Romantic Piano Encores

This is an album of pieces Ive long loved to play. Its also a paradox: encores without a preceding programme; musical icing without the cake. But the tracks here were at least recorded as encoresplayed in joyful relaxation and relief towards the end of sessions largely devoted to other albums. Some of the pieces are pretty short, including the premiere recording of the elegant arrangement of Saint-Sans Swan by one of my teachers, the late Lawrence Glover. Three of them Mendelssohns quirky Last Rose of Summer, Graingers luscious Rosenkavalier Ramble, and Ignaz Friedmans fabulous version of Voices of Spring are fairly substantial, and the anchors of the programme. The final track (Godowskys Symphonic Metamorphosis on the Artists Life Waltz) is even longer. Its really too long, I admit, to be an encore in a public concert, but its undeniably a lot of fun, and makes a great close for a CD. Hopefully, listeners will be both shaken and stirred.

Tracks

Details

Format: CD
Artist: Kenneth Hamilton
Release Date: 28 May 2021
Genre: Classical Music
Label: Proper/Prima Facie
Distributor: MGM Music