According to the impresario Salomon, had George Frederick Pinto not died at the age of 21, 'England would have had the honor of producing a second Mozart.' Early in 1806 he probably succumbed to the effects of tuberculosis, much exacerbated by a dissolute lifestyle; Pinto's 'very questionable character, his habits of intemperance, and his somewhat lax principles,' were notorious to his contemporaries. And yet despite the praise of Salomon and Samuel Wesley, who remarked that 'a greater musical Genius has not been known', Pinto's music fell into obscurity, only to be revived in the 1960s. Within the two or three years before his death he produced an astonishingly mature body of work centered on the instruments with which he was also a celebrated performer, the violin and the piano. Perhaps his most remarkable music is to be found in the piano sonatas recorded here by Marek Toporowski:, more particularly the two sonatas op.3 and the Grand Sonata in C minor 'Inscribed to his Friend John Field' (1803).A Fantasia and Sonata in C minor, left unfinished and completed by Wesley and WÃ¶lfl; and three sets of Variations also match up to Pinto's best standards. These works are blessed with beautiful and original ideas; although the influences of Mozart, Dussek and Cramer are clearly discernible there are many original touches, as well as astonishing anticipations of Beethoven, Schubert and even Chopin. Anyone with even a passing interest in Classical-era piano music will find Pinto's highly inventive music worth further investigation. This new recording is the first complete survey undertaken on instruments of Pinto's own time. Marek Toporowski plays three fortepianos, all of them modern copies of distinguished German models from the end of the 18th century. He also contributes a detailed booklet essay on Pinto's life and works, informed by both practical and scholarly experience as one of the Polish historical performance movement's most renowned musicians.

Tracklist:

Grand Sonata For The Piano Forte In C Minor: I. Allegro Espressivo Con Foco É Risoluto
Grand Sonata For The Piano Forte In C Minor: II. Poco Adagio, Tranquillo, Legato È Con Espressione
Grand Sonata For The Piano Forte In C Minor: III. Rondo Allegro Molto Agitato Con Fuoco È Con Espressione
Minuetto In A-Flat Major
Cory Owen: I. Allegro Moderato
Rondo For The Piano Forte In E-Flat Major
Grand Sonata For The Piano Forte In A Major, Op. 3 No. 2: I. Allegro Moderato
Grand Sonata For The Piano Forte In A Major, Op. 3 No. 2: II. Poco Adagio Affettuoso
Grand Sonata For The Piano Forte In A Major, Op. 3 No. 2: III. Rondo Molto Allegro Con Spirit
Sonata In E-Flat Minor, Op. 3 No. 1: I. Allegro Moderato Con Espressione
Sonata In E-Flat Minor, Op. 3 No. 1: II. Adagio Con Gusto
Sonata In E-Flat Minor, Op. 3 No. 1: III. Allegro Con Brio
3 Favourite Airs With Variations For The Piano, Op. 2 No. 1: I. Mamma Mia…
3 Favourite Airs With Variations For The Piano, Op. 2 No. 2: II. ...And A French Air From The Opera
3 Favourite Airs With Variations For The Piano, Op. 2 No. 3: III. Variations On Original Theme
New Waltz Composed By G. Pinto
Sonatina I For The Piano Forte In G Major, Op. 4 No. 1: I. Allegro Moderato
Sonatina I For The Piano Forte In G Major, Op. 4 No. 1: II. A La Ecopois
Sonatina I For The Piano Forte In G Major, Op. 4 No. 1: III. Quick March
Sonatina II For The Piano Forte In B-Flat Major, Op. 4 No. 2: I. Allegro Moderato
Sonatina II For The Piano Forte In B-Flat Major, Op. 4 No. 2: II. Romance
Sonatina II For The Piano Forte In B-Flat Major, Op. 4 No. 2: III. Rondo. Allegro
Sonatina III For The Piano Forte In C Major, Op. 4 No. 3: I. Marcia Maestoso
Sonatina III For The Piano Forte In C Major, Op. 4 No. 3: II. Irish Air
Sonatina III For The Piano Forte In C Major, Op. 4 No. 3: III. Waltz
Fantasia And Sonata For The Piano Forte From 4 Canzonets And Sonata: I. Adagio Con Espressione E Poco Ad Libitum
Fantasia And Sonata For The Piano Forte From 4 Canzonets And Sonata: II. Allegro Con Spirito - Adagio
Fantasia And Sonata For The Piano Forte From 4 Canzonets And Sonata: III. Fugato
Fantasia And Sonata For The Piano Forte From 4 Canzonets And Sonata: IV. Sonata Grave Con Espressione
Fantasia And Sonata For The Piano Forte From 4 Canzonets And Sonata: V. Allegro

UPC: 5029365101776
Label: Piano Classics
Release Date: 12.6.19
Format: CD

Pinto / Toporowski - Complete Piano Music (CD)