Hummel revisited

Part XXIV of ‘Hummel Revisited’ starts, just like our last episode, with music of Hummel’s good friend Maria Szymanowska. We hear two sad songs, performed extraordinarily and very purely by mezzo-soprano Elisabeth Zapolska and our national historical piano specialist, Bart van Oort. Szymanowska loved to play piano concerts by Hummel. The most famous of these is the one in B minor op. 89, performed by the unequalled Stephen Hough. This music is romantic, revolutionary and virtuoso. We end with a sonata by Hummel for piano 4 mains op. 92. An interesting piece that Schubert listened to very intently.

1. Maria Szymanowska: two songs:
   a.Complainte d’un aveugle,
   b. Romance à la nuit

Elisabeth Zapolska, mezzo-soprano; Bart van Oort, Broadwood grand piano 1825

2. Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Piano concert in B minor, op. 89

Stephen Hough, piano. English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Bryden Thompson

3. Sonata for piano à 4 mains in A-flat Major, op. 92 parts 1 and 2

Duo Tal and Groethhuysen, piano à 4 mains

Portrait: Franz Liszt as a teenager