Alongside Nielsen, Glass is the genius of Danish romantic music, but recordings of his work are rare – we present the first recording of his two fine sonatas and other works.
Genre: Piano
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Szymanowski: Complete Piano Music
The music of Szymanowski is lively, thrilling, robust, and exciting. It is also immensely difficult to play, and few artists can cope with its technical demands of bravura and virtuosity. One who can, with consummate skill and musicianship, is Sinae Lee, whose new recording “makes other versions of the complete piano works seem amateurish by comparison” according to pianist Raymond Clarke, whose own disc of Szymanowski sonatas was rightly acclaimed.
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Graham Whettam Piano Music
Graham Whettam’s music has been praised highly for its skillful construction, drama and atmosphere. Here we have two pieces for piano duet and several solo pieces in superb performances by the late Anthony Goldstone and Caroline Clemmow.
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Schubert Unauthorised Piano Duos, Vol. 2
This CD contains music by Schubert, arranged for piano duo by the composer’s close friend and duet partner Josef von Gahy, all recorded for the first time, as well as Schubert’s “Friendship” Rondo.
See Volume One and Volume Three.
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Jill Crossland Live at Restoration House
This CD is a recording of a live concert given at Restoration House, Rochester, on the 1824 Jirikowsky fortepiano. A fine recital by a recognised baroque specialist.
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Orientale
In their fifth CD for Divine Art, Britain’s leading piano duo explore the east from Israel to Siberia, from Persia to Bali. The influences are diverse. McPhee spent much time in Bali, while John Mayer was in effect one of the founders of the “world music” genre. Anthony Goldstone has newly arranged Achron’s “Hebrew Melody” for piano duo and prepared a performing edition of Holst’s wonderful “Beni Mora” suite from the transcription made by Holst’s pupil Nora Day.
Most of these splendid pieces are recorded here for the first time.
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Tzigane
A dazzling display of fireworks from the keyboard, this new recording by Anthony Goldstone shows to best effect both his virtuosity and musicianship. Featuring four world première recordings and three superb arrangements by the pianist, a piano showcase of the highest standing.
The cover image for this CD is the painting “Gypsy Dancer” by the remarkable artist Nina Mikhailenko whose work is full of vitality and passion: see her website.
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Dvorak & Mendelssohn Symphonies
DVOŘÁK: “New World” Symphony
MENDELSSOHN: “Scottish” Symphony
both in the composers’ own four-hand versionsThere are hundreds of works which have been arranged for piano duet, many quite mediocre. But there are some magnificent works, including those selected by Goldstone & Clemmow, Britain’s top duo. The two symphonies on this disc are such examples, both having been written by the composers as original versions and not as an afterthought. We believe that this is the first recording of the “Scottish” Symphony in this version.
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Beethoven : Favourite Piano Music
Beethoven’s three most famous sonatas have received hundreds of recordings. Why another, especially from a company like Divine Art which usually avoids duplicating repertoire?
Because we believe that each piece of music demands a performance tailored to the composition, and that recently, every recording of a major work seems to sound the same. Beethoven’s sonatas are fiery, storm-filled works which require playing not only of consummate skill but also total passion and commitment. They receive that here, together with a piano of individual character, with a “visceral” quality (to quote Goldstone), and ideal for this music.
But this CD contains two special tracks: we offer the world première recording of Moscheles’ arrangement of the Overture to “Fidelio”. And also, two alternative versions of the first movement of the “Pathétique” Sonata, one incorporating Goldstone’s belief regarding the correct execution of the exposition repeat. We could not pack any more onto a disc!
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Galuppi Piano Sonatas, Vol. 3
In the third of a series of CD’s containing Galuppi’s sonatas, we present another eight of these masterpieces. All music lovers should sample these seminal works, which made Galuppi one of the greatest composers of his day;all the more strange that he should have fallen into such obscurity. All the sonatas on this disc are unpublished and have been reconstructed for performance by Peter Seivewright from the original manuscripts.
Peter Seivewright has spent a good deal of time on a research mission to Venice and other European cities, retrieving the unpublished manuscript scores and preparing performing editions. One of the great revelations brought about by this work is that Galuppi, far from being a straightforward baroque composer writing for the traditional keyboard instruments (harpsichord and clavichord), which have been employed in all previous recordings, actually waited until the piano had been developed before creating most of his phenomenal output. Many of the original manuscripts are titled “Sonata for Pianoforte”, and much of the writing, making substantial use of the sustain pedal, simply do not work on the earlier instruments.
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Piano Music for Children
Written to be played by children perhaps, but not all these pieces are as simple as the title may suggest! Miniature modern masterpieces by some of the 20th century’s greatest composers.
Raymond Clarke is an acknowledged master of the 20th century repertoire and his previous recordings have received immense praise. He has been described as “a staggering pianist of exceptional gifts”.
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Schubert – The Unauthorised Piano Duos
Schubert did of course write a great deal of music for two pianists to play together, and Goldstone & Clemmow, Britain’s top duo, have recorded all of it – and all available in the set DDA 21701
Almost unknown and certainly neglected are the brilliant transcriptions made by other composers of some of Schubert’s masterpieces. These have been unearthed from various places and recorded for the first time. This is a groundbreaking performance which will be required by all lovers of Schubert and of piano music alike.
ALL WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDINGS except Polonaise
Also see Volume Two and Three