Foote / Belogurov,Artem - American Romantics the Boston Scene - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

A unique collection of American romantic piano music, written largely in the last third of the 19th century, by Foote, Whiting, Paine, Chadwick and Nevin. In a period where in Europe piano music was in the hands of towering virtuosos like Liszt, Anton Rubinstein and later Rachmaninoff, the American scene was notably less tormented, focusing on tone painting idyllic landscapes, rural scenes and charming dance forms. These genre pieces share the same delightful characteristics as their European pendants by Dvorak, Mendelssohn, Grieg, Gade, Sinding and others. Young pianist Artem Belogurov (born in Latvia, grew up in Odessa/Ukraine and now lives in Boston) is a former student of Peter Serkin. For this recording he plays a beautiful period instrument, a 1873 Chickering piano. Chickering was one of the most respected and successful piano builders of the 19th century; Hans von Bülow premiered Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto in Boston on a Chickering, and Franz Liszt owned two of their instruments. The booklet contains extensive liner notes on the music and composers, an artist biography and information and photos of the instrument. Album Tracks 1. 01. I. Prelude 2. 02. II Fugue 3. 03. III. Romance 4. 04. IV. Capriccio 5. 05. I. Caprice 6. 06. II. Humoreske 7. 07. III. Bagatelle 8. 08. IV. Idylle 9. 09. III. Fuga Giocosa 10. 10. I. Woodnotes 11. 11. II. Wayside Flowers 12. 12. IV. the Sheperd's Lament 13. 13. V. Village Dance 14. 14. VII. the Mill 15. 15. X. Welcome Home 16. 16. II. Dans Le Canot 17. 17. V. Les Grenouilles 18. 18. I. Dragon Fly 19. 19. II. Ophelia 20. 20. III. Water Nymph 21. 21. IV. Narcissus 22. 22. V. Barcarolle