Description

ISTVAN NADAS (HUNGARY, 1922 – MEXICO CITY, MEXICO, 2000)

 

 

 

 

The Hungarian pianist, Istvan Nadas, began his musical studies at the age of 10. He studied piano under Louis Kentner and Bela Bartok, composition under Zoltan Koday and chamber music under Leo Weiner. Once launched on his career as concert pianist, he appeared frequently with the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, his repertory including standard works in addition to less usual ones by B. Bartok, Igor Stravinsky, and Arthur Honegger. Until the beginning of World War II, Istvan Nadas toured Europe extensively, but with the beginning of hostilities he had the misfortune to be put into a German concentration camp. His bitter experience left its marks, but did not take from him the ability or desire to continue his career. After the end of the war Istvan Nadas appeared at the Bach Festival in Rome and won a high decoration from the Italian government. Then came the decision to settle in Venezuela where he became head of the Post-graduate Piano Course at the National Conservatory of Music. There followed numerous recitals in South and Central America. As a citizen of Venezuela, Nadas represented his adopted country at the International Music Festival in Venice, playing for the first time in Europe a recital composed entirely of modern Venezuelan composers. Since 1953, at the invitation of Xavier University of Louisiana, Istvan Nadas has been teaching piano master-classes at this university. He has appeared as soloist several times with the New Orleans Philharmonic Orchestra under Alexander Hilsberg. The contents of this formidable program in which Nádas distinguished himself included a J. S. Bach’s Partita, L.v. Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata, a Prokofieff Sonata, a Frederic Chopin Ballad and DeFalla’s Baetica. He was an outstanding J. S. Bach specialist who performed many times at the famous Carmel Bach Festival in Carmel, California. Istvan Nadas was a Professor of Piano at San Francisco State University from 1965 to 1968. From there he founded the Doctoral Program in Piano at Washington State University, continued to travel and concretize throughout the world including the program in music at Grass Valley Nevada. He subsequently took a teaching position in Mexico City, Mexico and spent much time in Italy and Europe. He passed away quietly in Mexico in the year 2000. He leaves behind many grateful students, colleagues, friends and family members, one of which is his son, Dr. John Nadas, Professor of Musicology at University of North Carolina at Temple Hill.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

   

Ludwig van Beethoven : István Nadás ‎– Hammer Clavier / Sonata Opus 109

Classical

1955

Sonata No. 29 In B-flat, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”

1st Mvt.: Allegro

2nd Mvt.: Scherzo (Allegro Assai)

3rd Mvt.: Adagio Sostenuto

4th Mvt.: Allegro Resoluto (Fugue)

Sonata No. 30 In E, Op. 109

1st Mvt.: Vivace

2nd Mvt.: Prestissimo

3rd Mvt.: Andante (Theme & Variations)

 

Ludwig van Beethoven – Istvan Nadas – Sonate No. 14 En Ut Dièze Mineur, Op. 27 No. 2 “Clair de Lune”; Sonate No. 8 En Ut Mineur, Op. 13 “Pathétique”; Sonate No. 21 En Ut, Op. 53 “Waldstein”

Club Mondial Du Disque – CMD 316

LP

France

Classical

Sonate No. 14 En Ut Dièze Mineur, Op. 27 No. 2 “Clair de Lune”

A1 Adagio Sostenuto

A2 Allegretto Presto Agitato

Sonate No. 8 En Ut Mineur, Op. 13 “Pathétique”

A3 Grave-Allegro

A4 Adagio Cantabile

B1 Allegro

Sonate No. 21 En Ut, Op. 53 “Waldstein”

B2 Allegro Con Brio

B3 Adagio

B4 Allegretto Moderato