The Swiss pianist, editor and writer, Walter Rehberg (1900-1957) was a mainstay of the German Polydor label in the 1920s & 1930s, but his work has never before been transferred to modern recording formats, and as a result he has faded from view. He was entrusted with the first ever recordings of such masterworks as the Schubert and Schumann Fantasies, and these and his Liszt performances reveal a true Romantic virtuoso who was nevertheless equally at home in the Classicism of the Haydn sonata he recorded in early 1925 - another gramophone premiere. Gramophone wrote in 1928: "Rehberg has done well, his technique is equal to the formidable demands made on it, but his virtuosity never blinds him to the imaginative qualities of the music... I have nothing but admiration for a rendering that is both competent and poetical." Rehberg was also a champion of the Janko piano, an instrument that allowed the easier playing of larger intervals and complex chords. The instrument never caught on, but the pianist's own compositions for it (featured on the latter portion of this release) reveal the fascinating sonorities that could be created with it. The transfers and remastering featured on this album were expertly done by Ward Marston.

Tracklist:

Keyboard Sonata In G Major, Op. 37 No. 1, Hob. XVI:40: I. Allegretto Innocente
Keyboard Sonata In G Major, Op. 37 No. 1, Hob. XVI:40: II. Presto
Fantasy In C Major, Op. 15, D. 760 "Wandererfantasie": I. Allegro Con Fuoco Ma Non Troppo
Fantasy In C Major, Op. 15, D. 760 "Wandererfantasie": II. Adagio
Fantasy In C Major, Op. 15, D. 760 "Wandererfantasie": III. Presto
Fantasy In C Major, Op. 15, D. 760 "Wandererfantasie": IV. Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 18 In G Major, Op. 78, D. 894: III. Menuetto
4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899: No. 3 In G Major
4 Impromptus, Op. 90, D. 899: No. 4 In A-Flat Major
6 Moments Musicaux, Op. 94, D. 780: No. 3 In F Minor
Polonaise-Fantaisie In A-Flat Major, Op. 61
Fantasie In C Major, Op. 17: I. Durchaus Phantastisch Und Leidenschaftlich Vorzutragen
Fantasie In C Major, Op. 17: II. Mäßig. Durchaus Energisch
Fantasie In C Major, Op. 17: III. Langsam Getragen. Durchweg Leise Zu Halten
Der Tanz In Der Dorfschenke, S. 110 "Mephisto Waltz No. 1" (Arr. F. Busoni For Piano)
Harmonies Poétiques Et Religieuses, S. 173: VII. Funérailles
Consolations, S. 172: No. 3 In D-Flat Major. Lento Placido
Rhapsodie Espagnole, S. 254 "Folies D'espagne Et Jota Aragonesa"
Années De Pèlerinage I, Switzerland, S. 160: No. 7, Eclogue
Années De Pèlerinage II, Italy, S. 161b: No. 5, Sonetto 104 Del Petrarca
Années De Pèlerinage III, S. 163: No. 4, Les Jeux D'eau À La Villa D'este
Ave Maria Für Die Große Klavierschule Von Lebert Und Stark, S. 182 "Die Glocken Von Rom"
Soirées De Vienne, S. 427: No. 6, Allegro Con Strepito (After F. Schubert)
Valse De L'opéra Faust De Gounod, S. 407
Paraphrase De Concert Sur Rigoletto, S. 434
Aufforderung Zum Tanze, Op. 65, J. 260
16 Waltzes, Op. 39: Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 11, 14 & 15
2 Rhapsodies, Op. 79: No. 1 In B Minor
2 Rhapsodies, Op. 79: No. 2 In G Minor
Lyric Pieces, Book 8, Op. 65: No. 6, Wedding Day At Troldhaugen
Lyric Pieces, Book 3, Op. 43: No. 6, To The Spring
Lieder Ohne Worte, Book 5, Op. 62: No. 6, Allegretto Grazioso, Mwv U161 "Frühlinhgslied"
6 Stücke, Op. 32: No. 3, Rustle Of Spring
Morceaux De Fantaisie, Op. 3: No. 2, Prelude In C-Sharp Minor
Voices Of Spring Concert Paraphrase (After J. Strauss, Jr.)
Soirée De Vienne, Op. 56
Arabesken Über "An Der Schönen Blauen Donau" Von Johann Strauss
Tanzstudien, Op. 3: No. 1 In B Minor
Tanzstudien, Op. 3: No. 2 In G Major
5 Fantasies On A Theme By Verdi, Op. 2

UPC: 5024709173099
Label: Apr Recordings
Release Date: 5.4.18
Format: CD

Brahms / Rehberg - Polydor Recordings (3 CD)