With this CD, WERGO publishes most of Henze's works for piano solo. Piano music occupies only a small part of his existing oeuvre, whereas Hans Werner Henze has written regularly for the piano in combination with other instruments, most of all the orchestra. These pieces on the present recording, played by Homero Francesch who has already played many world premieres of the composer's works, have one idea in common. Whether they date from forty years ago or from the more recent past, it is that the composer's thumbprint is instantly identifiable in the melos, gesture and treatment of long-established forms. Everywhere there is evidence of a living relationship to traditional European and especially Austrian piano music, more particularly piano music by Haydn and Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven, Bach and Stravinsky and of course the composers of the Second Viennese School.
1 Une Petite Phrase (Aus Dem Film "Un Amour de Swann")
2 Lucy Escott Variations, FüR Klavier
3 Andante Cantabile
4 Sostenuto
5 Con Allegrezza
6 Ballade
7 Allegro Con Grazia
8 Der Menschenfresser - Allegretto Barbaro
9 Menschenfressers Traum - Moderato Cantabile
10 Allegro Mostroso
11 Anhang : Margaretenwalzer
12 Variationen FüR Klavier Op. 13
13 Molto Movimentato
14 Cantabile, Con Tenerezza
15 Vivace
With this CD, WERGO publishes most of Henze's works for piano solo. Piano music occupies only a small part of his existing oeuvre, whereas Hans Werner Henze has written regularly for the piano in combination with other instruments, most of all the orchestra. These pieces on the present recording, played by Homero Francesch who has already played many world premieres of the composer's works, have one idea in common. Whether they date from forty years ago or from the more recent past, it is that the composer's thumbprint is instantly identifiable in the melos, gesture and treatment of long-established forms. Everywhere there is evidence of a living relationship to traditional European and especially Austrian piano music, more particularly piano music by Haydn and Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven, Bach and Stravinsky and of course the composers of the Second Viennese School.
