Divine Art Records

Composer: Franz Liszt

  • France Revisited, Vol. 2

    France Revisited, Vol. 2

    On 17 April 2026, Divine Art is delighted to present France Revisited, Vol. 2, the second volume of French music for piano four hands from Piano Á Deux, the husband and wife team of Robert and Linda Stoodley.

    France Revisited, Vol.2 includes Gabriel Fauré’s Dolly Suite, George Onslow’s Sonata No.2 in F Minor, Op 22, and the Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 by Franz Liszt, arranged for four hands by Franz Bendel with new cadenzas by Piano Á Deux – this is the premiere recording.

    Fauré’s Dolly Suite is a charming set of six duets for four hands, written for the daughter of Emma Bardac, who eventually married Debussy. The Suite was often re-visited by Fauré, and in 1906 was arranged for orchestra by Henri Rabaud. The piano duets were first premeired by Alfred Cortot and Édouard Risler in 1898.

    Born in France but of English descent, George Onslow’s music found approval from elites like Robert Schumann and Felix Mendelssohn, being crowned the “French Beethoven” by his publisher and other contemporaries, although later falling out of favour. During their research into less well-known composers, Piano Á Deux discovered Onslow’s duet sonatas in a dusty library drawer. The Opus 7 Duo Sonata was recorded for the first volume of France Revisited and the Sonata No.2 in F Minor, Opus 22 is heard in this second volume. Given many performances by Chopin and Liszt, it is conceived on a grand scale, symphonic in structure and reflects the Beethovenian aspects of Onslow’s style.

    Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 is probably one of the best-known solo pieces in the piano repertoire, from a composer who stands like a colossus in the pianist world, crossing geographical boundaries. Piano Á Deux have taken Bendel’s arrangement for four hands, adapted it and written their own cadenzas, returning the piece to its virtuosic persona.

    An adventurous piano duo with a wide repertoire which includes major classical works and their original arrangements from the world of opera, film and musical theatre, Piano À Deux have performed in countries like Singapore, Italy, Germany and Finland to standing ovations. Meanwhile their concerts on cruise ships have won them a large following of seasoned concertgoers as well as new audiences who are delighted by their unique themed programs, exquisite music-making and charisma blended with humour.

    “Novel programming presented with charm, humour and drama, combined with their original arrangements has won them many fans worldwide. Surprisingly, Robert & Linda met online, not through music. They married in 2008 and “Piano À Deux” was formed in 2010. Piano Á Deux have been hailed as being worthy of taking on the mantle of longtime Divine Art recording artists Goldstone and Clemmow, a duo whose career was aborted by the untimely death of Anthony Goldstone. Their playing in ‘France Revisited‘ Vol 1 was praised as “piano four hands …at its very best..”

  • Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage

    Liszt: Années de Pèlerinage

    On 24 April 2026, Divine Art is proud to present the complete Années de pèlerinage Suites for solo piano by Franz Liszt, performed by the exciting Taiwanese-American pianist Brian Hsu. Released as a 3-CD set, this monumental cycle traces a physical and emotional journey by the composer through the magnificent alpine landscapes of Switzerland, the art and literature of Italy, and the journeys within. The album was recorded and engineered in Dolby Atmos® spatial audio by GRAMMY®-nominated producer Sergei Kvitko.

    Brian Hsu explains how the inception of the album came during COVID: “These pieces became a way for me to travel through music—to wander the mountains of Switzerland, drift along the canals of Venice, and encounter the art and architecture of Italy through Liszt’s imagination. In a moment defined by isolation, this repertoire offered connection, motion, and emotional release.”

    Hsu’s performances trace these connections, bringing forth the vivid imagery, energy, youthful exploration, and outward discovery in Books I (Suisse) and II (Italie). His performances then underline how Book III unfolds as a spiritual pilgrimage—an inward journey shaped by reflection and acceptance.

    Brian Hsu was drawn from an early age to the imagination, virtuosity, emotional range, and expressive power of Liszt’s music, and he took on the recording of this work as a “personal challenge”. Recordings of the complete Suites have been achieved in full by fewer than two dozen pianists. Hsu presents Liszt not only as the virtuoso whose technical brilliance reshaped the piano literature, but as a poet, philosopher, and artist whose musical language evolved alongside his professional and personal life. Liszt is deeply associated with dazzling virtuosity and showmanship, but this represents only one facet of a composer whose artistic voice grew increasingly reflective, restrained, and forward-looking over time. Hsu’s interpretation of Années de pèlerinage presents the comprehensive view that each Book offers a distinct emotional world, and that together, they form a narrative that mirrors the stages of a life well-lived.

    Since his concerto debut at the age of 16 with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Brian Hsu has gone on to establish himself as a pianist of electrifying energy and highly communicative performances. Critics have praised his playing in superlatives, noting his “breadth of expression and technical ability.”

    Mr. Hsu has performed throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and South Africa, appearing as concerto soloist with such ensembles as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Taiwan National Symphony, Juilliard Orchestra, Haddonfield Symphony, Sendai Philharmonic, University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, and music festivals. His performances have been broadcast nationally on WQXR radio in New York and All Classical Radio in Portland. In addition to competition successes, Mr. Hsu has been the recipient of numerous awards during his studies at The Juilliard School, Yale University, and the University of Michigan. An avid chamber musician, collaborator, and educator, Mr. Hsu continuously performs with distinguished artists worldwide and has given masterclasses at various colleges and universities throughout the United States and Asia. He is currently an associate professor of piano at the University of Oregon.

  • Liszt Piano Transcriptions

    Liszt Piano Transcriptions

    In February 2026 Divine Art presents an album of well-loved piano transcriptions by Franz Liszt of songs and arias by Robert Schumann, Richard Wagner, Franz Schubert and Charles Gounod, from Lithuanian pianist Indrė Petrauskaitė. These dazzling showpieces for the piano provide fascinating insight into how one composer effectively interprets the work of another.

    Throughout his life and through his work, Franz Liszt shared his deep love for the music of his fellow composers, arranging their works for piano, the main instrument for domestic music-making in the 19th century. He wanted to help people enjoy popular musical works in a private setting when there was less access to orchestras and concerts. Liszt is one of the greatest transcribers of the nineteenth century and perhaps of all time. Nearly half of his output consists of arrangements, from strict transcriptions to freely recomposed paraphrases.

    Pianist Indrė Petrauskaitė’s first music history lesson in Lithuania at the age of seven was about genre and song, during which she heard a recording of Schubert’s ‘Der Müller und der Bach’, featured in Liszt’s transcription on this release, and it was the inspiration behind the programming on the album, recorded in 2007. It was only then that her still newly independent home country of Lithuania had begun acquiring concert grand pianos for their fine concert halls, such as the new Steinway in Klaipėda’s Concert Hall where this recording took place.

    The album opens with Liszt’s transcriptions of two passionate and romantic works: Schumann’s ‘Widmung’ from the song cycle Myrthen and ‘Isoldes Liebestod’ from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, followed by the charming and magical ‘Spinnerlied’ from Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer. Several transcriptions of Schubert’s lied are featured here: the sombre ‘Der Doppelgänger’ from Schwanengesang and ‘Der Müller under der Bach’ (the inspiration for the album) from Die Schöne Müllerin; the soothing ‘Frühlingsglaube’ and the delightful and imaginative ‘Ständchen von Shakespeare’ (Horch, hoch! Die Lerch!); finally a piece (No.6) from Liszt’s own Soirées de Vienne cycle – arrangements of Schubert’s tremendous 12 Valses Nobles, D.969. The album has a ‘coda’: the ‘Valse’ from Gounod’s opera Faust, the subject of several works by Liszt. This famous virtuoso piano transcription is full of drama and excitement, with ‘diabolic’ sections but also gentle and lyrical, at times even transcendant.

    Indrė Petrauskaitė says “It is delightful to take the example from Liszt himself and continue to ‘practise’ the love for the original music while ‘revisiting’ these famous transcriptions”.

    After graduate and postgraduate studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music, Indrė entered the Royal Academy of Music where she has completed her Masters degree. She has performed with several orchestras in Lithuania and elsewhere in Europe and given many solo and chamber music recitals. She is now based in London, combining teaching and performing.

  • Dualities

    Dualities

    The critically acclaimed Invencia Piano Duo make their Divine Art debut with Dualities, a dazzling album that expands the possibilities of the piano duet and duo repertoire. Drawing on their virtuosity and innovative spirit, the duo explores works that transcend the boundaries of traditional solo piano, delivering arrangements that demand the synergy of four hands.

    Highlights of the album include Andrey Kasparov’s stunning arrangements of Liszt’s Totentanz, Ravel’s La valse, Scriabin’s Vers la flamme, and Albéniz’s Triana. These beloved solo pieces are reimagined with breathtaking scope and texture, demonstrating the Invencia Piano Duo’s interpretive depth.

    The album also features two original compositions by Kasparov: Fantasy on Lutheran Chorales and Cadenza for LvB. These works showcase the duo’s mastery of both performance and composition, taking full advantage of the dynamic and expressive potential of four-hand piano playing.

    Founded by Andrey Kasparov and Oksana Lutsyshyn, the Invencia Piano Duo bring a wealth of experience and accolades to their performances. Educated at the Moscow State Conservatory and later at Indiana University’s School of Music, the duo has won international recognition for their compelling interpretations and bold programming. Both artists are esteemed faculty members at Old Dominion University in Virginia and serve as artistic co-directors of the Norfolk Chamber Consort.

    Their individual achievements are equally impressive. Lutsyshyn, a prizewinner at the William Kapell International Piano Competition, made her Carnegie Hall debut following her success. Kasparov, winner of the Albert Roussel Prize, has premiered significant works such as Bartók’s revised Piano Concerto No. 3 and earned recognition as a composer of published and recorded works. The Invencia Piano Duo’s discography includes a celebrated four-volume series of Florent Schmitt’s piano duet works on Grand Piano Records, as well as albums for Albany and Naxos. With Dualities, they continue to push artistic boundaries, presenting an arresting collection that redefines the piano duo repertoire.

    This album is an essential addition for lovers of virtuosic piano music, blending brilliance, originality, and deep musicality in a singular listening experience.

  • Dina Parakhina: 200 Years Diabelli Variations

    Dina Parakhina: 200 Years Diabelli Variations

    Celebrating 200 Years of the Diabelli Project

    To commemorate the bicentennial of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, the Divine Art label proudly presents “ 200 Years: Diabelli Variations”. Originally introduced by Anton Diabelli with words of admiration for its innovation and artistic brilliance, the Diabelli Variations have since transcended time, becoming a cornerstone of the piano repertoire, rivalling even the esteemed works of J.S. Bach.

    The story behind the Diabelli Variations adds to their mystique. Legend has it that Beethoven initially dismissed Diabelli’s theme as a mere “cobbler’s patch.” Yet, he later transformed this simple waltz into a complex, kaleidoscopic masterpiece, showcasing a wide range of characters, styles, and textures. From playful parodies to profound meditations, Beethoven’s variations span over 60 minutes of inventive musical exploration.
    Renowned pianist Dina Parakhina, who first performed the Diabelli Variations during her final recital at the Moscow Conservatory, brings her deep understanding and lifelong study of this monumental work to her latest recording. Parakhina’s interpretation captures the intricate structural unity and the emotional depth of Beethoven’s composition, reflecting her illustrious career and devotion to classical music.

    About Dina Parakhina
    Dina Parakhina, a distinguished Russian pianist and educator, has been a Piano Professor at the Royal College of Music since 2009 and a College Fellow since 2019. She has taught at prestigious institutions such as the Central Music School in Moscow and Chetham’s School of Music, and currently holds a position at the Royal Northern College of Music. Parakhina has performed globally as a soloist, made numerous recordings, and given master-classes around the world. Her expertise and passion for music have also seen her serve on juries for international piano competitions.

    Parakhina’s illustrious career began in Sochi and led her to study under notable mentors in Moscow. She toured extensively with the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and later organized significant projects like the Medtner Marathon, which celebrated the works of Nikolai Medtner. Her recording of Medtner’s Piano Sonatas and Fairy Tales was critically acclaimed, highlighting her dedication to bringing classical masterpieces to contemporary audiences.

  • Gabriele Micheli – Ciccolini Prizewinner Recital

    Gabriele Micheli – Ciccolini Prizewinner Recital

    Introducing the young prodigy, Gabriele Micheli, recipient of the esteemed Second Prize in the renowned Ciccolini Piano Competition. At just 22 years old, Gabriele’s musical journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Gabriele secured his place at the acclaimed Conservatoria Santa Cecilia in Rome aged 9, and his passion for the piano continued to flourish. Graduating with flying colours in 2017, he further honed his skills, obtaining his Master’s degree from the same prestigious institution in 2020.

    Gabriele’s exceptional talent has earned him international acclaim, as he has emerged victorious in numerous global competitions, leaving audiences spellbound with his soulful performances. This album showcases his diverse repertoire, offering a splendid fusion of keyboard masterpieces from the baroque, Romantic, and 20th Century eras. His profound musical expression and technical finesse can be heard clearly in this excellent recording.

    As a token of recognition for these gifted artists and a commitment to fostering emerging talents, Divine Art takes pride in presenting the second album in our ‘Debut’ series, exclusively dedicated to the outstanding Ciccolini Prize Winners. The first in this series “Violetta Fialko – Ciccolini Prizewinner Recital” was released in July 2022.

  • Tom Hicks: Liszt and Ireland Piano Sonatas

    Tom Hicks: Liszt and Ireland Piano Sonatas

    Hailed as an artist of ‘magnificent pianism’, Guernsey-born pianist Tom Hicks has been praised for his ‘gorgeously creative playing’ that ‘transports the listener to another place and time’. Hicks is a gold medallist in numerous national and international competitions and holds degrees and awards from The University of Manchester, The Royal Northern College of Music, Yale University and Northwestern University, where he now lectures. His first disc featuring John Ireland’s Sarnia, ‘Tom Hicks: Ireland and Tchaikovsky’ has been described as ‘brilliantly evocative’ by Colin Clarke in International Piano, and ‘gorgeously creative’ by Scott Noriega in Fanfare.

    In his first recording for Divine Art, Tom presents stellar performances of two major Sonatas – those of Franz Liszt and John Ireland. A generation apart, both are highpoints of the Romantic and post-Romantic era. This playing puts Hicks at the top of the tree for his bold expressiveness and vision.

    On this album Hicks prefaces the Sonatas with shorter, but equally imaginative and expressive pieces: two Preludes by Stanford, Cortège by Rebecca Clarke, and one of the charming waltzes from the ‘Three-Fours’ Suite by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

    Tom Hicks is also a strong supporter of contemporary composers and his new album of music by British composer Camden Reeves, inspired by the harmonies and rhythms of blues music, will be released in the late spring of 2022 (“Blue Sounds”) – Métier MSV 28604)

  • At the Heart of the Piano

    At the Heart of the Piano

    A special 3-CD / triple digital album of great Romantic works by one of the world’s most accomplished pianists specialising in works of that era. These stunning performances of Busoni’s Chaconne (after J S Bach) and Berg’s Sonata are receiving their first release; the other tracks were previously issued (on CD only, not digitally ) by Bayer and have been newly remastered.

    Schliessmann is a unique interpreter, never afraid to find a new expression and always searching for the heart of the music and the composer’s inspiration.

    On their initial release these recordings attracted great accolades: American Record Guide said : “The best pianist I know at entering the world and expressing the awareness of the German romantics. There is something personal and unique about Schliessmann’s Schumann. It does not sound like anyone else’s. He is better than any other pianist I have heard.”

    High Performance Review said of his Scriabin: “This is the most imaginative playing one has heard yet – on the level of Richter, Michelangeli, Wild, Gould – the highest order of artistry.”

  • Il Maestro e lo Scolare

    Il Maestro e lo Scolare

    For the first time, here is an album full of piano duets written expressly for teacher and student, from the first in the genre, Haydn’s Il Maestro e lo Scolare, through many well known composers of the 19th and 20th centuries up to the current decade.

    Very few of these works have attained any sort of public awareness apart from Stravinsky’s Easy Pieces, but though written deliberately with one ‘easy’ part for the learner, the pieces are thoroughly delightful, tuneful and never simplistic: indeed they display all the hallmarks of Romantic, Impressionist (and in two cases jazz-inspired) music-making of high quality and all make for extremely entertaining and pleasant listening.

    Antony Gray is a London-based pianist and teacher with acclaimed recordings to his name. His work with students of all ages, those that wish to pursue advanced training and even those who do not, produces a wonderful rapport which shines through in these recordings. Over 50 of Gray’s students are represented on the album.

  • 1847: Liszt in Istanbul

    1847: Liszt in Istanbul

    In 1847 Franz Liszt visited Istanbul (then Constantinople) and performed several recitals on an Erard piano specially shipped for him to play. He spent a month there and gave several concerts including two in the Sultan’s palace. He was fêted and praised highly; at that time the city was a hub of Western culture and a frequent destination of Italian and French opera companies, so Liszt’s operatic transcriptions found a receptive audience.

    Turkish-American pianist Zeynep Ucbasaran created a selection of works from Liszt’s program which were broadcast throughout Europe in 2011 and performed live to great acclaim. Now this recital is committed to a recording which celebrates not only great music but also what was Liszt’s final year as a virtuoso performer.

    Zeynep Ucbasaran began music studies in Istanbul at the age of four, then in Hungary and Germany before moving to the USA to obtain her degrees in Piano Performance. She has won multiple awards and performed in many parts of the world. She naturally has an affinity with the musical culture and heritage of her native Turkey.

  • Liszt to Milhaud – A Journey with Piano Four Hands

    Liszt to Milhaud – A Journey with Piano Four Hands

    The Divine Art label has long been associated with music for piano duo – whether at two pianos or one – through the sterling and brilliant work of Goldstone and Clemmow and more recently Piano-à-Deux. The label is delighted to welcome a new duo with this program which contains several very popular and well-loved miniatures and transcriptions, bookended by major works from Liszt and Milhaud. They need no introduction save to say that from the dances, to the jazz-inflected pieces, each work is a joy to hear.

    These are sparkling performances of well known pieces and form a light counterpoint to the artists’ new 3-piano album of contemporary works. The pianists met when both students at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest. Zeynep Ucbarasan is from Turkey but moved to the USA for her postgraduate studies and now lives in California. Her previous recordings and concert appearances have drawn unalloyed praise. Sergio Gallo is a Steinway artist who specialises in music of the Romantic period. He has made several acclaimed recordings for Eroica and is currently recording for Naxos and Quartz. He has won many awards and currently is professor of Piano Performance at the Georgia State University in Atlanta.

  • Transformations – music for organ

    Transformations – music for organ

    Three major organ works: one from Liszt, one of the masters of high Romanticism and bubbling virtuosity; the powerful Heroic Sonata of Jongen and the first commercial recording of the delicately figured piece ‘The Dancing Pipes’ by Jonathan Dove, one of today’s most appreciated composers. This superb program is titled ‘Transformations’ as each piece contains musical transformations of themes; it also reflects the transformation of the fine Harrison & Harrison organ at Cheltenham College Chapel – this is its first recording since a full restoration in 2017.

    Alexander Ffinch studied at the Royal College of Music and was organ scholar at Keble College Oxford. He gave over 100 recitals as resident organist at Lancaster Town Hall and continues to undertake a busy concert and broadcasting schedule (sadly his planned August 2019 debut at Notre Dame Paris is ‘on hold’). Alexander was appointed College Organist at Cheltenham in 2004 since when he has played daily in the Chapel as well as giving regular recitals; he oversaw the 2017 restoration and manages the work of both students and visiting recitalists.