looming shadow of Chinese authoritarianism. He entered into a relationship with the Westminster label, for whom he would record nine albums between 1960 and 1967, all newly remastered and gathered together for the first time in the present collection. They encompass a good range of his repertoire predilections, as well as the scope of his youthful artist maturity. He is also joined by Daniel Barenboim and Vladimir Ashkenazy for a joyous traversal of Mozart’s concertos with two and three pianos in a 1972 Decca recording.
His Westminster collection of 12 Scarlatti sonatas was praised at the time for its crisp, modern approach and vividly naturalistic touches. An album of Bach and Handel similarly reveals the intelligence, taste and inherent musicality which Fou Ts’ong brought to this repertoire on the modern concert grand. Several more Westminster albums demonstrate Fou’s affinity for Mozart: not so surprising, given that he imprinted on his father’s record collection with its 78s of Artur Schnabel and Wanda Landowska.
The pianist may have forsaken his homeland for good, but his musicianship encompassed both European and Chinese aesthetic ideals. He praised Chinese poetry for its strength of feeling without excess: ‘It has to remain dignified, spiritual and always beautiful’. These qualities also illuminate the albums of Beethoven and Schubert sonatas collected here.
‘The Chinese are also very concerned with detail,’ he said: ‘Every part must be right, but on the other side the expression must be spontaneous and true,’ and an appreciation for this fine balance made him associated above all with the music of Chopin. Although he recorded Chopin’s Mazurkas at different times throughout his career, the group of eighteen issued by Westminster arguably represents his interpretations at their freshest and most creative. The Four Ballades likewise established a benchmark of sensitivity among a younger generation of Chopin pianists. The Second Concerto of Chopin, and its original coupling of the Schumann Concerto appear in stereo on CD for the first time. The new collection makes a timely tribute to the artistry of a pianist who died of Covid-19 late last year.
“There is a great deal to enjoy on this record, and it is immensely refreshing to come across a Chopin pianist who thinks too much, if anything … I very much hope we shall be hearing more of Fou's Chopin.” – Gramophone, July 1961
“His technical equipment is marvellous, and his interpretive abilities are … ideally suited to the music here.” – Stereo Review, January 1962 (Chopin - Ballades)
“Fou Ts’ong makes a notable impression with his clean and well- proportioned renditions of these two masterful concertos … recorded sound that is completely natural both in balance and warmth of tone.” – Stereo Review, January 1962 (Mozart - Piano Concertos K503 & K595)
“The performances strike me as being within striking distance of ideal … he is a remarkably musical pianist.” – Gramophone, April 1962 (Mozart - Piano Concertos K503 & K595)
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