Bolcom,William / Bergmann,Elizabeth & Marcel - Music for Two Pianos - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Pianist Alexandra Dariescu presents a reimagining of the classic ballet tale of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, with Alex herself taking the role of Clara, now a little girl longing to fulfil her dream of becoming a pianist. Alexandra performs extracts from the ballet in transcriptions by luminaries including Mikhail Pletnev and Percy Grainger, interspersed with narration from TV presenter Lindsey Russell in a new version of the story by Jessica Duchen. The lavish includes illustrations by Adam Smith, adapted from Yeast Culture's cutting-edge digital animation that accompanies the show's live performances. Romanian pianist Alexandra Dariescu, recently named as 'one of 30 pianists under 30 destined for a spectacular career' (International Piano Magazine), dazzles audiences worldwide with her effortless musicality and captivating stage presence. Album Tracks 1. Scene 2. Miniature Overture 3. Opening Act One 4. March 5. The Battle/Pas de Deux in the Snow 6. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy 7. Tarantella 8. Arabian Dance 9. Russian Dance (Trepak) 10. Chinese Dance 11. Dance of the Reed Flutes 12. Pas de Deux 13. Waltz of the Flowers 14. Finale Act Two

Album Tracks 1. FL Con in G (Badley G2) Allegro Moderato 2. FL Con in G (Badley G2) Adagio 3. FL Con in G (Badley G2) Vivace 4. FL Con in D (Badley D1) Allegro Moderato 5. FL Con in D (Badley D1) Adagio 6. FL Con in D (Badley D1) Allegro Molto 7. FL Con in a (Badley A2) Allegro 8. FL Con in a (Badley A2) Adagio 9. FL Con in a (Badley A2) Allegro Assai 10. FL Con in D (Badley D6) Tempo Giusto 11. FL Con in D (Badley D6) Adagio 12. FL Con in D (Badley D6) Allegro Molto

Stefan Wolpe's escape from Nazi Germany was fraught with uncertainty and danger. During the months following Hitler's rise to power Wolpe went into hiding, while completing one of his most compelling works- the March and Variations (1932-33), a work of Beethovenian power, scored for two pianos. The piece was largely been forgotten until Quattro Mani's revival of it, and their sensational premiere recording on Bridge's Music of Stefan Wolpe, Vol. 8. Wolpe's ballet score, The Man from Midian (1942) a work based on the Old Testament, is centered around the story of Moses, and is the other major work on this . The virtuoso piano duo team, Quattro Mani (Susan Grace & Steven Beck), has worked with many of today's leading composers, and is devoted to the expansion of the repertoire for duo piano. QM's new Wolpe is the duo's 14th album for Bridge Records. Album Tracks 1. March and Variations (1932-33) 2. The Man from Midian (1942) 3. Two Studies on Basic Rows (1935-36)