Carl Czerny - Piano Music Vol. 1 (Jingshu Zhao)

Information

Composer: Carl Czerny

• (01) Introduction & Variations brillantes sur l'air suisse Alles liebt/Tout aime, Op. 428
• (09) Impromptu brillants sur un thème national Suisse, Op. 429
• (10) Impromptu sentimental sur le thème 'O nume benefco' de l’opéra La Gazza ladra, de Rossini, Op. 523
• (11) Hommage aux Dames, Op. 136: No. 1, Élégantine ou Rondeau brillant
• (12) Fantaisie sur des Mélodies de Beethoven, Op. 752

Jingshu Zhao, piano

Date: 2019

Label: Toccata

https://toccataclassics.com/product/carl-czerny-piano-music-volume-one/

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Review

Carl Czerny currently has a firm place teetering on the cliff-edge of awareness. His owes this to his drummed-in status as a composer of a host of academic pieces. Surely Czerny had a place at the table when Vox and Candide were having at the European Romantic Piano Concerto. Since then his concertos and concertante pieces have dodged out into the full glare courtesy of Naxos (review ~ review) and Hyperion (review ~ review). They hold their place among a total opus list that runs to 861. Martin Eastick (a delver and skilled expounder of rare repertoire for many years: review ~ review ~ review), notes in his Toccata essay (the first in a Czerny piano series) that Czerny’s academic works amount to only 10% of his output. Bear in mind that there are eleven masses with orchestra and at least seven symphonies. Toccata follow their usual admirable practice of including a readable essay that could function as an extended entry in MGG or Grove. No corners cut; no shortcuts shaved.

This Viennese composer, whose life straddled the lives of Beethoven (his teacher) and of pupils Liszt and Leschetizky, is represented by the considered light-infused playing of Jingshu Zhao. Coming first is L’Echo des Alpes Suisses, which is in eight varied tracks. The music, the last word in suave pleasantry disturbed by brilliance, presents no obstacles to affection. The other four pieces include what amount to two tribute-fantaisies or Impromptus to other works by Beethoven and Rossini. The Impromptu Brillant on a National Suisse Theme explores a delightful but ultimately rather bland melody in a luxurious amble that gives a face to the piece. The Impromptu sentimentale from Gazza Ladra must have given the aria currency in many a drawing room and salon. With a handkerchief dabbing at the eyes, Czerny lights up this moment, and either foreshadows the opera house experience or was remembered when the aria was heard live. The Homage aux dames Elegantine ou rondeau brilliant strikes me as being as much about the ladies’ ‘bucks’ as about the ladies themselves. It has a haughty air. Minor-key storminess and determination rack the Fantaisie sur des Mélodies de Beethoven.

These are all first recordings, and should draw in a loyal following. Toccata provides an unequivocally good, strong and clear sound for Jingshu Zhao. Despite the recording date of August 2018, this has a surprisingly low number in Toccata’s constantly swelling catalogue.

-- Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International

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Carl Czerny (21 February 1791 – 15 July 1857) was an Austrian composer, teacher, and pianist of Czech origin. Born into a musical family and a child prodigy himself, Czerny began playing piano at age 3 and composing at age 7. He was one of Beethoven's numerous pupils and was the one who premiered Beethoven's Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 5. As a composer, Czerny composed a very large number of pieces (more than a thousand pieces and up to Op. 861). His books of studies for the piano are still widely used in piano teaching. Czerny had a very successful teaching career; his most famous pupil was Franz Liszt.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Czerny

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Jingshu Zhao (born 1991 in Wuhan) is a Chinese pianist.

https://www.jingshupianist.com/

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