Piers Lane - Moscheles: The Complete Concert Studies (2003)

Tracklist

01. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: I. Wrath "Der Zorn"
02. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: II. Reconciliation "Versöhnung"
03. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: III. Contradiction "Der Widerspruch"
04. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: IVa. Juno
05. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: IVb. [Modulation]
06. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: V. A Children"s Tale "Ein Kindermärchen"
07. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: VI. Bacchanale
08. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: VII. Affection "Zärtlichkeit"
09. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: VIIIa. Carnival Scenes "Alla Napolitana", "Volksfest-Scenen"
10. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: VIIIb. [Modulation]
11. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: IXa. Moonlight on the Sea-Shore
12. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: IXb. [Modulation]
13. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: X. Terpsichore
14. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: XIa. A Dream "Der Traum"
15. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: XIb. [Modulation]
16. Moscheles: Characteristic Studies, Op. 95: XII. Terror "Die Angst"
17. Moscheles: 2 Etudes, Op. 98: I. L'enjouement
18. Moscheles: 2 Etudes, Op. 98: II. L'ambition
19. Moscheles: 2 Etudes, Op. 105: I. Allegro scherzoso
20. Moscheles: 2 Etudes, Op. 105: II. Allegro feroce
21. Moscheles: 4 Grandes Etudes de concert, Op. 111: I. Rêverie et allégresse
22. Moscheles: 4 Grandes Etudes de concert, Op. 111: II. Le Carrillon
23. Moscheles: 4 Grandes Etudes de concert, Op. 111: III. Tendresse et exaltation
24. Moscheles: 4 Grandes Etudes de concert, Op. 111: IV. La Fougue
25. Moscheles: Grande Etude de concert, Op. 126

Given Moscheles contemporary fame it is surprising how much his reputation has faded. He bridged the gap between the Classical and Romantic movements and, though a fine pianist and a sincere and skilled craftsman as a composer, his downfall was surely that his transitional idiom was quickly overshadowed by the Titans of the new Romantic movement such as Chopin, Schumann and Liszt. None of this need concern us now—his music has its own worth, as our recordings of his concertos have shown.

This CD brings together all his works that could be described as ‘concert studies’ (it excludes the Op 70 set as these are much more didactic in nature). The Op 95 set is probably his greatest solo piano work and the many foretastes of later composers such as Schumann and Brahms reveal the influence that Moscheles had on later generations.

Piers Lane does his customary magnificent job in presenting these studies, most of which are premiere recordings.

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