‘A new talent has appeared in our midst, a genuine, thoroughly original, thoroughly Russian talent … he is bright and unaffected, he has boldness and power. Cui, Borodin and my humble self are delighted with him … as for his own scribblings, well, you will judge for yourself. Korsakov has been holding forth on them quite a lot.’ So wrote Mussorgsky of the young Liadov. And yet his works have remained little known. A Musical Snuffbox will be familiar to most listeners, but the majority of Liadov’s canon has fallen into obscurity, not least because the composer dedicated his life to indolence and seems to have been utterly without ambition either for himself or for his music. The two major piano works are the ‘Glinka’ variations and the ‘Polish’ variations; as for the rest of his output, it is of miniatures as finely crafted as they are few in number.

“Exquisite piano pieces. Yet another winner by a pianist who is proving a worthy champion of Late Romantic Russian repertoire” The Scotsman

“Scarcely anybody outside Russia looks at them these days, but, as Stephen Coombs eloquently establishes on this disc, they are gems” The Daily Telegraph

“A sparkling collection of gems honed to perfection by a fine craftsman” Classic CD

“A ravishing range of tonal colours and flawless sense of timing which constantly reduced this particular listener to putty in the master’s hands” Hi-Fi News

Helios - CDH55309

(CD)

$7.49

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.

Bortkiewicz - Piano Music

Bortkiewicz:

Lamentations and Consolations, Op. 17

Aus Andersens Märchen (Ein musikalisches Bilderbuch), Op. 30

Ten Preludes, Op. 33

Ballade in C sharp minor Op. 42

Elégie in C sharp major Op. 46

Quatre Morceaux Op. 3

Quatre Morceaux Op. 65

Sonata in B major Op. 9

Stephen Coombs (piano)

Since the release of Stephen Coombs’s recording of the Piano Concerto No 1 (CDA66624) Bortkiewicz has become something of a cult composer amongst lovers of late romantic piano music. A man after his time, Bortkiewicz became all but forgotten after the First World War. He fled communist Russia to live first in Istanbul and then Vienna but his music remained resolutely that of pre-Revolution Moscow; like Rachmaninov in style but with even more ‘tunes’ and sentiment. These discs of solo pieces include some of Bortkiewicz’s most imposing works. The Op 9 Sonata is his largest solo composition and the Ballade and Elegy are two of his finest. The Lamentations and Consolations set is among his most characteristic works: intensely melodic with a brooding romanticism often reminiscent of Liszt. The fairy-tale interpretations of Aus Andersens Märchen, subtitled ‘A Musical Picture Book’, come from the large corpus of pieces Bortkiewicz composed with children in mind, while the Op 33 Preludes owe much of their character to Chopin.

“Abundance of melodic appeal and inventiveness. Bortkiewicz seems incapable of writing unattractive music so one is able to derive pleasure from the pieces here. I shall certainly look forward to further volumes in this series” Gramophone

Hyperion Dyads - CDD22054

(CD - 2 discs)

$16.49

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.

The Early Scriabin

Scriabin:

Piano Sonata in E flat minor

Waltz in F minor Op. 1

Valse in G sharp minor

Valse in D flat major

Variations on a theme by Mlle Egorova

Nocturne in A flat major

Nocturne in F sharp minor Op. 5 No. 1

Nocturne in A major Op. 5 No. 2

Nocturne in F sharp minor Op. 5 No. 1

Nocturne in A major Op. 5 No. 2

Sonata-Fantaisie In G sharp minor

Étude Op. 8 No. 12 in D sharp minor

second version

Prelude, Op. 9 No. 1 in C sharp minor for the left hand

Nocturne in D flat major Op. 9 No. 2

Allegro Appassionato Op. 4

Stephen Coombs (piano)

‘A programme of fascinating rarities played with a touching sensitivity and affection … this record is a most impressive achievement, as beautiful in sound as it is endlessly thought-provoking’ (Gramophone)

Helios - CDH55286

(CD)

$7.49

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.

Glazunov - Complete Solo Piano Music, Volume 4

Glazunov:

Prelude and Two Mazurkas Op. 25

Barcarolle Sur Les Touches Noires

Two Impromptus, Op. 54

Idylle, Op. 103

Triumphal March, Op. 40

(with the Holst Singers)

The Song Of The Volga Boatmen Op. 97

In Modo Religioso Op. 38

Pas De Caractère Op. 68

Piano Sonata No. 2 In E Minor Op. 75

Stephen Coombs (piano)

Stephen Layton

‘A series that will surely raise this composer’s status immeasurably’ (Gramophone)

Helios - CDH55224

(CD)

$7.49

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.

Glazunov - Complete Solo Piano Music, Volume 3

Glazunov:

Prelude And Fugue In D Minor Op. 62

Four Preludes And Fugues Op. 101

Prelude And Fugue In E Minor (1926)

Stephen Coombs (piano)

‘Wonders unfold still further in [this] third disc in the series … Glazunov has not enjoyed such persuasive advocacy in recent years. Stephen Coombs really succeeds, where others have not, in making the listener believe that this is not only music of charm but of quality’ (Gramophone)

Helios - CDH55223

(CD)

$7.49

Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days.