Volume Seven of Brilliant Classics’ on-going series has a nice balance. Jan Ladislav Dussek’s massive sonata “Retour à Paris” is offset by the featherweight the Op. 47 “Sonata facile.” Sonata faciles were just that — easy sonatas. Designed for the amateur, these works were simple in structure, and simple to perform. Mozart and Beethoven both wrote sonata […]
Classical piano
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Jan Ladislav Dussek – Complete Piano Concertos, Vol. 6 features transcriptions
This release features the Opus 9 Piano Sonatas of Jan Ladislav Dussek. Originally, they were written for a melodic instrument + piano, a common practice of the late 1700s. The melodic instrument could either be a violin or flute — performer’s choice. Innovations in pianoforte construction allow for longer sustained notes. Dussek could transcribe these […]
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Jan Ladislav Dussek Complete Piano Sonatas Vol. 5 – Enlightening
Jan Ladislav Dussek was a pioneering piano virtuoso who continually pushed the boundaries of his instrument. And in some cases, he was responsible for some of the improvements made to the fortepiano — especially range. Volume 5 in Brilliant Classics’ series features pianist Wolfgang Brunner. His performances are top-notch. But I found his liner […]
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McDermott Delivers Intimate Performances of Haydn Sonatas
This release is a follow-up to McDermott’s 2014 release of Haydn Piano Concertos and Sonatas. This time, Anne-Marie McDermott presents an entire program of solo sonatas. Haydn’s sonatas have a deceptive simplicity to them. The technical demands are modest (compared to sonatas by Beethoven and later composers). But that doesn’t mean they’re insubstantial. McDermott performs […]
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Clementi Sonatas Span Career
This release presents a snapshot of Clementi’s development as a composer — and the development of his chosen instrument. Sandro De Palma performs at a modern keyboard. but he carefully matches his playing to the works. De Palma gives Clementi’s 1771 Op. 1 Sonata in a delicate, mannered reading. It’s easy to hear a close […]
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Dussek Complete Piano Sonatas Volume 4 – Illuminating
This release features sonatas that span Dussek’s career. And since they’re played on fortepianos of the period, they also provide insight into the development of the piano. The Sonata in A-flat major, Op. 5 No. 3 and the Sonata in B-flat major, Op. 24 are relatively early works. Written in 1788 and 1793 respectively, Tuija […]
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Cooperstock Delivers Nuanced Performances of Bernstein Piano Music
Leonard Bernstein was an accomplished pianist and a prolific composer. And yet his oeuvre for solo piano is surprisingly small — small enough to fit onto two CDs. The first disc of this release collects all of Bernstein’s “Anniversaries” – miniature gems written for friends and colleagues. The second features his more extended piano works. […]
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Dussek Complete Piano Sonatas Vol. 3 – Better Than They Sound
Brilliant’s traversal of Dussek piano sonatas continues with two major compositions. The Op. 44 Sonata “Farewell” was completed in 1799 and marks the end of an era. The 1812 Op. 77 sonata “L’Invocation” looks forward to the next era. The Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 44 is large, four-movement work. It runs about 30 minutes. […]
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Clementi Piano Sonatas, Op. 25, 33 & 49 – more than mechanical
Mozart wrote, “Clementi is a good clavicembalist and with this, there is no more to say. He plays well with his right hand, his strong point is the passages in thirds. For the rest he has no sentiment or taste, – in a word he is simply a mechanicus.” I’m not sure I entirely agree […]