Busoni Preludes & Bliss Piano Sonata
This CD fulfils a long held ambition of Trevor Barnard who, following his pioneering recording of the Bliss Concerto in 1962, vowed someday to complete the double by recording the superb Sonata. Coupled with the amazing Preludes, these works deserve to be much better known. In early 2000 we re-issued that 1962 recording which Trevor made with the Philharmonia under Sir Malcolm Sargent.
Track Listing
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Ferruccio Busoni:
- I. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 1 in C major (2:34)
- II. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 2 in A minor (3:10)
- III. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 3 in G major (2:11)
- IV. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 4 in E minor (2:28)
- V. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 5 in D major (1:39)
- VI. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 6 in B minor (1:53)
- VII. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 7 in A major (2:17)
- VIII. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 8 in F sharp minor (1:49)
- IX. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 9 in E major (1:16)
- X. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 10 in C sharp minor (2:44)
- XI. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 11 in B major (1:52)
- XII. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 12 in G sharp minor (2:30)
- XIII. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 13 in F sharp major (2:19)
- XIV. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 14 in E flat minor (3:53)
- XV. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 15 in D flat major (2:15)
- XVI. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 16 in B flat minor (0:58)
- XVII. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − No. 17 in A flat major (1:46)
- XVIII. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 18 in F minor (2:34)
- XIX. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 19 in E flat major (1:10)
- XX. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 20 in C minor (2:08)
- XXI. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 21 in B flat major (3:19)
- XXII. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 22 in G minor (0:58)
- XXIII. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 23 in F major (1:14)
- XXIV. 24 Preludes, op. 37 − no. 24 in D minor (1:22)
- I. Sonata for Piano − 1. Moderato marcato (8:30)
- II. Sonata for Piano − 2. Adagio sereno (7:43)
- III. Sonata for Piano − 3. Allegro (6:26)
Arthur Bliss:
Reviews
“Barnard gives a striking account of the Piano Sonata, the capricious nature of the score captured with playing of mercurial agility. The remainder of this generously filled disc contains a brilliant reading of Busoni’s 24 Preludes, Barnard’s crisp articulation bringing an admirable clarity to the most complex passages. Recording ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
” —David Denton
“An unusual and welcome disc… [The Preludes are] inventive, well-varied pieces set within Busoni’s generally rugged pianistic style; the Bliss sonata is ….. a tremendous piece, its three movements full of dynamic argument, rhetoric and élan. Barnard’s playing is full-bodied, with generous pedal, a weighty tone and a fine ability to control atmosphere and emotional temperature. Performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sound ⭐️⭐️⭐️
” —Jessica Duchen
“An important disc… it is good to have [the Busoni ] available.. the Bliss is very welcome. Recording ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️
” —David Wright
“The sympathetically elegant Trevor Barnard’s your man… this is indispensable, and you are best advised to pick it up sooner… Sound is transparently immediate.
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