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Cover: Franz Liszt · Johannes Brahms · Witold Lutoslawski · Sergei Rachmaninov – Grandes études de Paganini, s. 141 · Paganini Variations, Op. 35 · Paganini Variations For Two Pianos (both piano parts recorded by Barto) · Paganini Rhapsody, Op. 43

Franz Liszt · Johannes Brahms · Witold Lutoslawski · Sergei Rachmaninov

Grandes études de Paganini, s. 141

Paganini Variations, Op. 35 · Paganini Variations For Two Pianos (both piano parts recorded by Barto) · Paganini Rhapsody, Op. 43

Tzimon Barto, piano
Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

ODE 1230-2D · 2 CDs · February 2014

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Track listing

9 tracks · 85:07

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

CD

Franz Liszt

  1. Grandes études de Paganini, s. 141 27:39
  2. 1 Preludio. Andante. Tremolo 6:03
  3. 2 Andante. Octave 5:33
  4. 3 Allegro. La campanella 5:08
  5. 4 Vivo. Arpeggio 1:57
  6. 5 Allegretto. La chasse 3:08
  7. 6 Quasi Presto. Theme and Variations 5:47

Johannes Brahms

  1. 7 Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 35 26:33

Witold Lutoslawski

  1. 8 Paganini Variations for Two Pianos 4:57

CD 2

Sergei Rachmaninov

  1. 1 Paganini Rhapsody, Op. 43 26:01

About this recording

Tzimon Barto is recognised as one of the foremost American pianists of his generation. His new double-CD for Ondine features Paganini variations by three composers, Liszt, Brahms and Lutosławski, as well as the popular Paganini Rhapsody by Rachmaninov.

Tzimon Barto is known for his dashing pianistic virtuosity and for his unique artistic personality. Barto also offers enchanting poetic moments on the keyboard, an aspect which is clearly manifested also in this present recording.

Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) was a sensational violinist and composer of his day who inspired many 19th and 20th century composers to write variations based on his 24 Caprices Opus 1, originally written for the solo violin.

In this recording Christoph Eschenbach conducts the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra in Rachmaninov's Paganini Rhapsody. After many years as music director of both the Orchestre de Paris (2000-2010) and the Philadelphia Orchestra (2003-2008), Christoph Eschenbach has held the dual post of music director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington since September 2010. He has also made numerous recordings both as a pianist and as a conductor. The Schlewig-Holstein Festival Orchestra was founded by Leonard Bernstein in 1987.

Press

All six Grandes Etudes de Paganini are a comparative rarity on disc (...) but Barto's is the best modern recording (...). Throughout, you'll notice a wealth of orchestral detail under Eschenbach's direction in an empathetic partnership that brings and ethereal athmosphere to Var 11 and a truly scintillating verve and precision to the final six variations.

Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone, June 2014

The artists

Tzimon Barto

Recognized as one of the foremost American pianists of his generation, Tzimon Barto has been giving exciting and highly acclaimed performances on both sides of the Atlantic. Born and raised in Florida, Tzimon Barto received his first piano lessons from his grandmother at the age of five, and later attended the Juilliard School of Music, studying piano with Adele Marcus. While at Juilliard he won the Gina Bachauer Competition two consecutive years in a row. Additionally, Tzimon Barto was a conducting fellow and coach for the American Opera Center. At the Tanglewood Institute, he received the "Most Outstanding Student Award", presented by Gunther Schuller for his achievements as a young conductor.

Full biography

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ODE 1190-2D · CD · May 2011

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