The 'Ã‰cole de Paris' was a group of composers from Central and Eastern Europe who made the French capital their home in the 1920s and '30s. One of their number was the Romanian Marcel Mihalovici, born in Bucharest in 1898 and based in Paris from 1919 until his death in 1985 - one of the most significant of twentieth-century composers who has yet to receive the recognition he deserves. This first album dedicated to his piano music traces his stylistic evolution, the early blend of French insouciance, echoes of eastern European folk-music and Neo-Classical contrapuntal clarity gradually taking a tougher turn and blending BartÃ³k and Bach. It ends with a monumental passacaglia for the left hand alone, one of the most daunting summits of the piano literature.

Tracklist:

Sonatine, Op. 11: I. Allegro Moderato
Sonatine, Op. 11: II. Andante Semplice
Sonatine, Op. 11: III. Toccata. Vivace
4 Caprices, Op. 29: No. 1, Con Eleganza
4 Caprices, Op. 29: No. 2, Mosso
4 Caprices, Op. 29: No. 3, Andantino E Misterioso
4 Caprices, Op. 29: No. 4, Allegro Furioso
Ricercari, Op. 46: Theme. Poco Lento
Ricercari, Op. 46: Var. 1, Un Poco Più Mosso
Ricercari, Op. 46: Var. 2, Andante, Non Troppo
Ricercari, Op. 46: Var. 3, Allegro Ben Ritmato
Ricercari, Op. 46: Var. 4, Allegro Giusto
Ricercari, Op. 46: Var. 5, Lento Sostenuto
Ricercari, Op. 46: Var. 6, Leggiero, Con Moto
Ricercari, Op. 46: Var. 7, Andantino
Ricercari, Op. 46: Var. 8, Allegretto Capriccioso, Ma Molto Ritmato
Ricercari, Op. 46: Var. 9, Molto Vivace
Ricercari, Op. 46: Fugue. Grave, Più Tosto Moderato
4 Pastorales, Op. 62: No. 1, Andantino
4 Pastorales, Op. 62: No. 2, Allegro
4 Pastorales, Op. 62: No. 3, Lento
4 Pastorales, Op. 62: No. 4, Allegro
Sonata, Op. 90: I. Allegretto Piacevole
Sonata, Op. 90: II. Lento Improvisando - E Sempre Con Un Sentimento Assai Barocco
Sonata, Op. 90: III. Allegro Giacoso
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Theme. Grave - Mesto
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 1
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 2
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 3, Semplice
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 4, Espressivo - Sognando
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 5, Più Mosso
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 6
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 7, Tranquillo
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 8
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 9, Lento Senza Alcuna Espressione
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 10, Più Animato
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 11, Mosso Subito - Virtuoso
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 12, Lento Subito
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 13, Stesso
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 14, Vivo
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 15, Meno
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 16, Moderato Pensieroso
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 17, Calmo, Sempre Pensieroso
Passacaglia For One Hand, Op. 105: Var. 18, Liberamente - Quasi Una Cadenza

UPC: 5060113443762
Label: Toccata
Release Date: 10.2.20
Format: CD

Mihalovici / Rubenstein - Piano Music (CD)