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Track(s) taken from CDA67806

Polka in F sharp minor

composer
1859

Danny Driver (piano)
Studio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available
CD-Quality:
Studio Master:
CD-Quality:
Studio Master:
Recording details: March 2010
Henry Wood Hall, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Andrew Keener
Engineered by Simon Eadon
Release date: February 2011
Total duration: 3 minutes 33 seconds

Cover artwork: Rainbow (1900-05). Arkhip Kuindzhi (1842-1910)
 

Reviews

‘Danny Driver continues his Hyperion exploration of the piano repertoire with delightful interpretations of Mily Balakirev. In particular, the piano sonata in B flat minor is a terrific, big-hearted piece, unlike anything else from its period, and its neglect in the concert hall is surely due a reappraisal … impressive playing throughout ensures that your finger won't stray far from the replay button’ (The Observer)

‘In the case of the Sonata, motifs of folk song add a distinctive tang to a work of unorthodox construction but fascinating originality. Bravo to Hyperion for championing this music and to Driver for playing it with such sensitivity, polish and élan’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘The three releases by the young British pianist Danny Driver have met with considerable acclaim. It's wonderful to see a talent such as this continuing to address the more obsure pianistic byways, and here Driver has assembled a fabulous array of works from Balakirev's very varied keyboard output … as ever, Hyperion provides recording quality and programme notes which are first class in every way’ (International Record Review)

‘Danny Driver's recordings of York Bowen for Hyperion have enjoyed critical success; here he shows himself a sterling interpreter of Russian repertoire … Driver is most attentive to the musics nuances. The Mazurka second movement is another of contrasts and he captures the dance element perfectly, revelling in sometimes extreme ornamentation … the recording is first class, with great presence’ (International Piano)

‘Young British pianist, Danny Driver, produces all the technical fireworks needed’ (Yorkshire Post)
The Polka in F sharp minor represents Balakirev at his most modest. This was the first of his piano works to appear in print (in 1859), and it is as winsomely charming—though by no means as athletic in its demands—as Louis Moreau Gottschalk’s famous novelty piece of 1845/6, Le bananier.

from notes by David Fanning © 2011

La Polka en fa dièse mineur incarne Balakirev au plus modeste de lui-même. Ce fut sa première œuvre pianistique imprimée (en 1859), aussi gracieusement avenante—quoique nullement aussi exigeante—que le fameux morceau fantaisie de Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Le bananier (1845/6).

extrait des notes rédigées par David Fanning © 2011
Français: Hypérion

Mit der Polka in fis-Moll, sein erstes (1859) im Druck veröffentlichtes Werk, zeigt sich Balakirew von seiner bescheidensten Seite. Sie ist ebenso überwältigend charmant, wenngleich mit weit geringeren athletischen Anforderungen, wie das berühmte Schaustück Le Bananier von Louis Moreau Gottschalk aus dem Jahr 1845/6.

aus dem Begleittext von David Fanning © 2011
Deutsch: Henning Weber

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