Presents
Charles de Kontski
Piano Trio in D Major, Op.30
Information about the Polish composer Charles de Kontski (born Karol Katski) is relatively scarce and much of the information which exists is often contradictory. He was born into a musical family in the Polish city of Krakow probably in 1815 although some sources say 1813. His father Grzegorz was a then prominent composer and pianist. Of his four sons, only two, Antoine (Antoni) a virtuoso pianist and Apolonaire (Apolonairy) a violinist whom Paganini considered to be of the first oreder, achieved a measure of international fame during their lifetimes. Something that Charles (Karol) and his brother Stanislaw did not. After the unsuccessful Polish uprising of 1831, all four brothers emigrated to Paris and took the surname de Kontski as their professional name. Although some sources list Karol as a virtuoso pianist, this was possibly because they confused him with his brother Antoni. He was, in fact like his brothers, sent to the General Music School in Warsaw. There he studied studied violin with Jozef Bielawski, concertmaster of the Warsaw National Performing Orchestra. Subsequent to his studies, he and his brother Antoni toured together giving violin and piano concerts in Lublin, Lvov, Vilnius, Moscow and St Petersburg where the Tsar, upon hearing them play, awarded them generous stipendiums. After emigrating to Paris, Karol earned his living by composing and teaching. Eventually, his works came to the attention not only of French audiences but also of the leading musicians in Paris, including Achille Gouffe, the famous principal bassist of the Paris Opera Orchestra. Gouffe took part in the premiere performance of de Konski’s String Quintet for 2 Violins, Viola, Cello and Bass. Kontski's violin playing was of a very high standard, which allowed him to obtain a position the most prestigious orchestra in Paris, the Opera Comique. He died in Paris in 1867 at the age of 52
The Piano Trio in D major was dedicated to the then Prince Royal of Sweden Charles XV, perhaps in hopes of obtaining some recognition or perhaps remuneration or a position. The trio was published in 1859, although it probably was composed a couple of decades earlier, somewhere around 1840 at which time Katski was an unknown and unable to get his works published. The lovely first movement, Allegro con moto opens gracefully with a sweet, elegant salon-like theme. The middle movement, Andante cantabile, is delicate and very romantic. It begins with four variations and then has two further sections which are not variations. The finale is a tuneful, lilting Allegretto
This is a very appealing, fine Romantic era work and in it one hears Kontski's roots, not at all unlike those of Chopin no doubt because the two received the same musical education in their native Poland.
Parts: $29.95
