Brahms, Bartók & Liszt: Piano Works Alexandre Kantorow

• Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897):
• 1 2 Rhapsodies, Op. 79: No. 1 in B Minor 09:51
• Johannes Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2:
• 2 Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: I. Allegro non troppo, ma energico 06:11
• 3 Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: II. Andante con espressione 06:04
• 4 Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: III. Scherzo. Allegro - Trio. Poco più moderato 04:18
• 5 Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2: IV. Finale. Sostenuto - Allegro non troppo e rubato 12:30
• Béla Bartók (1881 - 1945):
• 6 Rhapsody, Op. 1, Sz. 26 20:02
• Franz Liszt (1811 - 1886):
• 7 Hungarian Rhapsody in A Minor, S. 244 No. 11 06:08
• Total Runtime 01:05:04

Info for Brahms, Bartók & Liszt: Piano Works

When Franz Liszt wrote that ‘virtuosity is not an outgrowth, but an indispensable element of music’, he was merely confirming what was already normal in the 19th century: pianists, violinists and other soloists tried to win admiration or even to provoke astonishment by means of a technique that was ever more complex. In this way they could compete with opera singers, who had long relied on pieces that showed off their abilities and gained the acclaim of their audiences. On the harpsichord and then the piano, however, the limitations of the instrument had hitherto constrained the performers’ virtuosity. Rapid progress in piano building at the beginning of the 19th century (an extended keyboard, greater power and especially the ‘double escapement’ action) and also in playing technique encouraged the composition of works that remained the exclusive confines of a select few. Concerts by the Genoese violinist Niccolò Paganini in Vienna in 1828 and then in Paris in 1831 caused a shockwave. In the audience the young Franz Liszt sat fascinated, regarding what he was witnessing as an encouragement to exploit his extraordinary piano technique in his music and to become the Paganini of the piano, writing devilishly difficult compositions. ...

Alexandre Kantorow, piano

Alexandre Kantorow
Having brought out his first CD last year to critical acclaim, Alexandre has released his second, on the BIS label, that onsist of three of Liszt’s piano concertos, recorded in Finland with the Tapiola Sinfonietta under his father, conductor Jean-Jacques Kantorow.

Alexandre has been performing these concertos live as part of his international concert schedule, taking in Osaka, Japan, under Augustin Dumay, and Taipei, Taiwan. He’ll also be playing other pieces by Liszt nearer to home, on tour with the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire.

France gets a new concert hall this year, in the form of the much anticipated Philharmonie de Paris, and Alexandre has performed Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy there as part of the inaugural season.

Brahms is another of Alexandre’s favourite composers, and he is looking forward to performing his Piano Concerto No. 2 early in the year.

Born in Paris in 1997, Alexandre fits his many professional engagements around his studies at the Paris Conservatoire, under Franck Braley. A full-time career as a soloist beckons, but Alexandre still enjoys performing with other musicians too. LAst summer, for example, he’ll be playing chamber music at festivals in France, as well as performing Addinsell’s film music the Warsaw Concerto, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue in its original version with jazz band.

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