The music of Reynaldo Hahn should be much better known. The Concerto music label has just released a four-cd set of Hahn’s complete piano music performed by Cristina Ariagno that demonstrates a composer with a distinct and very appealing style.
Hahn was born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1874, but his family moved to Paris when he was three years old. Hahn absorbed the musical culture of late 19th century France, and his music often has the voluptuousness of Gabriel Faure and Camille Saint-Saens and rose-colored hints of Claude Debussy’s impressionism.
Often dismissed as a mere salon composer, Hahn emerges from this remarkable set as an extremely gifted composer whose melodic miniatures should find favor with Francophiles and all who love charming, delicate and sensual music. Also included is a DVD documentary on Hahn.
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The great English conductor, Sir Colin Davis, passed away April 14. He was 84. Davis led many distinguished orchestras over his career, including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.
He made innumerable recordings over the years, and was especially acclaimed for his performances of Hector Berlioz and Jean Sibelius. His passing is a great loss for classical music and he will be fondly remembered.
Here he is discussing Berlioz’ Christmas oratorio, “L’Enfance du Christ.”