Kar-Ming Chong wrote:

>...I wasn't aware that Lipatti had dabble in compositions.  Has anyone
>gottten the chance to hear these compositions? Are there any recordings
>of Lipatti's compositions out there currently on CDs?
>
>Also, is anyone aware of any other recordings by Lipatti besides the
>currently availabel EMI 5-CD box set?

Good to hear Lipatti's name again!  Here is definitely a composer that
should have lived longer.  Not so much for his composing, though, but for
his piano playing.

I know 4 of Lipatti's works, and so far they have failed to grasp my
attention.  These are available on CD, see below.

Apart from the 5 CD box on EMI (CZS 7 67163 2) there are (at least here in
Europe) the following:

- Lipatti plays one of the piano parts in a great performance of the Brahms
Liebesliederwalzer.  Also featuring Irmgard Seefried and Nadia Boulanger
(EMI CDH 7 63765 2).  I don't own this one.

- Then there is the live recording of Lipatti's last recital (EMI CDH 5
65166 2).  This has Bach's first partita, the Chopin walses (minus no 2),
Mozart's piano sonata no 8 and two of Schubert's impromptus.  All these
works are also in the 5 CD box, but IMO the performances are even better.
Sound is quite good for the period (early 1950s).  This is the most
cherished CD in my collection.

- A 2 CD set on Arciphone (ARC 112/113) containing 4 works by Lipatti (as
composer that is) and piano works from various other composers, including
a large parts of a live performance of Liszt's first piano concerto and the
second movement of Bartok's third.  Sound is very bad, but Lipatti's genius
shines through.  Anybody who agrees with me that Lipatti was one of the
greatest pianists of the century should hear this at least once.

Happy listening!

Bart Gerritse