[.ca] Piano Music Vol. 3

From Amazon.co.uk:
Filter Chopin's mazurkas through extreme fin-de-siècle chromatic mysticism, such as Scriabin's, and you may emerge with something resembling Szymanowski's op.50. This composer's musical voice is intensely personal, combining his powerful love for the folk music of his native Poland with an introverted, often nearly neurotic tension and a remarkable sensitivity to the potential of the piano. The works on this disc exemplify his piano style, though they are not his best-known and are for the most part rarely played. Perhaps the real find here is the op.8 piano sonata, an early work still very much under the principal influences of Chopin and Scriabin. It's a traditional four-movement work on the grand scale and one hopes that it will gain wider popularity through this fine recording, in which Martin Roscoe brings out the range and versatility of Szymanowski's imagination to the full. The sonata is full of near-orchestral sonorities and the mazurkas, études and dances emerge as gem-like slivers, played with empathy and affection. --Jessica Duchen

Mazurkas and Etudes best:
This is the third and last disc of Szymanowski's piano music by Naxos. In fact, I probably would not have bought it if either of the other two discs were at the store, but it has some very cool pieces. The Mazurkas Op. 50 have the quirky dance rhythm that is associated with mazurkas, and a lot of additional twists and turns that make them quite fascinating. The oblique-sounding (but not ugly) harmonies are supposedly characteristic of the folk music that inspired him to write the pieces. The Etudes Op. 33 are very refreshing to hear. They are extremely well crafted pieces, and in an extremely complex harmonic language no less. The twelve pieces alternate between slow and fast but seem linked by some kind of common thread. Little convoluted details appear throughout, and be sure to listen for the ending which defies all expectation. As for the other works.. compared to the earlier mazurkas, the Folk Dances seem less inspired, and Szymanowski's early works (the Prelude and Fugue and Sonata) were obviously written before he fully developed his own style. But overall, the interpretations are good and the disc is well worth the price.

• Mazurkas, Op.50: No.13: Moderato
• Mazurkas, Op.50: No.14: Animato
• Mazurkas, Op.50: No.15: Allegretto Dolce
• Mazurkas, Op.50: No.16: Allegramente - Vigoroso
• Etudes, Op.33: No.1: Presto
• Etudes, Op.33: No.2: Andantino Soave
• Etudes, Op.33: No.3: Vivace Assai
• Etudes, Op.33: No.4: Presto
• Etudes, Op.33: No.5: Andante Espressivo
• Etudes, Op.33: No.6: Vivace
• Etudes, Op.33: No.7: Allegro Molto
• Etudes, Op.33: No.8: Lento Assai Mesto
• Etudes, Op.33: No.9: Animato
• Etudes, Op.33: No.10: Presto
• Etudes, Op.33: No.11: Andante Soave
• Etudes, Op.33: No.12: Presto Energico
• Folk Dances Of The World: Poland IV: Mazurka
• Folk Dances Of The World: Poland V: Krakowiak
• Folk Dances Of The World: Poland VI: Oberek
• Folk Dances Of The World: Poland VII: Polonaise
• Prld And Fugue in c#: Prld
• Prld And Fugue in c#: Fugue
• Pno Son in c, Op.8: Allegro Moderato
• Pno Son in c, Op.8: Adagio
• Pno Son in c, Op.8: Tempo Di Minuetto
• Pno Son in c, Op.8: Finale