CARMEN CARROZZA plays Bach - Chopin - Mendelssohn - Creston - Riegger - Tcherepnin
About the CD written by Dr. Joseph A. Ciccone
Now at a vinate age of eighty with his distinguished silver hair and genuine smile he sits at his dining room table with his wife Jean, who has been by his side for over fifty years, and reflects back recalling a particular concert which took place at Carnegie Hall, May 1957. At this concert sponsored by the American Accordionists Association which featured outstanding accordion musicians, Carrozza performed Creston’s – “Prelude and Dance” (its first public premier) and the first movement of Mendelssohn’s “Piano Concerto in G Minor” transcribed by Carrozza and performed on the accordion for the first time ever.
A news flash “New York Story”, what a suitable introduction for this CD. Broadcasted by Jack Walters May 1, 1962, discussing the making of what is now known as “monumental accordion history.” It consists of vital educational material about Carrozza’s Town Hall premier of the contemporary commissioned works. The first piece in this musical program is a composition held close the Carrozza’s heart, Paul Creston’s – “Prelude and Dance.” “Prelude and Dance” is the first musical composition to be commissioned by the American Accordionists Association and represents one of the first publications of music written for the instrument by a leading composer. The next two selections, Mendelssohn’s “Piano Concerto in G Minor 1st Movement” and Chopin’s “Fantasie Impromptu” were arranged by Carrozza and recorded live. Other commissioned works featured are “Partita” (also recorded live) – four explosive movements of unique contrasting styles by Alexander Tcherepnin and Wallingfor Riegger’s “Cooper Square”. Masterfully depicting New York Coty’s busy Cooper Square, creating the illusion of hearing more than one accordion playing.
A compilation of re-released and unreleased material as well as live performances, this discography brings out all the nuances of Carrozza’a interpretation of classical music. One must analyze Bellow Control – (breathing), Dynamics - (Piano/Piano-Forte/Forte), Smoothness of Execution – (Accents and Interpretation), Tonal Qualities – (Color and Pressure – holding value of note at an even gauge), Right and Left Hand Technique – (Legato, Staccato and so on and so forth), Rhythm, Phrasing and Resolution, Heart and Soul, Intensity, Human Instinct, and many other important characteristics when critiquing the accordion. Here is where we can separate “Carrozza” from all others! CARMEN CARROZZA The Most Celebrated Concert Accordionist of all Time
Review by: Henry Doktorski Accordionists have waited with great anticipation for this historic CD release of Carmen Carrozza playing the Paul Creston Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra with legendary conductor Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Symphony. Paul Creston may be the best-known American composer to write a concerto for accordion, and classical accordion lovers hungered to hear the concerto. Scores were published in the early 1960s and sold. I have sold one or two of these scores on my eBay store. But although we might enjoy looking through the score and attempting to play the incredibly difficult and daunting accordion part, we still wanted to hear the actual piece with accordion and orchestra. Periodically a cassette tape might surface with a poor recording of the Boston Symphony Hall concert, but the quality was terrible. Then when Dr. Joseph A. Ciccone released the first Carrozza CD in 2002 which included Paul Creston's solo accordion work: Prelude and Dance, and works by other composers (Tcherepnin, Riegger, Hovhaness, Bach, Chopin & Mendelssohn) we wrote to Ciccone and begged: "When will you release the concert with the Paul Creston Concerto!?" The anticipation was finally relieved during the August 2007 Coupe Mondiale in Alexandria, Virginia, when the great Carmen Carrozza made a guest appearance with several cases of the new Paul Creston Concerto CD and happily signed copies at a table outside the main concert hall. The CDs disappeared like hotcakes at a competitive eating contest. I was sitting at a table nearby offering my own CDs for sale and I enjoyed watching accordionists and accordion lovers from all over the world; Russia, China, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Slovenia, Canada, the U.S., etc., purchase Carrozza's new CD. I also purchased a case which I offer for sale at my eBay store, and I am extremely proud to be a distributor. The CD is terrific. Total time is 74:04 and the 16-page CD booklet includes liner notes and historic photographs. The program is superb: the three movements of Paul Creston's concerto, Alan Hovhaness' The Rubaiyat with the New York Philharmonic, Andre Kostelanetz, conductor, and three live radio broadcasts in 1960, 1961 and 1963, during the height of Carrozza's fame. During this time he appeared as soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Cincinnati Orchestra, Buffalo Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony at Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.). He also appeared with the N.Y. Philharmonic under the direction of Andre Kostelanetz, premiering the "Rubaiyat", written by Alan Hovhaness and narrated by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in Washington DC and for former NYC Mayor John Lindsay in New York. He has concertized throughout Europe and was presented with a gold medal in Italy after an outstanding performance at the Teatro di Pavia. One of the high points in Mr. Carrozza's distinguished career was a concert in Town Hall in New York City where he performed all original accordion works by many outstanding American composers including Robert Russell Bennett, Paul Creston, Virgil Thompson and many others. This CD will truly be a Treasure for the Library of the DiscriminatingClassical Accordion Connoisseur. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A true emotional explosion – one which takes you through a journey of music and spirituality. Carrozza himself after listening to his own recordings not heard in over forty years went through a revelation. Live recordings such as the first movement of Mendelssohn’s – “Piano Concerto in G Minor”’ Chopin’s – “Fantasie Impromptu” Op. 66, A. Tcherepin’s – “Partita” (commissioned by A.A.A.) which are featured on this CD, brought back memories to a modest man who never dwelled on his past. 
“Imagine a full house at Carnegie Hall for an accordion concert, it’s unheard of in this day and age, that’s how enormous the accordion world once was”, state Maestro Carrozza. After his performance Carrozza stated. “I didn’t know what happened, it sounded like a volcano had erupted, I was taken back by the overwhelming standing ovation… it got to the point they had to turn the main lights on and pause the concert… It seemed like it never ended… after that concert my career took off in a new direction, and the rest is history.” 
The next piece, a brilliant composition by Carrozza, “Liberta” is a short 3-movement musical poem dedicated to Alan Hovhaness based on the them from Hovhaness’ “Rubaiyat”. Although never heard publicly “Liberta” makes its premiere on this CD. Carrozza concludes with one of his favorite concert pieces, Bach’s “Adagio” arranged by Paul Creston. 