"So much warmth and passion in his [Grieg's] melodious phrases, so much life in full swing in his harmony, so much originality and charming distinctness in his witty and piquant modulations and rhythm, just as in the rest of things, always so interesting, new and original."
P.I. Tchaikovsky
Firma Melodiya presents recordings of piano compositions by Edvard Grieg.
Lyric Pieces is a genre which accompanied the Norwegian composer along nearly the entire creative path. Ten books composed within 1870-1900 are a sort of the composer's creative diary which fixed his impressions, genre sketches and deep emotional experience. What we find here is dance pieces, landscapes of northern nature, fantastic images and lyrical reflection.
Four books of Grieg's Lyric Pieces are performed by Alexander Goldenweiser. A brilliant pianist, professor of the Moscow Conservatory where he taught for over fifty years, editor of piano literature, he is rightfully considered one of the founders of the Russian piano school of the 20th century. A pupil of Alexander Siloti, who in his turn studied under Franz Liszt, and Sergey Taneyev, one of Tchaikovsky's students, he was closely acquainted with Leo Tolstoy, Sergey Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin and Nikolai Metner. Goldeweiser's performance combined the achievements of Russian and European romantic pianism with novelty piano art of the 20th century. Goldeweiser's style was characteristic for its filigree, lyrical spirituality and utmost loyalty to an author's text.
Two pieces by Grieg played by the composer himself are a bonus.
