Œuvres pour la main gauche - Anthologie, Vol. 10 Maxime Zecchini, Patrick Messina, Quatuor Ellipse

• Franz Schmidt (1874 - 1939): Quintette pour clarinette en Si Bémol, piano main gauche, violon, alto et violoncelle en Si Bémol Majeur:
• 1 Schmidt: Quintette pour clarinette en Si Bémol, piano main gauche, violon, alto et violoncelle en Si Bémol Majeur: Andante tranquillo 12:00
• 2 Schmidt: Quintette pour clarinette en Si Bémol, piano main gauche, violon, alto et violoncelle en Si Bémol Majeur: Lento 16:11
• 3 Schmidt: Quintette pour clarinette en Si Bémol, piano main gauche, violon, alto et violoncelle en Si Bémol Majeur: Allegro ma non troppo 10:31
• Quintette pour piano main gauche, deux violons, alto et violoncelle en Sol Majeur:
• 4 Schmidt: Quintette pour piano main gauche, deux violons, alto et violoncelle en Sol Majeur: Lebhaft, doch nicht schnell 12:49
• 5 Schmidt: Quintette pour piano main gauche, deux violons, alto et violoncelle en Sol Majeur: Adagio 10:29
• 6 Schmidt: Quintette pour piano main gauche, deux violons, alto et violoncelle en Sol Majeur: Sehr ruhig 08:41
• 7 Schmidt: Quintette pour piano main gauche, deux violons, alto et violoncelle en Sol Majeur: Sehr lebhaft 07:43
• Total Runtime 01:18:24

Info for Œuvres pour la main gauche - Anthologie, Vol. 10

10th and last volume of the anthology of works for the left hand by Maxime Zecchini.

An Austrian composer of the first half of the 20th century, Franz Schmidt, died in February 1939. The tragic historical context of the time practically overshadowed his death and this composer remains today rather little known. He has nevertheless written an important and singular page in the history of Austrian music, including the two quintets presented on this CD, long forgotten jewels of chamber music.

In the field of concertante music with piano he composed only pieces requiring the left hand alone, for the Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein.

I had the idea of exploring the left hand repertoire, with 600 pieces, a few years ago when I first studied Ravel's Concerto pour la main gauche. The idea that the playing of just five fingers could sound like two hands seemed like an extraordinary wonder to me.

But a number of composers have managed to take up the challenge with exceptional talent. These works display the left hand's vast capacities. At its best, it can make the piano sound like a full orchestra, by using the positioning of its fingers, its natural flexibility, and its powerful range in the keyboard's low notes.

I am delighted to be able to introduce the poetic breadth of this unusual repertoire, which is in equal parts technically challenging and spectacular. I hope that these recordings, in the form of an anthology, which include piano music alone, concertos with orchestra and chamber music, will make discover or rediscover these masterpieces to the greatest number.

Maxime Zecchini, piano
Patrick Messina, clarinet
Quatuor Ellipse

Maxime Zecchini
Born in Paris in 1979, Maxime Zecchini. He began a course of study at the "Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique" of Lyon, in Géry Moutier 's and Danièle Renault- Fasquelle 's class, where, in June of 2001, he earned the DNESM (Diplôme National d'Etudes Supérieures Musicales) with highest honors and special commendation (by a unanimous vote). He is accepted at the "Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique" of Paris in Jean-François Heisser 's advanced proficiency class.

Maxime Zecchini is the first French pianist to receive a degree from the prestigious "Incontri col Maestro Academy" in Imola (Italy), he is winner of the international competition in Arcachon in 2000, First Prize (by unanimous decision) of competition of Forum de Noemandie, he was awarded in 2002 the Cziffra Foundation Prize and the Ragusa-Ibla competition (Sicily). In 2003, he won the First Prize by a unanimous decision at the international competition at Varenna-Lake Como (Italy).

Maxime Zecchini has received a scholarships from the Marcel Bleustein- Blanchet foundation for the Vocation, as well as further awards from the Meyer Foundation, and the Mécénat Musical Société Générale. He was also supported by the Bru Zane Foundation of Venice, and his project about the left hand repertoire has the label "Mission du Centenaire" for the tribute about the Centenary of the World War One.

His discography includes the first Anthology of the works for the left hand in 10 volumes, among which 6 are already available, under the label Advitam Records and distributed in the world by Harmonia Mundi.

He has played in Paris (Salle Gaveau, Théâtre du Châtelet, Salle Cortot, Théâtre Marigny,...) as well as in numerous festivals and concerts in France and abroad (in Italy, Germany, Austria, England, South Africa, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Kenya...).

Maxime Zecchini is an eclectic musician: he has orchestrated music for television, and directed musicals. He has also played with the singer Julia Migenes and gave "concerts-lectures" with the actress Anouk Aimlée. Fascinated with composition since early childhood, and is the composer of numerous original works and transcriptions. He is published at the Editions Durand-Salabert-Universal Music.

Booklet for Œuvres pour la main gauche - Anthologie, Vol. 10