Bach’s Art of Fugue is a great musical enigma; left strangely unfinished, it is thought perhaps to have been intended not for performance but as a definitive guide to the writing of fugues, or a personal musical message meant as the composer’s greatest legacy … in any event it is a supreme masterpiece and here is given a brilliant and individual interpretation, in which Diana Boyle (whose Metier CD of the 48 Preludes and Fugues, Book II is also highly praised) brings out classical-style emphasis and phrasing, bring the music alive more than in traditional dry and academic accounts. The recording omits the optional ‘canons’ but includes the ‘Inversus’ sections of Contrapuncti 12 and 13. Check out the artist index for more celebrated recordings by Diana Boyle of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms and Chopin.
Genre: Piano
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Inspiration – Homage to Maria Curcio
Maria Curcio was one of the most influential and sought after piano teachers of the latter part of the 20th century including among her students such luminaries as Martha Argerich, Peter Frankl, Radu Lupu, and Mitsuko Uchida – and Anthony Goldstone. Following Curcio’s death in 2009 at the age of 89, this is Goldstone’s tribute to his mentor – a fine recital in its own right, and works all of which have a connection to her, in some way or other. This is the first ever recording of the lovely Waltzes composed by Artur Schnabel. As a bonus we include one of the very few surviving recordings made by Maria Curcio, where she accompanies Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in a Mozart aria – a performance first broadcast in 1957.
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Music by John Rose
John Rose writes music which embraces a post-modern freedom – allowing him to build tonal and memorable music often with a strong neo-baroque sound, strongly inspired by Bach – although Shostakovich is another source of inspiration. This is not to limit his work which is varied and rich, but emphasises his distinctive linear style.
Hopefully his work will become better known as his musical legacy deserves recognition.
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The Jazz Age for Piano Duo
Above all other periods, the ‘roaring’ 1920s were possibly the years of greatest carefree feeling in British society; America too, to an extent despite the Prohibition and limitations on personal freedom. The new dance crazes, from the foxtrot to the Charleston, Black Bottom and tango, together with the ever increasing popularity of jazz and blues idioms which created the ‘hot dance’ number, created a golden era in light music, which was eagerly taken up by ‘serious’ composers; here we have a parade of gems – major works from Gershwin and Milhaud, to miniatures full of fun. Exquisitely performed as ever by Britain’s top duo.
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The Piano at the Ballet
The final part of Anthony Goldstone’s brilliant triptych of recitals including transcriptions, variations, fantasias, and arrangements of music from public ‘spectacles’ – the first two CDs attracted enormous critical praise and this volume is no less fine, containing perhaps a few more well-known themes, such as those from Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, but in fresh and new arrangements by the performer – indeed most of the music here is receiving its first recording.
Now, posthumously, here is volume 2 (DDA 25148)
A Night at the Opera (DDA 25067)
The Piano at the Carnival (DDA 25076) -
Christopher Langdown Live in London
This 2-CD set contains the whole of an acclaimed recital at the Wigmore Hall, London, on 9 June 2009 by the awesomely talented young British pianist Christopher Langdown, who gives phenomenal performances of Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata and other virtuoso works, as well as the world premiere of his own Deo Omnis Gloria, a very fine set of three neo-romantic pieces conceived in the late 19th-century style. This debut album shows yet another remarkable talent in the world of modern pianism.
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Russian Piano Music Vol. 5 – Anton Arensky
Arensky was a fine pianist who actually made several recordings in the 1890s; his pianism is evident in his compositions for the instrument and he could easily be thought of as the Russian Chopin – brilliantly conceived works in the high Romantic tradition which deserve to be highly popular.
This recording was previously released briefly on Olympia.
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Mahler: Symphony No. 10
The unfinished yet magnificent Tenth is a fitting climax to probably the most glorious and exceptional symphonic oeuvre; truly the spirit of music. The first movement was transcribed for piano by Ronald Stevenson, and with his guidance and encouragement, the remaining four movements have been transcribed by Christopher White, who here presents the premiere recording of what is not only a transcription but a very fine and substantial work for solo piano.
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Russian Piano Music, Vol. 4 – Lyapunov
Our series continues with one of the lesser known figures of 20th century Russian music – and some wonderful music which is brilliantly constructed. This is high Romantic music at its very best; a sumptuous Sonata, and several more pieces which can be considered equal to the established repertoire and is truly among the most virtuosic and rich music ever written.
(previously very briefly available on Olympia)
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Russian Piano Music Vol. 2 – Rebikov
Apart from the regular use of some his works in examination syllabuses, the music of Rebikov (1866-1920) is shockingly neglected – most items on this CD are receiving their first recording – and this is the composer who was once called ‘the father of Russian modernism’. One of the first proponents of the whole-tone scale, his music is in a bewildering array of styles, foreshadowing composers as diverse as Debussy, Stravinsky, Copland and Villa-Lobos.
The music here, apart from the 20-minute Esclavage et liberté, consists of a number of suites of impressionist music. Modern, but bright, direct and often humorous music makes Rebikov the perfect composer for pianists and piano enthusiasts whatever their preferences in genre.
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Russian Piano Music Vol. 3 – Glière
Unknown piano gems written from 1906 to 1909 by the late-Romantic doyen of Russian early/mid 20th-century music, including the towering 25 Preludes, Op. 30, Mazurkas and Esquisses. Exquisite high Romantic music from a composer far better-known for his epic symphonies and orchestral works.
(previously released on Olympia)
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Bach: The Six Partitas
Though published as Bach’s Opus 1, the Partitas were composed as Bach was approaching 40 and working in Leipzig. Their varied and changeable movement styles differentiate them considerably from the structure of works such as the French and English Suites, which are otherwise like sets of dance movements.
Judith Lambden is a well established Australian pianist with a long-established reputation as an interpreter of Bach. In this, her first CD for Divine Art, she gives us all a chance to re-evaluate splendid works which (in terms of Bach’s output) are relatively little known. At almost 80 minutes on each CD, a true high-value set at mid-price.