–
Giedymin Prosper Rodziewicz (1834-1891) : Waltzes, Nocturne, Mazurkas, La Mélancolie, Galops, Polkas-Mazurkas, Chinese Dance, Evening Harmony, Impromptu, Reverie, Chinese Dance, Dramatic Entertainment. Wlodzimierz Lebiecki, piano. 2021. Leaflet in English, Polish, Russian and Belarusian. 60.46. Dux 1790.
Originally from Yuratishki, a city of the Russian Empire of the 19th century located today in Belarus, Giedymin Prosper Rodkiewicz was brought up in a family of minor nobility; his father is an assessor at the Vilnius Court of Justice. It was there that he began his musical studies before working in administration. We find him at the Paris Conservatoire in 1854; he perfected his skills there for two years before returning home, taking care of the family estate while devoting himself mainly to the piano, an instrument to which he devoted himself almost exclusively. He got involved in a patriotic movement which brought together the Polish, Belarusian and Lithuanian nobility, married a rich young woman, Teresa, who became his muse and bore him six children before dying in 1882, leaving him in despair. Rodkiewicz left a catalog of 75 opuses for the piano, mostly small pieces, intended for meetings in the salons of the local nobility. Some were published in Warsaw, Leipzig or kyiv, but for this album, which only includes the world’s first engravings, autographs or copies which are dormant in Lublin in the family collections have been used.
Completely forgotten composer, Giedymin Rodkiewicz nevertheless deserves attention. Served by a delicate lyricism, his production is in line with Chopin, but also with the dominant Russian culture in this part of 19th century Europe. The interesting note is signed by the interpreter, Wlodzimierz Lebiecki, a Belarusian-Polish pianist who trained in particular in Minsk. The program opens with False n° 2 op. 24, an eloquent page of just over six minutes, which Lebiecki does not consider inferior to those of Chopin or even Johann Strauss, emphasizing the panache and the symphonic atmosphere that run through it. Another Waltz, n° 3 op. 33, closes the recital in a more intimate atmosphere. We let ourselves be taken in by this refined poetry. Lebiecki points out that there are similarities with Chopin, and evokes theStudy op. 10 n ° 8 for its elegance and lyricism, and the False op. 66 n ° 1 for the delicacy of the narration. After a Nocturne which is in line with romantic reverie, pages like The Melancholy op. 10, l’Evening Harmony op. 11 and the Rêverie op. 13 rather find their inspiration in Liszt, their dramatic, even tragic character (evening harmony), being markedly accentuated. The Mazurka on. 28 n° 1 and a series of five others of the same name, without opus number, very melodious and expressive, cannot hide their devotion to Chopin either. Lebiecki does not specify the dates of composition, perhaps unknown, of these miniatures. But we can only share his opinion as to an identical period of creation.
Of them Polkas-Mazurkas illuminatingly confirm the atmosphere of the salons in which Rodkiewicz performed and distilled his music. This time, it is to a pupil of John Field, Alexander Gurilyov (1803-1858), then very fashionable for his subtle pieces steeped in Russian culture, that they are linked by their dancing and popular character. two pleasant Galops and an attractive chinese dance indicate the ease with which the composer creates a light and dynamic atmosphere. As to Dramatic entertainment which precedes the Fake n° 3, it is a resolutely romantic page which, in a little over eight minutes, creates a universe with committed colors whose narration leads the listener into alternations of strength and very melodious sweetness. It is undoubtedly the most inspired work of this album which has very attractive sides.
In this January 2021 recording made in the Penderecki Hall in the Polish city of Radom, Wlodzimierz Lebiecki has the merit of highlighting the scores of Giedymin Rodkiewicz that he has played in concert on several occasions. Even if the shade of Chopin is very (too?) present, even if one can consider that the interest of this engraving is perhaps primarily documentary, the homage paid to the composer will offer nice pleasures to the amateurs. romantic piano.
Sound: 9 Record: 10 Repertoire: 7.5 Interpretation: 9
John Lacroix
–
