Giuseppe Fausto Modugno - Stefano Golinelli: Piano Works (2012)

Although it is hard now to find information about Stefano Golinelli, he was well-known in Europe during his lifetime, both as a concert pianist and as a prolific composer. Nearly all of his works were for solo piano. This disc by Giuseppe Fausto Modugno, playing Golinelli's 1880 Erard piano, is dominated by the second of Golinelli's three sets of preludes, clearly modeled after Chopin's Preludes, Op. 28. A couple of these have much in common with Chopin. For example, Golinelli's No. 10 is similar to Chopin's No. 17 in 6/8 meter with the melody supported by static chords, and No. 14 to Chopin's slow, spare No. 4. However, Golinelli's music is also quite like Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words. Golinelli's pleasant melodies are usually clear and separate, only sometimes being woven amongst sophisticated rhythmic accompaniment or ornamentation in both hands. Where there is more florid ornamentation, it is bubbly rather than softly flowing. The Due pensieri affettuosi and the Barcarola that fill out the disc are especially like Mendelssohn. Modugno has an excellent sense of phrasing that brings out the individual character in each prelude. He recognizes that these are more than bits of fluff to be thrown off without care, but he also doesn't allow them to become overly serious or heavy-handed. Golinelli's preludes are a charming, and rare, example of Italian nineteenth century piano miniatures.