Martin Helmchen - Schubert: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

This year, once again, we invited a series of young talented pianists to perform their debut at the Ruhr Piano Festival. Two of them, Elena Fischer-Dieskau and Giorgi Gigashvili, are featured on the first album of the current Vol. 41 boxed set, and they both centered their recital programs around the great Romantic composer Robert Schumann. Our first album thus consists of Inchpure Schumann.Inch I was particularly thrilled that this year we were able to ensure the world premiere performance of the great York Höller's Double Concerto for Cello, Piano and Orchestra, a work commissioned by the Ruhr Piano Festival. Pianist Martin Helmchen and cellist Marie-Elisabeth Hecker set out with the Double Concerto on a highly successful maiden voyage at the Stadthalle Mühlheim with the Cologne Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Christoph Poppen. That major musical event was supplemented two days later with a portrait recital by Hanni Liang, featuring piano works by York Höller from three decades of his oeuvre. Thus, our second album offers you a fascinating overview of the output of this particularly appealing composer. As always, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all participating artists for having agreed to participate in. (Excerpt from the Forword of the Booklet by Franz Xaver Ohnesorg)

Album Tracks 1. Allegro 2. Andantino 3. Scherzo Allegro Vivace 4. Rondo Allegretto 5. No. 1 in C Major Moderato 6. No. 2 in a Flat Major Andantino 7. No. 3 in F minor Allegro Moderato 8. No. 4 in C Sharp minor Moderato 9. No. 5 in F minor Allegro Vivace 10. No. 6 in a Flat Major Allegretto 1. Allegro Moderato 2. Andante 3. Allegro 4. Ungarische Melodie in B minor, D817 5. Molto Moderato 6. Andante Sostenuto 7. Scherzo Allegro Vivace Con Delicatezza 8. Allegro Ma Non Troppo

Pianist and conductor Vladimir Feltsman is one of the most versatile and constantly interesting musicians of our time. His vast repertoire encompasses music from the Baroque to 21st-century composers. He has appeared with all the major American orchestras and on the most prestigious musical stages and festivals worldwide. Born in Moscow in 1952, Mr. Feltsman debuted with the Moscow Philharmonic at age 11. In 1969, he entered the Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory of Music to study piano under the guidance of Professor Jacob Flier. He also studied conducting at both the Moscow and Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) Conservatories. In 1971, Mr. Feltsman won the Grand Prix at the Marguerite Long International Piano Competition in Paris; extensive touring throughout the former Soviet Union, Europe and Japan followed this. A dedicated educator of young musicians, Mr. Feltsman holds the Distinguished Chair of Professor of Piano at the State University of New York, New Paltz, and is a member of the piano faculty at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. This is his 5th volume of Schubert's Piano Sonatas.