About this Release
FARRENC, LOUISE (1804–1875)
Complete Piano Works • 5
- Maria Stratigou, piano
Louise Farrenc won the admiration of her contemporaries as one of the most respected pianists, composers and pedagogues in 19th-century Paris. She was acclaimed as a performer of Beethoven’s music, and her graceful Mélodie in A flat major was included in an 1846 anthology of works by an array of composers inspired by the music of Beethoven. Farrenc’s Impromptu in B minor appeared in another publication, Vogt’s Musical Album of Autographs, alongside compositions by 62 other musicians including Berlioz, Gounod and Liszt. The Fugues were never published in Farrenc’s lifetime and are heard here in a world premiere recording. ‘[Stratigou] has a full mastery of Farrenc’s romantic style and a technique to match’ (American Record Guide on Volume 3, GP942).
Tracklist
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3 Mélodies, Op. 43 () (00:11:00 )
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1
No. 1 in D Major: Andante cantabile (00:02:32)
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2
No. 2 in F Major: Andante grazioso (00:05:15)
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3
No. 3 in E-Flat Major: Allegro - Allegretto spiritoso - Allegro (00:04:12)
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4
Scherzo in B-Flat Major, Op. 47 () (00:04:35)
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5
Valse brillante No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 48 () (00:08:03)
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6
Nocturne in E-Flat Major, Op. 49 () (00:05:11)
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7
Valse brillante No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 51 () (00:05:32)
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Fugues, Op. 22 (1833) (00:21:00 )
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8
No. 6 in F Major (00:02:11)
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9
No. 7 in E-Flat Major (00:04:23)
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10
No. 8 in C Major (00:02:36)
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11
No. 9 in D Major (00:03:49)
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12
No. 10 in C-Sharp Minor (00:03:26)
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13
No. 11 in E Minor (00:04:17)
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14
Mélodie in A-Flat Major (1846) (00:01:41)
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15
Impromptu in B Minor (1843) (1843) (00:02:03)
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The Artist(s)
Dr Maria Stratigou studied at the Conservatory of Athens, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Northern College of Music, where she completed her PhD Performance Aspects of Louise Farrenc’s Piano Études. She is currently a teaching associate (Performance) at the University of Sheffield. Stratigou has given lecturerecitals and paper presentations at numerous international conferences on this subject. She has performed across Europe and is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the ’Eleni Tim. Mykoniou’ Prize for Piano (Academy of Athens, 2013) and First Prizes at the Jock Holden Memorial Mozart Piano Prize Competition at the RCS (2008) and various Panhellenic piano competitions. The Composer(s)
Louise Farrenc was one of the most respected pianists and composers in the 19th-century Parisian music scene, and her four sets of Études are her most important compositions for piano. Beautiful melodies and distinctiveness of character have made the Études, Op. 26 the most popular set, but all of these pieces are full of grace and charm alongside their didactic usefulness in their references to the styles both of Farrenc’s musical ancestors and her contemporaries. The Greek pianist Maria Stratigou is one of Louise Farrenc’s greatest exponents and makes her Grand Piano debut with these exquisite rarities. Also Available
Grand Piano has gained a reputation for producing high quality recordings of rare keyboard gems. Dedicated to the exploration of undiscovered piano repertoire, the label specialises in complete cycles of piano works by many lesser-known composers, whose output might otherwise have remained unknown and unrecorded.
- info@grandpianorecords.com
