Howard Shelley - Clementi: Capriccios & Variations for Piano (2011)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Capriccio in B-Flat Major, Op. 17
02. Capriccio in A Major, Op. 34 No. 3
03. Capriccio in F Major, Op. 34 No. 4
04. Capriccio in E Minor, Op. 47 No. 1: I. Adagio – Allegro agitato
05. Capriccio in E Minor, Op. 47 No. 1: II. Adagio sostenuto
06. Capriccio in E Minor, Op. 47 No. 1: III. Allegro vivace
07. Capriccio in C Major, Op. 47 No. 2: I. Adagio sostenuto – Allegro con espressione e passione
08. Capriccio in C Major, Op. 47 No. 2: II. Adagio cantabile
09. Capriccio in C Major, Op. 47 No. 2: III. Allegro vivace
10. Black Joke with 21 Variations, WoO 2

CD2
01. La chasse, Op. 16: I. Allegro
02. La chasse, Op. 16: II. Andante vivace
03. La chasse, Op. 16: III. Allegro assai
04. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: I. Allegro
05. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: II. Allegro non troppo
06. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: III. Allegretto con espressione
07. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: IV. Allegretto con molto
08. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: V. Allegretto con grazia
09. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: VI. Allegro
10. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: VII. Allegro vivace
11. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: VIII. Vivace assai
12. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: IX. Allegro moderato
13. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: X. Allegro moderato
14. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: XI. Allegro non troppo
15. 12 Monferrinas, Op. 49: XII. Allegro moderato
16. Fantaisie and Variations on "Au clair de la lune", Op. 48
17. Variations on "Batti, batti" from Mozart's Don Giovanni, WoO 10
18. Variations on a Minuet by Mr Collick, WoO 5
19. Rondo in B-Flat Major, WoO 8
20. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: I. Prelude 1 alla Haydn
21. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: II. Prelude 2 alla Haydn
22. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: III. Prelude 1 alla Kozeluch
23. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: IV. Prelude 2 alla Kozeluch
24. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: V. Prelude 1 alla Mozart
25. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: VI. Prelude 2 alla Mozart
26. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: VII. Prelude 1 alla Sterkel
27. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: VIII. Prelude 2 alla Sterkel
28. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: IX. Prelude 1 alla Vanhal
29. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: X. Prelude 2 alla Vanhal
30. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: XI. Prelude 1 alla Clementi
31. Musical Characteristics, Op. 19: XII. Prelude 2 alla Clementi

Howard Shelley’s survey of the complete piano sonatas of Clementi was acclaimed not only as a set of benchmark performances, but also as the rediscovery of a composer who was uniquely important in his lifetime, which overlapped the careers of Scarlatti and Chopin. This set of Capriccios and Variations is something of a footnote to the series. The earlier works demonstrate Clementi’s lighter and more whimsical side. Most of this music was written to entertain and amuse, with many fantastical virtuoso flourishes of an improvisatory feel. The later works date from the nineteenth century, when Clementi was not quite as prolific as his younger self. Although many of these works, too, were designed for domestic use, there are exceptions such as the Two Capriccios Op 47. These are clearly ‘professional’ music: ambitious, dramatic, radically experimental, often determinedly chromatic, they show the septuagenarian composer still at work in the forefront of the most modern keyboard style.

Howard Shelley has made this repertoire his own. He performs with his usual impeccably stylish flair.

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