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JOSEF HOFMANN

The Complete Vol. 5: Solo Recordings 1935-1948

Two (2) Compact Disc (2 CD). Marston Records 52004-2. Mono, compilation. CASE & INSERTS: NM-. DISCS: NM.

JOSEF HOFMANN (piano)

Josef Hofmann is considered by many of his peers to be the greatest pianist of his time. This 2-disc set, with notes by Harold Schonberg, chronicles Hofmann's career later in life containing material never before heard on CD.

Transfer whiz Ward Marston presents a treasure trove designed to lure both pianophiles and archivists alike. For starters, Hofmann's 1935 Victor test recordings include all known alternate takes. Encores from a 1938 Philadelphia concert reveal the pianist's superficial side, but a careful representation from his problematic Bell Telephone Hour broadcasts flesh out Hofmann's recorded repertoire with a simple, unforced Debussy Claire de Lune and a rollicking Prokofiev March, op. 12, no. 1. Best of all are five 1935 HMV tests, of which Chopin's F-sharp Nocturne, A- flat Waltz, op. 42, and Chopin/Liszt Maiden's Wish reveal Hofmann at his most unhurried, aristocratic, and purposeful. A home recording of Gluck/Sgambati Mélodie from Orfeo caps this important collection, garnished with superb annotations. --Jed Distler

CD 1 (64:11)
The Curtis Institute Recitals, ca.1935:
Hofmann:
1.	Berceuse, op. 20 no. 5	3:02
	(solo version)
2.	Berceuse, op. 20 no. 5	3:11
	(with Efrem Zimbalist, violin)
RCA Victor test recordings, 1935:
Chopin:
3.	Waltz in A-flat, op. 42, Take 1	3:36
	19 April 1935; (CS 88937 - 1)
4.	Waltz in A-flat, op. 42, Take 2	3:30
	2 May 1935; (CS 88937 - 2)
5.	Waltz in A-flat, op. 42, Take 4	3:32
	2 May 1935; (CS 88937 - 4)
6.	Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2, Take 1	4:47
	2 May 1935; (CS 88938 - 1) (Recording was aborted before the conclusion of the performance.)
7.	Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2, Take 2	4:46
	6 May 1935; (CS 88938 - 2)
Chopin-Liszt:
8.	Chant Polonaise, op. 74 no. 1, "The Maiden’s Wish"	3:32
	6 May 1935; (CS 88958 - 1)
Chopin:
9.	Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, op. 58, First Movement - Allegro maestoso	8:17
	6 May 1935; (CS 88959 - 1) (CS 88960 - 1)
10.	Polonaise in A, op. 40 no. 1, "Military"	3:30
	6 May 1935; (CS 88961 - 1)
11.	Waltz in A-flat, op. 42,	3:34
	19 April 1935; (CS 88962 - 1)
HMV test recordings, 29 November 1935:
Chopin:
12.	Waltz in A-flat, op. 42	3:28
	(2EA 2575 -1)
Chopin-Liszt:
13.	Chant Polonaise, op. 74 no. 12, "My Joys"	3:32
	(2EA 2576 -1)
14.	Chant Polonaise, op. 74 no. 1, "The Maiden’s Wish"	3:15
	(2EA 2577 -1)
Chopin:
15.	Nocturne in F-sharp, op. 15 no. 2	3:16
	(2EA 2578 - 1)
Beethoven:
16.	Sonata No.18 in E-flat, op. 31 no. 3, Second Movement - Scherzo	4:11
	(2EA 2579 - 1)
CD 2 (70:54)
Philadelphia Golden Jubilee, 4 April1938:
Chopin:
1.	Andante Spianato e Grande Polonaise, op. 22	9:45
2.	Berceuse in D-flat, op. 57	3:11
3.	Waltz in D-flat, op. 64 no. 1, "Minute"	1:26
4.	Nocturne in F-sharp, op. 15 no. 2	2:48
Mendelssohn:
5.	Song Without Words, op. 4 no. 4, "Spinning Song"	1:35
Columbia test, 9 February 1940:
(CO 26504 - 1) The first few measures of each of the following are played:
Chopin:
6.	Polonaise in A, op. 40 no. 1, "Military"	:58
7.	Waltz in A-flat, op. 42	:53
8.	Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2	1:19
The following selection is played complete
Liadov:
9.	Musical Snuff Box	1:11
Ford Sunday Evening Hour, 19 October 1941:
Weber:
10.	Sonata No. 1 in C, op. 24, Fourth Movement - Presto - Rondo "Perpetual Motion"	4:00
Chopin:
11.	Nocturne in E-flat, op. 9 no. 2	4:00
12.	Waltz in D-flat, op. 64 no. 1, "Minute"	1:32
Liszt:
13.	Liebestraum No. 3 in A-flat	3:47
Walter Damrosch Birthday broadcast, 1 January 1942:
Chopin:
14.	Nocturne in D-flat, op. 27 no. 2	5:06
15.	Waltz in D-flat, op. 64 no. 1, "Minute"	1:31
The Bell Telephone Hour:
Rachmaninov:
16.	Prelude in C-sharp Minor, op. 3 no. 2	3:28
	1 March 1943 :
Prokofiev:
17.	March, op. 12 no. 1	1:28
	1 March 1943
Hofmann:
18.	Elegy	1:45
	1 March 1943
Chopin:
19.	Nocturne in F-sharp, op. 15 no. 2	3:09
	9 August 1943
20.	Waltz in E-flat, op. 18, "Valse Brilliante"	3:36
	9 August 1943
Mendelssohn:
21.	Rondo capriccioso in E, op. 14	6:18
	27 March 1944
Debussy:
22.	Suite Bergamasque: "Clair de lune"	4:31
	19 August 1946
Home recording (date unknown, ca.1948):
Gluck-Sgambati:
23.	Mélodie from ORFEO ED EURIDICE	2:20

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CD 1 (64:11)

CD 2 (70:54)