Richard Fuller
Compact Disk
Recordings
Like Mozart, Schubert and Mendelssohn, Hyacinthe Jadin's short lifetime (1776-1800) seems to have been a race against time. Succumbing ultimately at age 24 to tuberculosis, rampant in the days of the revolution in Paris, Jadin's life and music have provoked speculation as to what he might have achieved, had he lived longer; nevertheless, he forged a distinctive personal style and created an impressive body of work of which the 12 sonatas for solo fortepiano of this recording constitute his magnum Opus. Until recently, his music has remained virtually unknown to the general concert-going public. Presently, however, Jadin's music is enjoying a re-discovery due mainly to the efforts of fortepianst, music scholar and editor of Jadin's music, Richard Fuller. Fuller's recent recording (2005) of the 12 piano sonatas is the first complete recording of these works. Fuller's artisty provides not only very fascinating, but astonishingly pleasureable listening. The recording fills a long-standing gap in the recorded repertoire of the French classical period. There is an ever-increasing amount of fortepiano music on the market, much of it more "historical" than musical. Fuller's recording of Jadin's piano music , however, is at once historically informed, beautifully interpreteted and thoroughly convincing.
W. A. Mozart Klavierwerke (Three CDs)
Compact Disk
1
Richard Fuller is an American born and trained musician who has become a specialist in performing Viennese classics on a fortepiano. He has honed his craft well, as these delightful CDs document. Fuller plays a replica of one of Mozart's favorite instruments, that made by Anton Walter. One of the most remarkable qualities of Fuller's playing is his range of tonality. He demonstrates that while the dynamic range of the modern piano is greater, the 18th-century fortepiano can be a more subtly varied sounding instrument. In the variations of K 331, Fuller creates an uncanny illusion of differing registers, as might be found on a harpsichord. Fuller's love and respect for the grand genius of Mozart is expressed in a tender, rubato-inflected reading of the glorious Rondo in A Minor, and a magisterial performance of the courtly Sonata in B flat. His tempos are, generally, moderately paced, allowing for an easy and natural delineation of Mozartean texture, both harmonic and melodic. There are tons of Mozart keyboard recordings out there, but this one stands out as especially satisfying.
This CD presents for the first time recordings made on the Leopold-Mozart Violin and the Stein Fortepiano from the collection of Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum. The following is a review of the Album appearing in "Ensemble" Magazine (Germany), 2005.
"Music instruments are as good as their players. The idea to "re-awaken" the historical music instruments from the collection of Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum is a good one, but one needs musicians who are have the capacity to convince listeners - even without the aid of such prominent instruments (Leopold Mozart violine and the museum's Stein fortepiano). For musicians Maria Bader-Kubizek and Richard Fuller this is definitely the case. The selected works unfold as lively and imaginativedialogues: brilliant but unpretentious. One highpoint of the recording is the finale of the sonata in D-Major KV 306, a fast and joyous rondo replete with changing meters and a most impressive cadenza. The performers play to all the points and miss no opportunity to create a witty drama of this unique movement. The otherwise often over-romantisized e-minor sonata comes across in this recording with noble transparency. (Oliver Buslau)
Vanhal Klavierquartette Op 40 1-3
J.B. Vanhal (1739-1813), best known perhaps as quartet partner of Haydn, Mozart and Dittersdorf and prolific composer of chamber and orchestral music, was a pioneer in the genre of the piano quartet. At the turn of the century, the form was still relatively new; indeed comparative analyses of Vanhal's and Mozart's works in the genre, reveal much similarity and points of obvious exchange between the composers.
This world premiere recording of Vanhal's piano quartets Op. 40 has been hailed as definitive ("Gustostueck" for early music buffs) and a significant enrichment to the repertoire. Performed by Richard Fuller, fortepiano and Peter Zajicek, Peter Kiral, & Jan Greiner (Musica Aeterna Bratislava). Musica 790 034-2.
Haydn Schottische Lieder, CNT 1021
Haydn made over 400 arrangements of Scottish, Irish, Welsh and english folksongs, most of them for voice and piano trio. Among the most casual yet artistically charming pieces he ever composed (probably "Hausmusik"), the collectioned attained an unprecedented popularity in Haydn's lifetime, from which the composer benefited not only in terms his increased reputation, which was already great, but financially as well. The collections encouraged moreover numerous emulators, among them Pleyel, Kozeluch and later Beethoven.
This CD presents Haydn's arrangements (as well as instrumental arrangements and the A Major piano trio) in light of the most recent findings concerning the performance practice of this music. Refreshing, sensitive and exuberant performances by Richard Fuller, Klaus Mertens, Andrew Manze and Jaap Ter Linden.
Mozart Flötenquartette and Klavierquartette
The Piano Quartet in g minor KV 478, was written in 1785 at the request of the music publisher (and flutist) Hoffmeister. He comissioned three piano quartets from Mozart, but after publishing the first quartet, asked Mozart to release him from obligations, claiming the public wanted something lighter. We do not know how Mozart reacted, however they did get together again for the A Major Flute Quartet.
Mozart's expressive palette appears in this recording, in its full, multi-faceted variety; when we compare the flute and piano quartets, here a diverting brilliant music, there an almost romantic, brooding and passionate mood. The 2nd and 3rd movements of this piano quartet recall Mozart's piano concertos in their design and content. One of the most beautiful and signicant works in Mozart's chamber music oeuvre is presented on this CD in a stellar performance by Richard Fuller, Istvan Kertesz, Peter Szuets and Mark Peters.
Mozart Clavierduette KV301-304
Beethoven's settings of Scottish folksongs, Op 108, like those of Joseph Haydn (CNT 1021), constitute microcosms of the complex relationship between artistic ideals, fashion of the day and entrepreneurial spirit. George Thomson, who had also comissioned similar arrangements from Haydn, initially criticized Beethoven's settings (some of which Haydn had also arranged) as too demanding in the piano parts. Beethoven for his part, criticized Thomson for providing him only the melodies of the songs w/o their texts. Amid considerable conflict and effort, the charming and highly varied collection finally took shape in the years 1815-16, published by Thomson in 1818. The CD whcih also contains the Piano trio WoO 39 and the Rondo in C, Op. 51 Nr. 1 for fortepiano, presents a compelling sequel to the Haydn Scottish songs (CNT 1021) performed by Richard Fuller, Klaus Mertens, Jaap Ter Linden and Daniel Sepec. MA 98 10 839.