Search - Ferrucio Busoni, Edvard Grieg / Gabriel Fauré / Franz Liszt, Hans Swarowski / Rudolf Schwarz / Helmut Froschauer :: Piano Concertos by Grieg and Liszt/Busoni

In Leipzig in 1858, Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) attended a performance by Clara Schumann of Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto. It had a profound and lasting effect on the young Norwegian composer, who set about composing his own Piano Concerto in the same key some ten years later (1868). This concerto remains one of the most popular pieces of music ever written and for many, illustrates perfectly the essence of 19th century romanticism. Fauré?s Fantasie for Piano and Orchestra is rarely recorded and we are delighted to include it here, with Felicja Blumental (piano) and the Philharmonia Orchestra. It was unusual of Fauré to write in this genre, free from the influence of poets such as of Hugo, Gautier and Baudelaire, whose work he turned to so frequently for inspiration. Spanish music first influenced Franz Liszt during his 1845 tour and remained with him until it found full voice in his Rhapsodie éspagnole for solo piano some 18 years later. Despite a rather haunting opening, the work rapidly develops and unfolds into several wonderful episodes; Folies d'Espagne and Juta Aragonesa. These dances were no doubt the temptation for Busoni. His arrangement dated 1894, makes full use of these dance rhythms with percussive enhancements and harmonic embellishments.