Andreas Staier & Alexander Melnikov - Schubert: Fantasie in F Minor and Other Piano Duets (2017) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
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01. Fantasie in F Minor, D. 940, Op. 103: I. Allegro molto moderato
02. Fantasie in F Minor, D. 940, Op. 103: II. Largo
03. Fantasie in F Minor, D. 940, Op. 103: III. Allegro vivace-Con delicatezza
04. Fantasie in F Minor, D. 940, Op. 103: IV. Finale. Tempo primo
05. 4 Ländler, D. 814
06. Marche Caractéristique in C Major, D. 886: I. Allegro Vivace
07. Variations on an Original Theme in A-Flat Major, D. 813, Op. 35: I. Thema. Allegretto
08. Variations on an Original Theme in A-Flat Major, D. 813, Op. 35: II. Variation I
09. Variations on an Original Theme in A-Flat Major, D. 813, Op. 35: III. Variation II
10. Variations on an Original Theme in A-Flat Major, D. 813, Op. 35: IV. Variation III. Un poco piu lento
11. Variations on an Original Theme in A-Flat Major, D. 813, Op. 35: V. Variation IV. Tempo I
12. Variations on an Original Theme in A-Flat Major, D. 813, Op. 35: VI. Variation V
13. Variations on an Original Theme in A-Flat Major, D. 813, Op. 35: VII. Variation VI. Maestoso
14. Variations On An Original Theme In A-Flat Major, D. 813, Op. 35: VIII. Variation VII. Più Lento
15. Variations On An Original Theme In A-Flat Major, D. 813, Op. 35: IX. Variation VIII. Finale. Allegro Moderato
16. 6 Grandes Marches in B Minor, D. 819, Op. 40: III. Allegretto
17. Polonaise in D Minor, D. 824, No. 1, Op. 61
18. Rondo in A Major, D. 951, Op. 107: Allegretto quasi andantino

"I have composed a big sonata and variations for four hands, and the latter have met with a specially good reception here, but I do not entirely trust Hungarian taste, and I shall leave it to you and to the Viennese to decide their true merit" So wrote Franz Schubert in 1824, evoking the popular 19th-century genre for 4-hands piano that publishers were always pestering him to write for. In his brief life Schubert devoted 32 compositions to this form and the least of these pieces, be it a ländler, polonaise or march, radiates with all of his finesse and sensitivity. Three are incontestable masterpieces, in the same rank as his sonatas or quartets: the Variations D813, the Fantasie D 940 and the Rondo D 951. All three date from the composer’s final years, a period that gave birth to his most accomplished works.

In concert, Andreas Staier and Alexander Melnikov have played Bach’s 'Well-Tempered Clavier', with Staier at the harpsichord, alongside Shostakovich’s '24 Preludes and Fugues', with Melnikov at the piano. Sharing a keyboard evidently suits them just as well; their unique musical complicity bringing together four hands and two immense talents.

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