NEW ON NAXOS | DECEMBER 2022
Johannes BRAHMS (1833–1897) Complete Songs, Vol. 2 Deutsche Volkslieder, WoO 33: Books 1–5 Alina Wunderlin, Soprano • Esther Valentin-Fieguth, Mezzo-soprano Kieran Carrel, Tenor • Konstantin Ingenpaß, Baritone • Ulrich Eisenlohr, Fortepiano
Brahms was opposed to the Lied cultivated by the ‘New German’ circle of composers around Franz Liszt who developed it into a highly artificial art form. In the books of the 49 Deutsche Volkslieder Brahms discovered a repository of dialogue songs, narrative ballads, laments, and songs of disputation and love, some tragic, others comic, that appealed to his need for authenticity. The book from which he sourced the songs had a printed text and melody, so Brahms’ artistic contribution lay in his richly varied piano accompaniments which subtly comment, heighten, inflect or expand on the texts. The first volume in this series is on Naxos 8.574268. Key Feature: Vol. 1 (8.574268) received huge acclaim. ‘The artists field a terrifically compelling start with two of Brahms’s best-known and most moving songs, ‘Von ewiger Liebe’ and ‘Die Mainacht’. This sixty-five-minutes of music makes an auspicious start to Ulrich Eisenlohr ’s latest endeavour’ ( Opera News ). It also won Opera News ’ Critic’s Choice accolade.
8.574345 Release Date: 2 Dec 2022 Companion Titles – Ulrich Eisenlohr, Pianist 8.574268 | 8.574261 8.557900-01 | 8.554471
Click to listen to Deutsche Volkslieder, WoO 33 – Book 1: No. 1. Sagt mir, o schönste Schäf’rin mein
LISTEN
Anton RUBINSTEIN (1829–1894) Piano Music Three Caprices, Op. 21 • Six Pieces, Op. 51 Sergio Gallo, Piano
Anton Rubinstein occupied an uneasy place in the history of Russian music, largely because of his Jewish origins and the perception of him as a ‘German in Russia’. In recent years his solo piano music has begun to be re-evaluated. This album focuses on the series of works written in the mid-1850s and reveals music of charm and flair. The Three Pieces, Op. 16 are conventional in form but attractive, and the Two Pieces, Op. 28 contain a strongly contrasted Nocturne and Caprice . More ambitious, and intended to be performed in his concert repertoire as one of the greatest virtuosos of the age, are the Six Pieces, Op. 51 . Key Feature:
8.574300 Release Date: 2 Dec 2022 Companion Titles – Anton Rubinstein, Composer 8.570941 | 8.570942 | 8.573989 | 8.574216
Naxos has a large catalogue of Rubinstein’s music, including two volumes of piano music on 8.570941 and 8.570942 played by Joseph Banowetz. MusicWeb International wrote: ‘The notes are excellent. The first reviewed disc has greater variety but the second is the more ambitious.’ Click to listen to Three Pieces, Op. 1: No. 1. Impromptu LISTEN
Sergio Gallo
Valentin Malinin Piano Laureate Recital Winner, 2021 Jaén Prize International Piano Competition SHOSTAKOVICH * • BIZET/MALININ • GRANADOS • PROKOFIEV • SCRIABIN Valentin Malinin, Piano • Bretón String Quartet * Russian pianist Valentin Malinin, winner of the 62nd Jaén International Piano Competition, has chosen a programme that offers moments of reflection alongside dazzling virtuosity. The album opens with Shostakovich’s imposing Piano Quintet , one of the composer’s most popular chamber works. Granados evokes a ‘Ghost’s Serenade’ with guitar-like effects in the exuberant finale to his Goyescas , while Prokofiev’s Four Études are among the most complex and technically challenging works of their kind. Malinin’s own inspired fantasy The Pearl Fishers , based on Nadir’s Romance from Les Pêcheurs de perles , serves as a fine encore, reimagining Bizet’s original in daring, compelling style. Click to listen to SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57: I. Prelude: Lento LISTEN
8.574468 Release Date: 2 Dec 2022
Companion Titles – Piano Laureate series 8.573846 | 8.573945 | 8.574232 | 8.574280
8
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker