MACDOWELL : Piano Concerto No 1 In A Minor • Piano Concerto No 2 In D Minor • Second Modern Suite Op 14 (Seta Tanyel · BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra · Martyn Brabbins) (2001) Serie The Romantic Piano Concerto – 25 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The 'Romantic Piano Concerto' reaches its quarter century with two concertos that suffer their neglect with the least justification; indeed it's hard to see why MacDowell's Second in particular isn't up there with the Grieg as one of the most-loved nineteenth-century concertos.

Edward MacDowell was the USA's first truly major composer, but like his compatriots of the period he studied in Europe and his music stems from the nineteenth-century Germanic tradition. Both concertos are early works and the First was written while MacDowell was a student; it came to the attention of Liszt who thought very highly of it and arranged for its publication, and thus launched MacDowell's career. The composer was a very fine pianist and this shows throughout both works, which abound in virtuosity clearly designed for maximum impact. This coupled with MacDowell's melodic flair and a propensity for Scherzo-like movements results in two of the most immediately appealing works to have graced this series.

The CD is completed with the 'Second Modern Suite' for solo piano ('modern' as opposed to Baroque), a work contemporary with the concertos where the composer creates a large-scale piece, which while less integrated than a sonata is nevertheless more than a collection of character pieces.

We are delighted to welcome Seta Tanyel, who has already made many acclaimed recordings of neglected Romantic repertoire by Scharwenka and Moszkowski, on her debut with Hyperion.

Edward MacDowell (1860-1908)
                    
Piano Concerto No 1 in A minor Op 15 [27'13]
Seta Tanyel (piano), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins (conductor)
                    
Second Modern Suite Op 14 [23'09]
Seta Tanyel (piano)

Piano Concerto No 2 in D minor Op 23 [26'40]
Seta Tanyel (piano), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins (conductor)

SCHARWENKA : Piano Concerto No 2, Op 56 • Piano Concerto No 3, Op 80 (Seta Tanyel · Radio Philharmonie Hannover Des NDR · Tadeusz Strugala) (2003) Serie The Romantic Piano Concerto – 33 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Continuing her inspiring series of discs exploring the solo piano repertory of the Polish Romantic, Xaver Scharwenka, Seta Tanyel here turns her attention to two of his four piano concertos. These unashamedly appealing works should by no means be judged by their relative unfamiliarty; they are among the most impressive of all the neglected concertos championed in our series, as Stephen Hough’s Gramophone Award winning recording of the 4th concerto (CDA66790) has shown. In the capable hands of Tanyel, the 2nd and 3rd concertos are rich with the harmonic poise of Schumann, the melodic coquettishness of Chopin and even the passion of Rachmaninov; a disc as enlightening as it is thrilling.

Although previously issued on Collins Classics, this recording was one of the last issued before the demise of the label, and did not therefore benefit from a wide circulation. We are delighted to reissue it in our Romantic Piano Concerto series where it will surely gain the recognition it deserves. Hyperion

Franz Xaver Scharwenka (1850-1924)

Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor Op 56 [40'33]

Piano Concerto No 3 in C sharp minor Op 80[37'57]

Credits :
Conductor – Tadeusz Strugala
Orchestra – Radio Philharmonie Hannover Des NDR
Piano – Seta Tanyel

STENHAMMAR : Concerto No 1, Op 1 • Concerto No 2, Op 23 (Seta Tanyel · Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra · Andrew Manze) (2009) Serie The Romantic Piano Concerto – 49 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Welcome to a genuinely outstanding disc in the Romantic Piano Concerto series. Sometimes the works found along the unfrequented byways of the Romantic piano tradition can exhibit no more than surface brilliance, but that cannot be said of these two splendid concertos by Stenhammar, recorded for the first time together on one CD.

The original orchestration of Stenhammar’s Piano Concerto No 1 is recorded here: a version which was long thought lost when the publishers were bombed during the second world war – a copy of the original was discovered in the Library of Congress in 1983. The twenty-two year old’s Opus 1 is a masterpiece, majestic and virtuosic at its opening; bringing the listener into a world of Nordic mystery at the start of the third movement; the finale ending with music of sad, reflective sweetness. The second concerto is a distinctly different work, with an novel, some have said ‘improvised’, structure, and a sense of tension between soloist and orchestra which is only resolved in the glorious virtuosic finale.

Hyperion is delighted to present the distinguished musician Andrew Manze in his new incarnation as a conductor. Directing the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, he is truly a force to be reckoned with. Pianist Seta Tanyel has featured on previous RPC recordings, always gaining the highest critical acclaim; however her magnificent playing on this new disc transcends her previous achievements. Hyperion

Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871-1927)

Piano Concerto No 1 In B Flat Major Op 1 (Original Version)    (45:53)

Piano Concerto No 2 In D Minor Op 23    (29:21)

Credits :
Conductor, Liner Notes – Andrew Manze
Orchestra – Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra
Piano – Seta Tanyel

MORITZ MOSZKOWSKI - Piano Music • 1 (Seta Tanyel) (1993) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

MORITZ MOSZKOWSKI - Piano Music • 2 (Seta Tanyel) (1996) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

MORITZ MOSZKOWSKI - Piano Music • 3 (Seta Tanyel) (1998) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless