Carlo Zecchi (1903-1984) studied with both Busoni and Schnabel and had a brief, but meteoric, career as a soloist, before switching in 1942 to conducting, with occasional forays into chamber music. Like his fellow Italians Michelangeli, Vidusso and Fiorentino, he possessed an immaculate technique, which gives his playing a sense of lightness and ease in even the most difficult passages. The recorded Liszt etudes are almost unrivalled in their virtuosity and in Scarlatti and Bach the evenness of his finger-work has to be heard to be believed. But he was a poet and a colorist too, as the more lyrical works of Chopin, and the Debussy Poissons d'or reveal. Sadly, Zecchi's recorded repertoire is small and this release includes an example of every piano work he recorded on 78s. Long known as a cult pianist to a select few, it is hoped these new transfers by Mark Obert-Thorn will bring his small but priceless legacy of piano recordings to a wider audience.

Tracklist:

Antiche Danze Ed Arie Per Liuto, P. 114: III. Gagliarda (After V. Galilei)
Antiche Danze Ed Arie Per Liuto, P. 114: V. Siciliana
Keyboard Sonata In G Major, Kk. 259
Keyboard Sonata In C Major, Kk. 159
Keyboard Sonata In D Major, Kk. 96
Keyboard Sonata In G Major, Kk. 523
Keyboard Concerto In G Major, Bwv 973 (Arr. Of Vivaldi's Rv 299): I. Allegro
Keyboard Concerto In G Major, Bwv 973 (Arr. Of Vivaldi's Rv 299): II. Adagio
Keyboard Concerto In G Major, Bwv 973 (Arr. Of Vivaldi's Rv 299): III. Presto
Prelude & Fugue No. 13 In F-Sharp Major, Bwv 858
Ich Ruf Zu Dir Herr Jesu Christ, Bwv 639 (Arr. M. Reger For Piano)
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D Major, Bwv 1050: I. Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D Major, Bwv 1050: II. Affettuoso
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D Major, Bwv 1050: III. Allegro
6 Moments Musicaux, Op. 94, D. 780: No. 6 In A-Flat Major
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 1, Von Fremden Ländern Und Menschen
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 2, Kuriose Geschichte
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 3, Hasche-Mann
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 4, Bittendes Kind
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 5, Glückes Genug
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 6, Wichtige Begebenheit
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 7, Träumerei
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 8, Am Kamin
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 9, Ritter Vom Steckenpferd
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 10, Fast Zu Ernst
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 11, Fürchtenmachen
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 12, Kind Im Einschlummern
Kinderszenen, Op. 15: No. 13, Der Dichter Spricht
Grandes Études De Paganini, S. 141: No. 5 In E Major "La Chasse"
Grandes Études De Paganini, S. 141: No. 4 In E Major "Arpeggio"
3 Études De Concert, S. 144: No. 2 In F Minor "La Leggierezza" (Recorded In 1937)
Waltz In A-Flat Major, Op. 42
Mazurkas, Op. 17: No. 4 In A Minor
Mazurkas, Op. 30: No. 4 In C-Sharp Minor
Mazurkas, Op. 33: No. 4 In B Minor
Berceuse In D-Flat Major, Op. 57
Barcarolle In F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
Images, L. 111: No. 3, Poissons D'or
Toccata
Keyboard Sonata In A Major, Kk. 113
12 Études, Op. 10: No. 5 In G-Flat Major "Black Keys"
12 Études, Op. 10: No. 8 In F Major "Sunshine"
Andante Spianato Et Grande Polonaise Brillante, Op. 22: II. Grande Polonaise Brillante (Version For Solo Piano)
Miroirs, M. 43: No. 4, Alborada Del Gracioso
3 Études De Concert, S. 144: No. 2 In F Minor "La Leggierezza" (Recorded In 1930)
Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23

UPC: 5024709160242
Label: Apr Recordings
Release Date: 7.6.18
Format: CD

J Bach S / Zecchi - Complete Solo Recordings & Selected Additional (2 CD)