Tessa Uys / Ben Schoeman -Beethoven Symphonies Vol.2 -SOMM CD Grooves.land/Playthek

Details / Tracklist:

Sinfonie Nr. 5 c-moll op. 67 (bearb. für Klavierduo von Franz Xaver Scharwenka)

01. "1. Allegro con brio"

02. "2. Andante con moto"

03. "3. Scherzo: Allegro"

04. "4. Allegro"

05. "Andante und Variationen B-Dur op. 46"

06. "Variationen über ein Thema von Beethoven op. 35"

Number of discs:

Description:

SOMM Recordings is delighted to announce the eagerly-awaited second volume of the Tessa Uys and Ben Schoeman Piano Duo's ground-breaking series exploring Franz Xaver Scharwenka's transcriptions of Beethoven Symphonies. A composer of no mean stature in his own right, Scharwenka's transcriptions were once widely admired, his treatments of Beethoven's symphonies a high-watermark of the genre. Volume 1 (SOMMCD 0637) met with universal acclaim; Gramophone praising the "mastery" of the performances, BBC Music finding it "utterly beguiling" and MusicWeb International declaring "I was blown away by this magnificent recording". Volume 2 features the first recording of Scharwenka's transcription of Beethoven's iconic Fifth Symphony for piano duet. Claiming a direct connection to Beethoven via his teacher Franz Kullak, who had studied with Beethoven's pupil Carl Czerny, Scharwenka provides a virtuosic re-imagining of the Fifth's tremendous scale, organic growth and seething energy. The Variations on a Theme of Beethoven by Saint-Saëns show him, Robert Matthew-Walker says in his informative booklet notes, "at his most brilliant and searching... beautiful, imposing and elegant, as well as humorous". Robert Schumann's Andante and Variations in B-flat reveal Romanticism's quintessential musical poet at his most emotionally acute: "overhung with a pervading sense of intimacy, the music unfolds as a series of reflections upon the Andante theme, refracted in genuine variation styles of tempo, rhythm, tonalities (beautifully implied) and character".

Recorded on 25 August 2020 and 26 February 2021

"Beethoven Symphonies Vol.2" on CD, performed by the acclaimed piano duo Tessa Uys and Ben Schoeman, offers a fresh and intimate interpretation of Beethoven?s orchestral masterpieces arranged for four hands. This volume continues their celebrated exploration of Beethoven's symphonic works, capturing both the grandeur and subtlety of his music in an engaging chamber setting. Uys and Schoeman are internationally recognized for their dynamic synergy and technical brilliance; together they have garnered praise at major festivals across Europe and South Africa, with previous recordings receiving critical acclaim for their sensitivity to style and historical context. The album is released by Somm Recordings, a distinguished British label renowned for its commitment to high-quality classical productions featuring world-class artists. Somm has built a reputation over decades as a champion of both established musicians and emerging talent, ensuring every release meets exacting artistic standards.

Manufacturer No.:

SOMMCD0650

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