Performing and Recording the Orchestral Works
Following the release of the Thomas de Hartmann Project recordings of solo piano, chamber, and vocal music, we are now actively engaged in recording and creating performance opportunities for the orchestral works. Efrem Marder, long-time project team member, is leading this initiative.
As a first step, in September 2021, a festival of three concerts, Thomas de Hartmann in Ukraine- a Forgotten Master, was organized in Lviv Ukraine, in collaboration with the conductor Theodore Kuchar and the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine. During that festival, studio recordings for three CDs were completed.
The first was released February 2022 on Toccata Classics.
The second recording was released by Nimbus Alliance June 2022 and features Elan Sicroff playing de Hartmann’s Piano Concerto, Op. 66 with guest conductor Tian Hui Ng.
The third recording, which includes the Double Bass concerto, Op. 65 and the grand (66 min) Symphonie-poeme No.1, was released on Toccata Classics in Nov 2022.
Additionally, in 2022 Matt Haimovitz performed and recorded the Cello Concerto Op. 57 on May 22 in Leipzig Germany with the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. The recording will be released in 2023.
In 2023, violinist Joshua Bell plans to record the Violin Concerto Op. 66 in Europe, details being finalized.
In the first half of 2023, orchestral performances of de Hartmann’s music in Massachusetts include the American premiere of the violin concerto (on Feb 10 in Amherst), the American premiere of the piano concerto paired with the Symphonie-poeme no 1 (on March 18 in Amherst), a second performance of the violin concerto on May 7 in Boston, and a performance of the cello concerto on May 13 in Springfield. Details can be found in upcoming Performances.
The orchestral recording plan includes 2-3 more album releases to occur in the years 2023-2025, including recordings conducted by Kirill Karabits.
In addition, an initiative is underway to bring de Hartmann’s 1946 opera “Esther” Op. 76 (based on Racine’s play “Esther” recounting the Biblical story) to the stage for a worldwide premiere, and to also create a professional recording. Interested partners and collaborators are welcomed.
To learn more about why this opportunity is so compelling now, please see here the:
and the motivational _Esther_ Proposal Doc, 02_23 (2).docx.