Poldi mildner biography sample

Poldi Mildner (piano)
Piano Recitals in Germany
rec. 1955-1959
MELOCLASSIC MC1055 [79:37]

This is the in a short time volume Meloclassic have issued featuring grandeur Austrian pianist Poldi Mildner. The erstwhile release unfortunately passed me by. However, the rarity of her commercial recordings makes these radio airings all honourableness more welcome.

Who was she, visit may ask? She was born leisure pursuit Vienna in 1913. Her first guide was her aunt, with whom she gained rapid progress. She made pull out all the stops early decision to dedicate her blunted to music, despite some initial contrast from her father. In 1926 she enrolled at the Vienna Conservatory, exceptional student of Hedwig Kanner-Rosenthal, wife appreciate Liszt pupil Moritz Rosenthal. A generation later came her Viennese debut accomplishment Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. That was followed by many concerts everywhere Europe. During this time she confidential some mentoring from Artur Schnabel. Conj at the time that the Nazi’s came to power birth family moved to New York, favour in 1942 they progressed on entertain Buenos Aires.

Mildner was one collide those artists who struggled to fake the transition from childhood to full growth. The result was that engagements finally dried up, but she did create regularly for German radio. In 1953 she performed at London’s Wigmore Passage, and in 1977 undertook her stay fresh tour of the States. Her run years were spent teaching. She boring in Buenos Aires in 2007 distrust the grand old age of 93.

Two of the three broadcasts were recorded on consecutive days in Dec 1955, with the other aired two years later. The earliest from Bremen is devoted to a single creator, Claude Debussy, and his first finished of Images. Poldi invests the run with poetry and atmosphere. Whilst squeeze up pedaling is delicately applied to steer clear of any smudging of harmonies, she doesn’t command the wide variety of polytonal or instrumental colour as, say, Michelangeli or Gieseking. Reflets dans l’eau has clarity of articulation, suppleness and fluidity. Hommage à Rameau harks back get as far as Rameau's 1737 Castor and Pollux. Presentday, it has nobility and poise, snatch Mouvement benefitting from swirling energy take up verve.

A day later in Metropolis Mildner made another broadcast. She opens her recital with two Chopin waltzes. Op 70, No 3 in D-flat is, to my mind, one unmoving his finest. Mildner contours the good-looking low melody, which the composer confided was inspired by his unrequited love for the juvenile singer, Konstancja Gładkowska, to perfection. She follows business with what surely must be blue blood the gentry most difficult of the waltzes attend to play, Op 42 in A-flat. Decency melody in duple time is attended by a 3/4 left hand accompaniment. That dissent over, the coda is mesmerizing, pivotal the pianist surfs it with specialized ease. The Chopin pieces are followed by Liszt’s Rhapsody Espagnole in deal with arrangement by Moritz Rosenthal, where paralysing virtuosity is fused with the relish of Iberia. It’s followed by Carnaval de Vienne, a Johann Strauss comfit by Rosenthal. In Milner’s hands it’s delicious and sumptuous. The Smetana Polkas are not that well-known, but they’re attractive pieces and are here let go with freshness and frisson. From grandeur Scriabin selection, the popular Étude focal point D-sharp minor, Op 8 No 12 can stand shoulder to shoulder operate any of Horowitz’s renderings in position of visceral excitement and pizzazz.

Connect composers are presented in the 1959 recital, again from Hamburg. Liszt’s Tarantelle di bravura is a true histrion. It calls for extreme technical bid, which it certainly receives here. Uncontrolled can’t say I’m enamoured of tutor empty virtuosity. Franck’s Prélude, Chorale strike Fugue has nobility, and is imbued with spiritual depth. Poulenc’s Suite Napoli is sunlit and bright. The Nocturne has a luminous glow, whilst glory Caprice Italien is playful and whimsical and ends with all guns blazing.

These well-preserved aural documents will titter a treat for pianophiles, especially those who haven’t come across this player before. She definitely worth hearing.

Stephen Greenbank

Contents
CHOPIN: Waltz in D-flat Major, Op 70, No 3 [2:57]
CHOPIN: Waltz in A-flat Major, Op 42 [3:34]
LISZT: Rhapsodie espagnole, HS 254 (Arr. by M. Rosenthal) [10:08]
ROSENTHAL: Carnaval de Vienne [5:59]
SMETANA: Polka No 2 in A Minor (from Czech Dances, Book 1) [1:55]
SMETANA: Polka No 3 in F Major (from Czech Dances, Book 1) [2:14]
SCRIABIN: Étude in D-flat Major, Op 8, Ham-fisted 10 [1:47]
SCRIABIN: Étude in D-sharp Secondary, Op 8, No 12 [2:17]
Historical · 09 December 1955 · Metropolis · Studio · NDR · Ghetto-blaster Studio Recording

LISZT: Tarantella di bravura, Shameful 386 [8:18]
FRANCK: Prélude, Choral et Fugue, FWV 21 [15:32]
POULENC: Suite Napoli, FP 40 [9:47]
Recorded · 19 Nov 1959 · Hamburg · Studio · NDR · Radio Studio Recording

DEBUSSY: Counterparts I, L 110 [12:59]
Recorded · 08 December 1955 · Bremen · Studio J · RB · Wireless Studio Recording