Alex Alguacil - Piano Serenade (2022)

PIANO SERENADE – The complete solo piano music of Richard Strauss. The young Strauss created his piano music when he was between 16 and 20 years old (between 1880 and 1884). These early works were modeled after the romantic style of Mendelssohn, Schumann or Brahms. Even though they do not display the bold chromatisms and tonal ambiguities of the later Strauss, they subtly anticipate traits of the later composer, while charmingly displaying an honest and beautiful musical message. This recording starts with a transcription of Ständchen, one of his most celebrated songs, and goes on with Fünf Klavierstücke, op. 3, Piano Sonata in B minor, op. 5, and Stimmungsbilder, op. 9. With no pretensions and a few resources, these early pieces show a little known facet of the Bavarian genius, heightened by the imagination and creative force of his youth. Released by Aglae Musica.