20th Century Concertos with William Masselos

M-G-M was best known for its films, but it also had an excellent record company for many years. Beside pop records from Billy Eckstine, George Shearing and Joni James and soundtracks from its movies, it had an active classical label that stressed unusual repertoire.

I've featured several of these records through the years, most recently an LP of music by Peggy Glanville-Hicks and Paul Bowles, and one of Griffes' piano music with Lenore Engdahl, both a few years ago.

M-G-M at times commissioned music for its recordings, including the two substantial works on today's program - Marga Richter's Concerto for Piano, Violas, 'Cellos and Basses and Carlos Surinach's Concertino for Piano, Strings and Cymbals. Both were written for and premiered by pianist William Masselos, and brought into the studio for recordings with the M-G-M String Orchestra, as conducted by Surinach. On the cover above, Masselos, Surinach and Richter are contemplating an Altec 639 microphone, presumably during one of the sessions.

The three were among M-G-M's favorite musicians. Surinach was frequently heard as both conductor and composer, M-G-M devoted several LPs to Richter's work, and often called upon Masselos as performer.

Marga Richter

Richter, both in 1926, was a student of William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti at Juilliard. Critic Alfred Frankenstein wrote of this work, "I do not recall hearing a new piano concerto with such keen interest since the second concerto of Ravel was unveiled. The strong tawny color of the piece is one of its special virtues; others are its wealth of modal-sounding melody, its crackling energy, and its shrewdly placed contrasts whereby a work of small proportions takes on large importance." Richter was and is an original voice who is too little heard.

Carlos Surinach

The Spanish-born Surinach (1915-97) studied composition with Enrique Morera, Max Trapp and Richard Strauss. After emigrating to the U.S. in 1951, he quickly gained notice for his compositions and performances.  Frankenstein wrote in a High Fidelity review of this record (included in the download), "The Surinach is in Spanish folk style; it is a drier, more tough-textured version of Falla's Nights in the Gardens of Spain."

William Masselos

Masselos (1920-92) studied with Carl Friedberg and Nelly Reuschel. He became known for his performances and advocacy of contemporary music, while not neglecting the standard repertoire. He premiered the Ives Piano Sonata No. 1, Copland's Piano Fantasy, and works by Ben Weber, Alan Hovhaness, William Mayer, John Cage, Dane Rudhyar, Robert Helps and Carlos Chávez. Critic Harold Schonberg wrote of him, "He has everything. To look over some of the virtues: tone, technique, musicianship, style, imagination, sensitivity. That will do for a start."

The LP came out in 1957, although the Richter at least was recorded the previous year. The performances and recordings are excellent.