Stravinsky composed his music at the keyboard, often struggling to play his own complex rhythms. It is not surprising therefore that many of his symphonic works also exist in his own piano versions, such as the four hand transcription of his ballet, The Rite of Spring. It is a pianistic tour de force, the players often having to interweave fingers, hands and arms to meet the composers tremendous demands of virtuosity. The work has for many years formed part of the standard repertoire of Benjamin Frith and Peter Hill. They have played it throughout England to astonished audiences, and have broadcast this (and the other two works on this disc) on BBC Radio 3. The performance is staggeringly brilliant, superbly recorded in St Silas Church, London on a wonderful Bosendorfer Imperial Grand. The duo are now recording exclusively for Naxos, Peter Hill will be recording the complete music by Stravinsky for two hands at sessions this summer.

Tracklist:

Sonata For Two Pianos: Moderato
Sonata For Two Pianos: Theme With Variations
Sontata For Two Pianos: Variation 1
Sonata For Two Pianos: Variation 2
Sonata For Two Pianos: Variation 3
Sonata For Two Pianos: Variation 4
Sonata For Two Pianos: Allegretto
Concerto For Two Pianos: Con moto
Concerto For Two Pianos: Notturno
Concerto For Two Pianos: Variation 1 (Quattro variazioni)
Concerto For Two Pianos: Variation 2 (Quattro variazioni)
Concerto For Two Pianos: Variation 3 (Quattro variazioni)
Concerto For Two Pianos: Variation 4 (Quattro variazioni)
Concerto For Two Pianos: Preludio e Fuga
The Rite Of Spring - Part I: The Adoration Of The Earth: Introdu
The Rite Of Spring - Part I: The Adoration Of The Earth: Augurie
The Rite Of Spring - Part I: The Adoration Of The Earth: Ritual
The Rite Of Spring - Part I: The Adoration Of The Earth: Spring
The Rite Of Spring - Part I: The Adoration Of The Earth: Games O
The Rite Of Spring - Part I: The Adoration Of The Earth: Process
The Rite Of Spring - Part I: The Adoration Of The Earth: The Sag
The Rite Of Spring - Part I: The Adoration Of The Earth: Dance O
The Rite of Spring - Part II: The Sacrifice: Introduction
The Rite Of Spring - Part II: The Sacrifice: Mystic Circles Of T
The Rite Of Spring - Part II: The Sacrifice: Glorification Of Th
The Rite Of Spring - Part II: The Sacrifice: Evocation Of The An
The Rite Of Spring - Part II: The Sacrifice: Ritual Action Of Th
The Rite Of Spring - Part II: The Sacrifice: Sacrificial Dance

UPC: 730099438629
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 6.18.96
Format: CD

Benjamin Frith - Music for 2 Piano / Rite of Spring (CD)