A successful start
The Paladino publishing house has begun an edition of David Popper's works with the Waltz Suite.
David Popper (1843-1913) studied at the Prague Conservatory with Julius Goltermann and is probably one of the most important cello virtuosos of the second half of the 19th century. Contemporary critics compared his playing to that of the violin virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate. From 1868 to 1873, he was solo cellist at the Vienna Court Opera; from 1886, he taught in Budapest at the Royal Hungarian Academy of Music founded by Franz Liszt in 1875 (today: Franz Liszt University of Music). He is considered the founder of the Hungarian cellist school.
He is still present as a composer today: his collections of etudes are an integral part of cello lessons and several of his effective character pieces are part of the standard repertoire. Paladino-Music-Verlag has now set itself the goal of publishing all of Popper's compositions in a new edition. The scores are provided with Popper's own performance notes and the parts are edited by internationally renowned performers.
A first result of this series is the present Waltz Suite op. 60 is one of Popper's more extensive works: an introduction is followed by five waltzes and an expansive, virtuoso finale. It is not a pure virtuoso piece, but rather sophisticated salon music that makes the most of the cello's lyrical strengths. As always with Popper, the piano part is colorful and imaginative. A fine start to the new edition of these witty works.
David Popper, Waltz Suite op. 60 for violoncello and piano, edited by Martin Rummel, pm 0036, € 17.95, Paladino Music, Vienna 2014
