Raphaella SMITS

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RECORDINGS -CD ACR -CD Walter-Brouwer-Henderickx -CD Mertz-Giuliani2 -CD Spanish Folksongs -CD Legnani-Sor -CD Manjon -CD Vila-Lobos a.o. -CD Weiss-Bach -CD Sor-Coste -CD 20th Century -CD Mertz-Giuliani -LP Tedesco -LP Coste -LP Sor-Kaufmann -LP Dowland -LP Blauwe Steen

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NEDERLANDSE
VERSIE

PROGRAM

Johann Kaspar MERTZ
(1806-1856)
1. Harmonie du Soir, Grande Fantaisie
2. Le Romantique, Grande Fantaisie
3. Tarantelle, Bardenklänge n°6 < audio sample >
4. Introduction et Rondeau brillant, opus 11

Mauro GIULIANI
(1781-1829)
5. Le Romarin, from 'Choix de mes fleurs chéries ou le bouquet emblématique', opus 46
6. Sonate, opus 15 (allegro spirito, adagio con grande espressione, finale allegro vivace)
7. Rossiniana n°1, opus 119


FEATURES

artist: Raphaella Smits
titel: Harmonie du soir
composers: Johann Kaspar Mertz (1806-1856) and Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829)
label: Accent Records, BE
CD number: ACC23158
recorded: at the 'Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Kerk', Haarlem, NL, September 2003
instruments : François Roudhloff (1830) & Mirecourt (1820)
total duration: 67'39"
illustration: Bernhard Kresse


HARMONIE DU SOIR
Raphaella Smits plays “Viennese Classic”, the interweaving of the Italian bel canto and the German romantic.

PROGRAM
FEATURES
ABOUT THE COMPOSERS
ABOUT THE INSTRUMENTS
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY


ABOUT THE COMPOSERS

In the first half of the 19th century Vienna was the musical centre of the world, and certainly a centre for the guitar as well. The “Viennese Classic” is the interweaving of the Italian bel canto and the German romantic.
There were many musical evenings where the most outstanding guitarists made their appearance before the elite of Vienna: among them Mauro Giuliani from Naples and Johann-Kaspar Mertz from Pressburg (now Bratislava). The guitar clearly enjoyed an enormous popularity.

"For me Giuliani is a Haydn-Mozartian composer, a model of good style, well-balanced in form and harmony. His Sonata forms a superb example of it, in which he just happens to use the guitar as an instrument, as a medium for his universal music. No wonder he was a celebrity during his stay in Vienna.
In 1986 Jim D'Addario introduced me to Mario Maccaferri. This legendary figure then played me several pieces by Mertz, who was completely unknown to me. It was a revelation, a wealth of material à la Schubert and, even more, à la Liszt. Mertz is the supreme romantic with his inevitable vibrato, rubato and his demand for a personal artistic investment.”
Raphaëlla Smits

Read also Pieter Andriessen's interesting comparison of 'Harmonie du soir' with 'The Romantic Guitar', Raphaella's first Mertz-Giuliani album of 1988.


ABOUT THE INSTRUMENTS

Many guitarists and composers of the 19th century used instruments with an extended compass. Thus Legnani and Regondi played on guitars with 8 strings, Coste with 7 and Makaroff with 10 strings. Mertz went from a 6-stringed guitar to one with 8 strings and ended up playing one with 10 strings.

"Why these guitars?
The sounds which the Roudhloff guitar offers to the Haydnesque Giuliani Sonata or the more aggressive Tarantella of Mertz, with the typically compact bass sound and great contrasts, are difficult to achieve on the Mirecourt instrument of about 1827.
On the other hand the Mirecourt responds very well to the precise playing needed for the fast virtuoso cadenzas of Mertz or the operatic evocations of Giuliani. Likewise the seventh string presents possibilities from which the music can benefit. Both instruments are good teachers.

The collaboration with instrument builders like Bernhard Kresse is necessary. Both authentic guitars are now, thanks to a responsible restoration by Bernhard, in very good condition.”
Raphaëlla Smits


WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY

Len Verrett from <EarlyRomanticGuitar.com> wrote: "This recording is a must-have of the period guitar ; all period instruments, superb playing, and ground-breaking repertoire of quality. Raphaella Smits' playing is hypnotic, virtuosic and captivating."
and also: "The last Mertz selection is the Tarantelle from Bardenklange, and although recorded by Reid, Holzman and others, the recording here is definitive."

Javier Suarez-Pajares from <diverdi.com> wrote:

"Smits interpretes this repertoire with perfect balance between the brilliance and sensitivity. She unravels the sense of these fantasies and obtains a related and very eloquent discourse. The result is a delight that is redoubled with the benefit of the differentiated loudness and precious sound of the two guitars used."

Daniel Röder from <magazin.klassik.com> awarded Raphaella 4 stars for her interpretation of this "Wiener Romantik" and wrote:
"Raphaella Smits spielt die Stücke der beiden Musiker sehr exakt und genau in der Ausführung. Sie gibt der romantischen Interpretation des Tempos einigen aber nicht zuviel Raum, sondern verfolgt eher einen strukturierteren Ansatz, der sich sehr gut mit ihrer akkuraten Spielweise verbindet. Dabei verhält sie sich allerdings nie emotionslos, sondern versteht es, durch bewusste Verzierungen, effektvolle Pausen und ein unaufdringliches Vibrato, die Stücke auch emotional interessant zu gestalten. ... Eine wirklich schöne CD, mit gut ausgesuchtem Material und einer bestens aufgelegten Interpretin."

Noël Godts from <ramifications.be> wrote:
"Pédagogue et initiatrice de nouvelles oeuvres qui lui sont dédiées, Raphaella Smits possède un jeu des plus lumineux pour peindre les atmosphères en demi-teintes de Mertz et Giuliani dont on découvre une intériorité saisissante de naturel. Limpidité, fluidité et investissement intègre sont les maîtres mots de cette entreprise finement aboutie. ... Un disque pétillant et passionnant!"

Bianca Flier from the <Oberbadisches Volksblatt> wrote :

"Eine Meisterin im Evozieren von Stimmungen, entführte Raphaella Smits die Hörer in eine musikalische Dimension, deren Schönheit, Genialität und Perfektion ans Wunderbare grenzten. Mehr als alles andere fasziniert bei Raphaella Smits die Intensität des Spiels. sie ist beim Spielen ungeben von einder Aura der Vollendung, die nur von den ganz großen Gitarrensolisten erreicht wird."


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