Credits:

Wilhelm Furtwängle

Description:

Josef Moog's captivating collection of three works based on Paganini's Caprices!German virtuoso, winner of the 2015 British Gramophone Award for Young Artist of the Year! Three works based on Paganini's Caprices by Brahms and Schumann!Born in 1987, he won the Gramophone Award for "Young Artist of the Year" in 2015, and in 2016, his "Grieg & Moszkowski: Piano Concertos (ONYX4144)" was nominated for the 58th Grammy-nominated German virtuoso pianist Josef Moog, and his 11th release on ONYX couples works by Brahms and Schumann based on Paganini's Caprices, which have fascinated numerous composers since their publication in 1820! Schumann's two etudes are from the same period as the famous "Carnival," which was inspired by hearing Paganini perform in Frankfurt in April 1830. From these early works to his later years, when he composed the piano accompaniments to the 24 Caprices at the mental hospital in Endenich, Schumann remained fascinated by Paganini. Brahms, also fascinated by Paganini, composed variations for the great virtuoso pianist Carl Tausig.Brahms turned the 24th Caprice into a "study for pianoforte," and the resulting tour de force was called the "Witches' Variations" by Clara Schumann. Tausig liked it so much that he wrote to Brahms, "I had a devil of a time with this piece ...... Everyone thinks this piece is unplayable," he wrote. Enjoy this performance as only Moog, who is renowned for his lucid musicianship and overwhelming technique, can. Tokyo M-Plus

Tracklisting:

1.Variations on a Theme by Paganini Op. 35~Book I. Theme & Variations 1-14
2.Variations on a Theme by Paganini Op. 35~Book II. Theme & Variations 1-14
3.6 Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 3~No. 1 Agitato (after Caprice No. 5 in A minor)
4.6 Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 3~No. 2 Allegretto (after Caprice No. 9 in E)
5.6 Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 3~No. 3 Andante (after Caprice No. 11 in C)
6.6 Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 3~No. 4 Allegro (after Caprice No. 13 in B flat)
7.6 Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 3~No. 5 Lento - Allegro assai (after Caprice No. 19 in E flat)
8.6 Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 3~No. 6 Allegro molto (after Caprice No. 16 in G minor)
9.6 Concert Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 10~No. 1 Allegro molto (after Caprice No. 12 in A flat)
10.6 Concert Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 10~No. 2 Non troppo lento (after Caprice No. 6 in G minor)
11.6 Concert Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 10~No. 3 Vivace (after Caprice No. 4 in C minor)
12.6 Concert Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 10~No. 4 Maestoso (after Caprice No. 4 in C minor)
13.6 Concert Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 10~No. 5 [no tempo indication] (after Caprice No. 2 in B minor)
14.6 Concert Etudes after Caprices by Paganini Op. 10~No. 6 Sostenuto - Allegro (after Caprice No. 3 in E minor)