PPI's Recordings Roundup for September
As fall approaches, we’re embracing the pieces that evoke the warmth and coziness of the season. Add these selections to your playlist as you sip your first cup of cider and savor the crisp, cool air, letting the music perfectly complement the changing colors and serene autumn atmosphere.
Liszt's Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, S. 173, no. III. Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude performed by Tanguy de Williencourt, transcendent and sublime introspection by Franz Liszt
Polonaise No. 7 in A-flat major, op. 61 "Polonaise-Fantaisie," by Frédéric Chopin in a new recording by Kotaro Fukuma, sentimental and dance-like
Three Piano Pieces, op. 11, no. II, Mässige Achtel by Arnold Schoenberg performed by Elisabeth Leonskaja, an elegant whisper of early modernism
Tanguy de Williencourt
Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, S. 173, no. III. Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude by Franz Liszt
Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, S. 173, no. III. Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude is a deeply reflective and spiritual work by Franz Liszt, performed here by Tanguy de Williencourt. Part of Liszt's Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, this piece exudes a meditative calm, evoking a sense of divine peace and solitude. De Williencourt's sensitive interpretation highlights the work’s rich harmonic textures and lyrical beauty, capturing both its intimate and expansive moments. His touch brings out the transcendent quality of Liszt's composition, making it a profoundly moving listening experience.
Kotaro Fukuma
Polonaise No. 7 in A-flat Major, op. 61 by Frédéric Chopin
Kotaro Fukuma's new recording of Polonaise No. 7 in A-flat Major, op. 61 "Polonaise-Fantaisie" by Frédéric Chopin offers a fresh and captivating interpretation of this late masterpiece. Fukuma masterfully navigates the intricate blend of dance-like rhythms and lyrical, free-flowing passages, capturing the piece's unique balance of grandeur and introspection. His delicate phrasing and technical brilliance bring out the poetic depth of Chopin’s composition, while his expressive touch enhances its dream-like qualities, making this performance both powerful and evocative.
Elisabeth Leonskaja
Three Piano Pieces, op. 11, no. II by Arnold Schoenberg
In her recording of Three Piano Pieces, op. 11, no. II, Mässige Achtel by Arnold Schoenberg, Elisabeth Leonskaja delivers a performance of remarkable clarity and emotional depth. Leonskaja brings out the piece's intricate rhythmic patterns and shifting tonalities with a subtle, nuanced touch. Her interpretation emphasizes the expressive contrasts within Schoenberg’s early atonal work, making its fragmented melodies and complex textures coherent and compelling. Leonskaja’s artistry shines as she balances precision with profound sensitivity, offering a captivating insight into the world of early 20th-century modernism.