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Karol
SZYMANOWSKI (1882–1937) The Complete Solo Piano Music CD1
Prelude in C sharp minor (1901) [03:13]
Nine Preludes, Op. 1 (1900) [17:00]
Variations in B flat minor, Op. 3 (1901–03)
[10:17]
Four Studies, Op. 4 (1900–02) [13:12]
Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8 (1903–04)
[28:02]
CD2
Variations on a Polish Theme, Op. 10 (1900–04)
[18:59]
Fantasy in F minor, Op. 14 (1905) [13:18]
Prelude and Fugue in C sharp minor (1905-09)
[06:43]
Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 21 (1910–11) [26:23]
CD3
Métopes, Op. 29 (1915) [15:31]
Twelve Studies, Op. 33 (1916) [13:16]
Masques, Op. 34 (1915–16) [20:21]
Sonata No. 3, Op. 36 (1917) [18:02] CD4
Twenty Mazurkas, Op. 50 (1924–25) [50:07]
Romantic Waltz (1925) [04:03]
Four Polish Dances (1926) [09:00]
Two Mazurkas, Op. 62 (1934) [06:00]
Sinae Lee(piano)
rec. Royal Scottish Academy of Music and
Drama, Glasgow, Sept 2002 - Feb 2005.
Sinae Lee (piano)
Full track details at end of review
THE DIVINE ART 21400
[4 CDs: 71:46 + 65:25 + 67:12 + 69:13]
It was about 1983
when I first heard of Szymanowski. I’d
been at a concert at the Festival Hall
in London and on the way out I was given
a tape of his music by a publicity agent.
It was entitled ‘Karol Szymanowski,
the last romantic’. Whilst there’s no
denying his music is extremely romantic
– more so than many who came before
him, there are plenty of other contemporaries
of his who outlived him who could easily
be classed in the same way – Medtner
for example. What is certain, however,
is that Szymanowski’s music is highly
individual in style and fiendishly difficult
to play well enough to do it the credit
it indisputably deserves. However, there
is no such issue in this case as Sinae
Lee is simply jaw-droppingly good with
a delivery that is staggering in its
ability to bring out the nuances within
the music. And when you consider that
this is her debut recording
then I for one cannot wait for more
from her. I freely admit that I am not
a pianist and therefore cannot comment
on the mechanics involved in bringing
works like these off. I would refer
readers to the excellent and far more
detailed review by pianist Raymond
Clarke, whose own recording
of the three sonatas was justly highly
praised. He has said everything about
these recordings that can be said and
when you listen to the music whilst
reading his review you can hear what
he means and this enhances the listening
experience even more. I make my comments
as a lowly listener who is struck by
Sinae Lee’s wonderful and seemingly
effortless control, immaculate phrasing
and beautiful colouration, resulting
in performances I’ve never heard equalled.
I have to share his disappointment with
Martin Jones’s recording of the complete
piano works for Nimbus which I enjoyed
well enough until the present set came
my way. In many ways it’s like hearing
them completely afresh as if a veil
has been lifted and the works take on
a new meaning. As Raymond Clarke says
this music has obviously been meticulously
prepared in an individual way that allows
each piece to show its own value whilst
remaining part of a complete body of
work. Lee prepared these performances
as part of her Ph.D. - just imagine
how the tutors felt when presented with
work such as this! If there are any
lovers of Szymanowski’s music who have
not yet bought this set then I can assure
them that there is no excuse for hesitation
as they will find it a truly rewarding
experience. The same goes for anyone
who enjoys late romantic piano music
but is yet to discover the unique sound
world of this genuinely original composer.
Steve Arloff
Detailed Track Listing CD1
01. Prelude in C sharp minor
(1901) 03:13 Nine Preludes, Op. 1 (1900) 17:00
02. Prelude, Op. 1 No. 1 – Andante ma
non troppo 02:01
03. Prelude, Op. 1 No. 2 – Andante con
moto 02:12
04. Prelude, Op. 1 No. 3 – Andantino
01:18
05. Prelude, Op. 1 No. 4 – Andantino
con moto 01:13
06. Prelude, Op. 1 No. 5 – Allegro molto,
impetuoso 01:03
07. Prelude, Op. 1 No. 6 – Lento, mesto
02:39
08. Prelude, Op. 1 No. 7 – Moderato
02:18
09. Prelude, Op. 1 No. 8 – Andante ma
non troppo 01:50
10. Prelude, Op. 1 No. 9 – Lento, mesto
02:23
11. Variations in B flat minor,
Op. 3 (1901–03) 10:17 Four Studies, Op. 4 (1900–02)
13:12
12. Study, Op. 4 No. 1 – Allegro moderato
03:45
13. Study, Op. 4 No. 2 – Allegro molto
01:39
14. Study, Op. 4 No. 3 – Andante 04:34
15. Study, Op. 4 No. 4 – Allegro 01:13
Sonata No. 1 in C minor, Op.
8 (1903–04) 28:02
16. Allegro moderato – agitato 07:18
17. Adagio, molto tranquillo e dolce
– più mosso, agitato 06:14
18. Tempo di minuetto, comodo 04:00
19. Introduzione, adagio – quasi tempo
di marcia – fuga – allegro energico
10:30 CD2
01. Variations on a Polish Theme,
Op. 10 (1900–04) 18:59
02. Fantasy in F minor, Op. 14
(1905) 13:18
03. Prelude and Fugue in C sharp
minor (1905-09) 06:43 Sonata No. 2 in A, Op. 21 (1910–11)
26:23
04. Allegro assai – molto appassionato
08:34
05. Theme and Variations 17:49 CD3 Métopes, Op. 29 (1915)
15:31
01. The Isle of Sirens 05:45
02. Calypso 05:25
03. Nausicaa 04:17 Twelve Studies, Op. 33 (1916)
13:16
04. Study, Op. 33 No. 1 – Presto 01:00
05. Study, Op. 33 No. 2 – Andantino
soave 01:13
06. Study, Op. 33 No. 3 – Vivace assai
00:33
07. Study, Op. 33 No. 4 – Presto 01:17
08. Study, Op. 33 No. 5 – Andante espressivo
00:58
09. Study, Op. 33 No. 6 – Vivace 00:33
10. Study, Op. 33 No. 7 – Allegro molto
00:44
11. Study, Op. 33 No. 8 – Lento assai
mesto 02:03
12. Study, Op. 33 No. 9 – Animato 00:51
13. Study, Op. 33 No. 10 – Presto 01:01
14. Study, Op. 33 No. 11 – Andante soave
01:28
15. Study, Op. 33 No. 12 – Presto 01:29
Masques, Op. 34 (1915–16) 20:21
16. Scheherazade 09:13
17. Tantris the Clown 05:39
18. Don Juan’s Serenade 05:24 Sonata No. 3, Op. 36 (1917) 18:02
19. Presto 06:57
20. Adagio, mesto 04:25
21. Assai vivace, scherzando 00:50
22. Fuga: allegro moderato, scherzando
e buffo 05:50 CD4 Twenty Mazurkas, Op. 50 (1924–25)
50:07
01. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 1 – Sostenuto,
molto rubato 01:57
02. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 2 – Allegramente,
poco vivace 02:13
03. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 3 – Moderato
02:30
04. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 4 – Allegramente,
risoluto 02:30
05. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 5 – Moderato
02:33
06. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 6 – Vivace 01:56
07. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 7 – Poco vivace
01:45
08. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 8 – Moderato
(non troppo) 02:54
09. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 9 – Tempo moderato
03:24
10. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 10 – Allegramente,
vivace, con brio 02:40
11. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 11 – Allegretto
01:28
12. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 12 – Allegro
moderato 03:25
13. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 13 – Moderato
03:20
14. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 14 – Animato
01:54
15. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 15 – Allegretto
dolce 02:39
16. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 16 – Allegramente,
vigoroso 03:33
17. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 17 – Moderato
02:25
18. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 18 – Vivace,
agitato 02:48
19. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 19 – Poco vivace
01:18
20. Mazurka, Op. 50 No. 20 – Allegramente,
con brio 02:49
21. Romantic Waltz (1925) 04:03
Four Polish Dances (1926) 09:00
22. Mazurek – Tempo di Mazurka, animato
01:04
23. Krakowiak – Allegretto grazioso
01:22
24. Oberek – Vivace e agitato 03:26
25. Polonaise – Moderato, festivo, pomposo
03:08 Two Mazurkas, Op. 62 (1934) 06:00
26. Mazurka, Op. 62 No. 1 – Allegretto
grazioso 2:47
27. Mazurka, Op. 62 No. 2 – Moderato
3:12
Recorded at the Royal Scottish Academy
of Music and Drama, Glasgow between
September 2002 and February 2005
Producer: Philip Jenkins
Recording Engineers: Graham Kennedy
and Kim Planert
Mastering and post-production: Paul
Baily, Re-Sound (UK)
Booklet notes: Alistair Wightman
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