This set offers a revelatory collection of five concerto recordings made by the Polish-American piano virtuoso, Artur Balsam (1906-1994). Culled from recordings released on Concert Hall Society LPs in the early 1950s, this 2-CD release features sonic restoration and mastering by Grammy-winning engineer, Adam Abeshouse, a collection of rare Balsam photographs, a detailed essay on Balsam by Dan Berlinghoff, and five truly wonderful performances. Tully Potter writes that “this superb pianist, born in Warsaw in 1906, became Nathan Milstein’s accompanist in 1938 and followed the violinist to America two years later, in due course becoming recognized as a soloist.” Artur Balsam left a large legacy of solo piano and concerto recordings, but because nearly all were released before the advent of the CD, his performances are all but unknown to an entire generation of enthusiasts.
Reviews:
“This is a consistently gratifying set, eminently musical in all respects.” - Audiophile Audition
“We have a successful entrant into the field – first class notes as well.” - MusicWeb International
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Disc A
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 8 in C major, K. 246
Artur Balsam, piano
Winterthur Symphony Orchestra; Walter Goehr, conductor
Beethoven: Piano Concerto in D Major, Op. 61
Artur Balsam, piano
Winterthur Symphony Orchestra; Clemens Dahinden, conductor
Disc B
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 13 in C Major, K. 415
Artur Balsam, piano
Concert Hall Symphony Orchestra; Henry Swoboda, conductor
Hummel: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 85
Artur Balsam, piano
Winterthur Symphony Orchestra; Otto Ackermann, conductor
C.P.E. Bach: Piano Concerto in D minor
Artur Balsam, piano
Winterthur Symphony Orchestra; Victor Desarzens, conductor
BRIDGE 9196A/B (two discs for the price of one)
Related Balsam discs:
9063, 9066, 9110, 9125, 9148, 9175, 9185, 9217A/B, 9225, 9226A/B