The young Stravinsky became acquainted with large parts of the Western music repertoire through piano arrangements. That might have been one reason for his later compositional practice to arrange major works for piano duet or for two pianos as well. With the new album "Petrushka", the Bugallo-Williams Piano Duo has achieved it's intention to present a complete collection of Igor Stravinsky's published piano arrangements. The present recording contains two ballets which show Stravinsky's compositional development within the genre: the almost film-like burlesque "Petrushka" (1910/11) as well as the abstract late work "Agon" (1953/57) which puts the ancient Greek concept of competition into a contradictory musical setting. In addition, it contains two arrangements of concert pieces: "Concertino" for string quartet (1920) lives on the alternation between homogeneous instrumental passages and soloistic crossed accents. The orchestral "Scherzo a la Russe" (1944) as 'jazz commercial' testifies to Stravinsky's adaptation to his life in America as well as to his love of the Russian types of form at the turn of the century. In their recording, Helena Bugallo and Amy Williams present the special charms of Igor Stravinsky's music in 'black and white': The piano arrangements reflect the sheer brilliance of his oeuvre in a concentrated form.

Tracklist:

Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: 1. Scene: The Shrovetide Fair
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: I. Scene: The Magic Trick
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: I. Scene: Russian Dance
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: II. Scene: Petrushka’s Room
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: III. Scene: The Moor’s Room
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: III. Scene: Dance Of The Ballerina
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: III. Scene: Waltz /Appearance Of Petrushka
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: IV. Scene: The Shrovetide Fair (Toward Evening)
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: IV. Scene: Dance Of The Nursemaids
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: IV. Scene: The Peasant And The Bear
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: IV. Scene: The Jovial Merchant With Two Gypsy Girls
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: IV. Scene: Dance Of The Coachmen And Grooms
Petrushka. Burlesque In Four Scenes. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands: IV. Scene: The Mummers - The Fight: The Moor And Petrushka - De
Concertino For String Quartet. Arr. For Piano, Four Hands
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Pas-De-Quatre
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Double Pas-De-Quatre
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Triple Pas-De-Quatre
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Prélude
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: First Pas-De-Trois: Saraband Step
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Gailliarde
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Coda
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Interlude
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Second Pas-De-Trois: Bransle Simple
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Bransle Gay
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Bransle Double
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Interlude 2
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Pas-De-Deux
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Coda 2
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Four Duos
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Four Trios
Agon Ballet For Twelve Dancers. Arr. For Two Pianos: Coda 3
Scherzo À La Russe. Arr. For Two Pianos

UPC: 4010228737127
Label: Wergo Germany
Release Date: 7.13.18
Format: CD

Stravinsky - Petrushka (CD)