I Crisantemi (Chrysanthemums) by Puccini

Performed on the 18th May 2008 by the Manor House String Quartet.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Puccini
• String
• Quartet
• Crisantemi
• Chrysanthemums
• Chamber

[francello75]

wonderful piece by great and underrated Puccini's chamber music. Very good performance, bravo to all 4! ...but that D must be definitely natural !

[ManorHouseMusic]

The debate about D# / D natural rumbles on..... we would be very interested to see what Puccini wrote in the autographed score. If it is a D natural we can then make sure all future performances are authentic! Nonetheless, I would be surprised if groups such as the legendary Juilliard or the Alberni quartets would have recorded it with a D# if that was not what was printed it in a reliable edition? Also, the Mendelssohn Quartet have a beautiful version of it on their website - also with the D#

[Damienlave]

Good, but My Gosh! at 2:07 and 2:42, the D is natural! Come on!

[ManorHouseMusic]

Thanks for this feedback, but there is obviously a discrepancy in different printed editions of this work. Apart from our score having the D# at 2:07 and 2:42, it is worth referring to two classic recordings of this piece - one is the 1974 recording by the Juilliard Quartet and the other is the 1979 recording by the Alberni Quartet - both ensembles play a D# at both points, so it seems this is authentic.

[tanquedequeda]

Well, we'll never know if that D should be or not natural, but I would like to point out an example of a mistake in the viola part during that same middle section. Check in your score for bar number 42, last 16th note or, 2:23 in this video. If you play that note as written ( D#), I'm quite sure it will sound horrible; it should be played D natural. So, why not think in the possibility of two other mistakes (bars number 36 and 48).

[magior329]

hope that cougher at 4:00 was thrown out

[geopolicraticus]

The D natural sounds beautiful and lends a certain sobriety and gravitas, but I personally prefer the D# for the piquancy it adds to the performance -- or maybe that's only because my favorite performance by the Martfeld Quartet uses the D#. In any case, thank you for posting this, one of my all time favorite chamber works. I am always very happy to hear another interpretation.

Best wishes,

Nick

[3y3tiger]

My orchestra director is using this recording as a reference for our upcoming performance...thankyou for posting!

[denisej242]

We just played Puccini's Manon Lescaut in my school's orchestra for the advance level festival... man was that one tough too.. his music is all so beautiful :3

[rockstarelectric659]

i'm playing this in my tri-country orchestra!!!!

[snowyzn]

@francello75 i meant sharp not flat

[iloverainbows4]

Very wel played loved it. i love this piece though it's really hard 2 play. my varsity high school orchestra tried his but it's just so complicated we had a lot of trouble :/ my conductor decided it was 2 hard so he put it aside i REALLY hope we get 2 play this it's really beautiful <3

[UltimateCellist]

haha. you're in pyso? what instrument do you play?

[SMILEitsAriel]

we're playing this is pyso its so hard D: