PETER RITZEN

The Bicentennial Concert of Franz LISZT

stellachang — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 07:31:17 +0000

Peter RITZEN is considered as the reincarnation of Franz LISZT. He will give a piano recital in the Poly Theatre (Beijing) on 6th of May.

Organized by
Ministry of Culture of People’s Republic of China
State Administration of Radio, Film and Television
People’s Government of Beijing Municipality
Presented by
China Arts and Entertainment Group
Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture
Special Thanks
Beijing Poly Theatre Management

* He is acclaimed internationally as the Reincarnation of Franz Liszt (1811-1886).

* His technique is comparative with that of Vladimir Horowitz, and his free and expressive style has changed the way people view classical pianists..

He is Peter Ritzen, the famed Flemish pianist, from Europe, who has been active on the most prestigious concert stages of Beijing in the recent years. He is known for performing the vast repertoire of the Romantic Era, but what really distinguishes Mr. Ritzen from other classical pianists is his skill of free improvisation.

On May 6^th, Peter Ritzen, the musical genius who is a pianist, composer and a conductor, will present classical fans in Beijing with a gift that is both unique and classy.

Mr. Ritzen, who has concertized extensively throughout Europe and the USA, has become one of the most well-known and welcomed international pianist in China in the recent years. He is not the typical solemn classical pianist but neither is he a pop music pianist like Richard Clayderman who plays the familiar tunes. On top of his exquisite performance of classical music Mr. Ritzen incorporates fresh elements from audience’s preferences into his own music.

The year of 2011 marks the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Franz Liszt; the Austro-Hungarian pianist-composer who is being commemorated by the whole world. As an expert of the music by Liszt, Peter Ritzen is a leader in this worldwide celebration. On the night of May 6^th, Peter Ritzen will perform some of the best known solo works by Liszt, including Etude d’Execution Transcendante Nr10,‘Harmonies du Soir’ , the second Ballad, the Nocturne III, ‘Love Dream’, and a Fantasy on the theme Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi.

With the first half of the concert full of the best of the classical, what will truly stun the audience is to be expected in the second half, Peter Ritzen’s free transcriptions and improvisation. Some famous Chinese folk tunes, Mr. Ritzen’s version of Yellow River, besides free adaptations of the movie themes; AVATAR and The Sound of Music. The pianist himself will interact with the audience and improvise upon themes from the live performance !

Concerto Program

stellachang — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:26:22 +0000

J.S. Bach [1685 – 1750]

Concerto for two Pianos & Strings in G minor BWV 1060

Franz Liszt [1811 – 1886]

Totentanz for Piano & Orchestra

Malédiction for Piano & Strings

Concerto nr. 1 for Piano & Orchestra in E-flat major

Cesar Franck [1822 – 1890]

Variations Symphonique for Piano & Orchestra

‚Les Djinns’ Symphonic Poem for Piano & Orchestra

Peter I. Tschaikowsky [1840 – 1893]

Concerto nr. 1 for Piano & Orchestra in B-flat major op. 23

Theodor Leschetizky [1830 – 1915]

Concerto Symphonique op. 9 for Piano & Orchestra

Edward Grieg [1843 -1907]

Concerto for Piano & Orchestra in A minor op.16

Sergei Rachmaninov [1873 – 1943]

Concerto nr 2 for Piano & Orchestra in C minor op. 18

Dimtitri Shostakowitch [1906 – 1975]

Concerto Nr. I for Piano, Trumpet & Strings op.35

Sergei Prokofieff [1891-1853]

Concerto nr. 3 for Piano & Orchestra op. 26

Georges Gershwin [1898 – 1937]

Rhapsody in Blue

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F

Richard Addinsell [1904 – 1977]

Warsaw Concerto (from the Movie : A dangerous Moonlight)

François Glorieux [1931,-]

Divertimento for Piano & Strings

Peter Ritzen [1956,-]

Concerto for Piano & Orchestra ‚The Last Empress‘ [on themes of the Beijing Opera ‚Last Empress’]

Chinese Piano Concerto: ‚China in the Year of the Dragon‘

Concerto for Taiwan for Piano & Orchestra (based on Taiwanese folk tunes)

Chamber Music Program

stellachang — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:24:46 +0000

W.A. Mozart [1756-1791]

Sonata for Violin und Piano in G major. K.V. 301

L.van Beethoven [1770-1827]

Sonata for Piano & Cello op.69

Trio op.11 ‚Gassenauer‘ for Violin, Cello & Piano

M. Glinka [1804 – 1857]

Divertimento Brillante: Sextet for Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello & Contrabass

Cesar Franck [1822 – 1890]

Sonata for Violin and Piano in A

Quintet for 2Violins, Viola, Cello & Piano

Trio for Violin, Cello & Piano

Guillaume Lekeu [1870-1894]

Sonata for Violin & Piano in G major

Johannes Brahms [1833 – 1897]

Sonata op.100 in A major for Piano & Violin

Edward Grieg [1843 -1907]

Sonata for Cello & Piano in C minor

Claude Debussy [1862 – 1918]

Sonate pour Violoncelle et Piano

Dimtitri Shostakowitch [1906 – 1975]

Sonata für Cello and Piano in D minor op. 40

Sergei Prokofieff [1891-1853]

Sonata for Violin & Piano op. 94 in D major

Peter Ritzen [1956,-]

Quintet in F# major for two Violins, Viola, Cello & Piano

Songs

Theodor Leschetizky [1830 – 1915]

3 Songs op. 26 for Soprano and Piano

6 Songs op. 32 for Soprano & Piano

5 Songs op. 33 for Soprano & Piano

Peter Ritzen [1956,-]

Chinese Song; ‘Under the Moon’ [Li Tai-Po]

3 Spanish Songs on Poems of Santiago Ruperez:

Buscadores de la Muerte

Années de Pèlerinage

Flamengo

Recital Program

stellachang — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:22:48 +0000

J.S. Bach [1685 – 1750]
Choral Prelude ‚Nun komm der Heiden Heiland‘ [Arr. F. Busoni]
Aria from Cantata Nr. 147 ‚Jesus bleibet meine Freude‘ [Transcription by P. Ritzen]

J. Haydn [1732 – 1809] Sonata in E-flat major Dur [Hob. 52]
W.A Mozart [1756 – 1791] Fantasy KV 397
W.A. Mozart-Ritzen Marche a la Türcque with 4 Improvisations:
a la ‚Beethoven’ ‚Brahms’ ‚Chopin’ & ‚Liszt‘
L. van Beethoven Sonata op.27 Nr.2 ‚Mondschein
[1770 – 1827]

Franz Liszt [1811 – 1886]
Études d’Exécutions Transcendantes (complete etudes)
Sonata in B-minor
Années de Pelerinages:
Premiere Année: La Suisse Nr. 6 ‚Vallée d’Obermann’
Deuxieme Année: L’Italie Nr. 7 ‘Apres une Lecture de Dante’
Troisieme Année: L’ Italie Nr. 4 ‘Les Jeux d’Eau a la Villa d’Este’
Harmonies poétiques et religieuses:
Nr. 3 ‘Bénédiction de Dieux dans la Solitude
Nr. 7 ‘Funérailles
Liebesträume: [Love Dream] 3 Notturnos
1. Hohe Liebe,
2. Seliger Tod,
3. O Lieb,
Complete Ballades I & II

2 Legenden:
1. St Francis of Assisi; Sermon to the Births
2. St Francis of Paola walking on the Waters
Hungarian Rhapsodies: Nr. VI – XI – XV (Rákóczy Marsch)
Rigoletto Fantasy [Paraphrase on the Opera ‚Rigoletto’ by G. Verdi]
Faust Waltz [Paraphrase on the Opera ‚Faust’ by Ch. Gounod]
Ave Maria Franz Schubert (Liszt-Transcription)
Evocation a la Chapelle Sixtine for Organ [Piano transcription P. Ritzen]
[on Miserere of Allegri & Ave Verum Corpus of Mozart]
4 Transcriptions on the Opera ‚Lohengrin’ by Richard Wagner
Akt II Scene 4 ‚Elsas Prozession‘
Akt III Prelude: Hochzeitsfest & Brautlied
Akt I Scene 2 ,Elsas Traum‘
Akt III Scene 2 ‚Atmest Du nicht mit mir die süßen Düfte? ‘
Isoldes Liebestod from the Opera Tristan & Isolde by Richard Wagner
Transkription of Totentanz for Piano Solo

Frederic Chopin [1810 – 1849]
Etudes op. 10: nrs. 1,3, 12 Révolutionaire‘
Etudes op.25: nrs. 1,9, 10, 12.
Mazurkas
Op. 17 nr.4
Op.24 nrs.1&4
Op. 33 nr.4
Polonaise op. 40 Nr. 1 ‘Militaire’
Waltz: Valse de l’Adieux [Farewell Waltz] Op. 69 nr. 1

Cesar Franck [1822 – 1890]
Prelude Choral et Fugue
Prelude Aria et Final
Prelude Fugue & Variation
Sonata in A for Piano [Transcription by Alfred Cortot/ Ritzen Edition]

Johannes Brahms [1833 – 1897]
4 Ballades op. 10

Robert Schumann [1810 – 1856]
Blumenstück op. 19

Peter I. Tschaikowsky [1840 – 1893]
Grand Sonata in G-Dur op. 37

Theodor Leschetizky [1830 – 1915] (complete works for Piano)
Some excerpts:
2 Pieces Deux Allouettes et Mazurka op.2 nrs. 1-2
Chanson ‚Les Pècheurs’ op.3
Grand Polka de Caprice op. 5 (Arr. P. Ritzen)
Le Cascade Etude op. 10
Deuxieme Nocturne op.12
Andante Finale op. 13 [Paraphrase auf Lucia di Lammermoor von G. Donizetti]
Marche Militaire op.15 [arr. P. Ritzen]
Souvenir de St Petersburg op.17
Six Meditations op.19
Polka de Salon op.21
Valse Chromatique op.22
Deux Mazurkas op.24
Trois Improvisations op. 31
Trois Etudes Characteristique
Two Pieces op. 35
Aria op. 36 nr.1
Souvenirs d’Italie op. 36 [1-6]
Suite ‚A la Campagne’ op. 40 [1-4]
Prelude & Intermezzo en octaves op.44 [nrs 1&4]
Deux Arabesques op.45 nr. 1 Etude
Contes de Jeunesse op. 46 [1-9]
Trois Pieces op. 48
Deux Preludes op. 49

Modest Mussorgsky [1839- 1889]
Pictures at an Exhibition

Sergei Rachmaninoff [1873 – 1943]
Etudes Tableaux op. 33 Nr. 1&2/ op. 39 Nr. 5&9
Variations on a theme of Corelli op.42
Preludes op. 23 Nr. 4 & 5

Alexander Skrjabin [1872 – 1915]
2 Poèmes op. 32
Sonata V op.53
Preludes op. 11 [excerpts]
Études op. 2 Nr. 1/ op. 8 Nr. 12

Claude Debussy [1862 – 1918]
Preludes Livre I
Nr. 4 ‚Les sons et les Parfums tournent dans l’Air du Soir‘
Nr. 7 ‚Ce qu’a vu le Vent d’Ouest’
Nr. 9 ‚La Serenade interrompue‘
Nr. 10 ‚La Cathédrale engloutie’
Preludes Livre I
Nr. 12 ‚Feux d’artifice‘
Études pour Piano:
Nr. 8 ‚pour les agréments‘
Nr. 10 ‚pour les Sonorités oposées‘

Sergei Prokofieff [1891-1853]
Toccata op. 11

François Glorieux [1931,-]
Sonata op.7

Peter Ritzen [1956,-]
Chinese Rhapsodies:
I. Taiwan: Bond with China
II. Dance of the happy little Buddha’s
III. Chinese Market
Flemish Waltz
Dream Rhapsody: series of short improvisations [including Ch.Market]
Sonata (Theme A.D.A.M.A.N.T. with variations)
Transcriptions on famous Movie themes: [excerpts from his CD]
The Sound of Music ‚Suite’
You Must Love Me (Evita) ‚Choral Prelude’
Schindler’s List ‚Etude Tableaux’
Pocahontas: ‚Colors of the Wind‘ ‚Fantasy’
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs: ‚Someday my Prince will come‘ ‚Poeme’
Pinocchio: ‚When You Wish upon a Star‘ ‚Moment Musicale’

Transcriptions of various Chinese Folk Songs

Explore the Music World of Peter Ritzen ~

stellachang — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:22:52 +0000

Romantic ~ Andante Finale ( for left hand only ) Listen Online.

This spectacular left hand piece, has an almost as spectacular autobiographic story as well! In 1848, the year of the revolution in Vienna, [Theodore Leschetizky was among the 'reformist' students on one side, while his friend, Johann Strauss was playing the military band on the royal law enforcement side!] Leschetizky got involved in a dramatic duel due to a malicious love story. Theodore, got shot.. in his right arm. He fled the country [coinciding with the political developments] and went to Italy. There in Toscana, Leschetizky had another romance, with a flamboyant Contesse. In a meantime, he became familiar with the great Italian Opera tradition. Lucia di Lammermoor was premiered in 1849 in Italy and a hot issue for all households. Since Leschetizky was unable to perform piano, due to his right arm wound; he decided to make a left hand only paraphrase on the famous sextet of the popular opera ‘il dolce suono’or mad scene. (Act II). This piece was the first take to be recorded for the Leschetizky album by Peter Ritzen in Budapest in 1992. The recording went on high acclaim and made Mr. Ritzen famous arround the globe as a pianist.

Virtuoso ~ Etudes D’ Execution Transcendante nr VII: ‘Eroica’ Listen Online.

Dating back to 1837, this etude displays ‘transedental’ demands to both; technique and mind. Franz Liszt, the greatest piano virtuoso of all times; said once during a public master class in Weimar in the 1880′s: ‘I used to run through this enormous demanding pieces every day, during my travelling years as a concert pianist.’ He also insisted that ‘Transcedental’ has more to do with ‘spiritual’ rather than pure technique. Transcending: means uplifting ‘Aufsteigerung’. The Eroica or ‘Heroic’ etude is a typical example here, reminding us on Liszt’s earliest Opera Fantasies.

Spiritual ~ Legend II ‘ St. Francis of Paola, walking on the waters’ Listen Online .

The two legends of Saint Francis [Ferenc Liszt his Catholic patron!) were published in 1863, and dedicated to his daughter Cosima. The 2nd Legend, St Francis of Paolo, depicts a most incredible story about the Saint (1416~1507): According to a famous story, in the year 1464, he was refused passage by a boatman while trying to cross the strait of Messina to Sicily. He reportedly laid his cloack on the water, tied one end to his staff as a sail, and sailed across the strait with his companions following in the boat.

Chinese Mysterious ~ Chinese Piano Concerto "Last Empress" - Mountain Rain Listen Online.

Inspired by the famous historic novel 'Lady Dragon', Peter Ritzen composed this grand concerto in 1994 in Salzburg, Austria. He used some melodic materials from the Beijing Opera 'Last Empres' [composed in 1911, the year of the revolution and founding of the Republic of China by Dr. Sun Yat Sen]. The third movement here is called ‘Mountain Rain’. Melodies and motives are of Ritzen’s feather, however the using of a sweet-weeping Er-Hu, depicts the heart felt calamities in China’s rich and dramatic history.

Sentimental ~ Piano Quintet of Peter Ritzen the 1st movement Listen Online.

Ritzen’s Quintet was composed in February 2006 in Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C. The first movement, ‘con moto’ is however adapted from an earlier composition: Concerto for Piano & Strings ‘Ananstasia’[composed in Vienna in 1991]. The themes developed in a strict ‘Haydn’ sonata tradition, are based upon the name A.N.A.S.T.S.I.A. Every letter stands for a note which is also used in reverse![a.i.s.a.t.s.a.n.a] This romantic and throughout sentimental movement is a blue print of Peter Ritzen’s compositional heritage: the school of Cesar Franck. It is undeniable that Mr. Ritzen got these influences in his young years at the than still existing ‘Royal Music Conservatory’ of Ghent in Belgium. An interesting side note: Peter Ritzen was been enrolled for ‘Harmony’ course with Jane Vignerie [a pupil of Paul Dukas, himself a Franck disciple!]in 1974. A tragic train accident involving Miss Vignerie, prevented him to continue his study as he later on studied with Daniel Gistelinck, who was a devout Vignerie pupil.

Phenomenal ~ Transcendental Symphony Heavenly Peace of Peter Ritzen. Excerpt: Finale 3 ‘Hymn of Universe’

This work for Grand Orchestra, Chinese Percussion, Organ, Chorus & Soloists is all about China and Christianity. It depicts massive aspects of China’s vast history. These elements are captured in the words of the librettist; Santiago Ruperez. The piece has over 400 performers and is Mahlerian in its magnitude. However one feels still that Ritzen has a deep love for China, besides a profound catholic devotion. An interesting combination that makes this piece unrivalled in its genre so far..

Explore more ! Listen to Peter’s music for free ~ Click here.

Peter Ritzen's Photos

stellachang — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:41:09 +0000

Peter Ritzen plays F. Liszt

stellachang — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 06:10:03 +0000

Liebestraum (Love Dream) II played by Peter Ritzen

Click to play.

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Peter Ritzen's composition:'Lacrymosa'

stellachang — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:21:53 +0000

Peter Ritzen’s New CD Recording !

kwchang — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:41:02 +0000

Two days after the exiting concert held on 19th of December 2008 in Ghent, the native city of Peter Ritzen, he made his new CD recording with same ensemble ” The Moscow Chamber Academy” which won great success with him last Friday.

The repertoire of this CD are very attractive:

Piano Quintet of Cesar FRANCK, and

Piano Quintet of Peter RITZEN himself.

We are very much looking forwards for this CD being published.

Steinway Hall Concert

kwchang — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:31:49 +0000

Peter Ritzen Gala Concert in Steinway Hall New York

November 11 Tuesday 7:30pm
57th Street and Broadway, New York City

Peter RITZEN, pianist

Stella CHANG, soprano

Jane CHEN, accompanist