From his first major recital at age fifteen in 1899 until his final public concert just one week before his death, Wilhelm Backhaus' career was one of the longest among the twentieth century's prominent pianists. Wilhelm Backhaus (1884-1969) left a 60-year recorded legacy which began in 1908, but the champion of Beethoven and Brahms we know from his later years performed a much wider repertoire before the war. This set focuses on this more 'romantic' repertoire - his Chopin Ã©tudes from 1928 were the first complete recorded cycle and still astonish with their virtuosity. His Schumann Fantasy is another landmark recording, the 78rpm era benchmark, and what a delightful surprise it is to hear him in his own spectacular transcriptions or in works by AlbÃ©niz and Moszkowski.

Tracklist:

Études, Op. 10: No. 1 In C Major "Waterfall"
Études, Op. 10: No. 2 In A Minor "Chromatique"
Études, Op. 10: No. 3 In E Major "Tristesse"
Études, Op. 10: No. 4 In C-Sharp Minor "Torrent"
Études, Op. 10: No. 5 In G-Flat Major "Black Keys"
Études, Op. 10: No. 6 In E-Flat Minor "Lament"
Études, Op. 10: No. 7 In C Major "Toccata"
Études, Op. 10: No. 8 In F Major "Sunshine"
Études, Op. 10: No. 9 In F Minor
Études, Op. 10: No. 10 In A-Flat Major
Études, Op. 10: No. 11 In E-Flat Major "Arpeggio"
Études, Op. 10: No. 12 In C Minor "Revolutionary"
Études, Op. 25: No. 1 In A-Flat Major "Harp Study"
Études, Op. 25: No. 2 In F Minor "Bees"
Études, Op. 25: No. 3 In F Major "The Horseman"
Études, Op. 25: No. 4 In A Minor "Paganini"
Études, Op. 25: No. 5 In E Minor "Wrong Note"
Études, Op. 25: No. 6 In G-Sharp Minor "Thirds"
Études, Op. 25: No. 7 In C-Sharp Minor "Cello"
Études, Op. 25: No. 8 In D-Flat Major "Sixths"
Études, Op. 25: No. 9 In G-Flat Major "Butterfly's Wings"
Études, Op. 25: No. 10 In B Minor "Octaves"
Études, Op. 25: No. 11 In A Minor "Winter Wind"
Études, Op. 25: No. 12 In C Minor "Ocean"
Prélude In C Major, Op. 28 No. 1
Berceuse In D-Flat Major, Op. 57
Grande Valse Brillante In E-Flat Major, Op. 18
Waltz In D-Flat Major, Op. 64 No. 1 "Minute"
Fantasy-Impromptu In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 66
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61, Mwv M13: No. 1, Scherzo (Arr. For Piano)
Czech Dances, Book 1: No. 3, Polka In F Major
La Source "Naïla, Die Quellenfee": No. 9, Valse
Don Giovanni, K. 527: Deh, Vieni Alla Finestra "Serenade" (Arr. For Piano)
3 Marches Militaires, Op. 51, D. 733: No. 3 In E-Flat Major
Soirées De Vienne, S. 427: No. 6, Allegro Con Strepito
2 Konzertetüden, S. 145: No. 1, Waldesrauschen
Liebesträume, S. 541: No. 3, Nocturne In A-Flat Major
Hungarian Rhapsody In C-Sharp Minor, S. 244 No. 2
Myrthen, Op. 25: No. 1, Widmung (Arr. For Piano)
Fantasiestücke, Op. 12: No. 2, Aufschwung
Fantasiestücke, Op. 12: No. 7, Traumes Wirren
Nachtstücke, Op. 23: No. 4, Ad Libitum - Einfach (Rundgesang Mit Solostimmen)
Fantasie In C Major, Op. 17: I. Durchaus Phantastisch Und Leidenschaftlich Vorzutragen - Im Legendenton - Erstes Tempo
Fantasie In C Major, Op. 17: II. Mäßig
Fantasie In C Major, Op. 17: III. Langsam Getragen
Iberia, Book 2: III. Triana
España, Op. 165: II. Tango
Caprice Espagnol, Op. 37

UPC: 5024709160266
Label: Apr Recordings
Release Date: 10.26.18
Format: CD

Albeniz / Backhaus - HMV Recordings 1925-1937 (2 CD)