Track Listing

1. Piano Concerto No.4 In F Minor, Op.82: Allegro Patetico
2. Piano Concerto No.4 In F Minor, Op.82: Intermezzo. Allegretto Molto Tranquillo
3. Piano Concerto No.4 In F Minor, Op.82: Lento, Mesto
4. Piano Concerto No.4 In F Minor, Op.82: Allegro Con Fuoco
5. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Minor: Allegro Patetico
6. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Minor: Scherzo. Molto Vivace - Andante Con Moto, Quasi Allegretto - Tempo
7. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Minor: Cavatina. Larghetto Amoroso
8. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Minor: Rondo. Tempo Giusto

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46858 in Music
• Released on: 2000-01-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .26 pounds
• Running time: 70 minutes

Customer Reviews

Little Known Classics
These two concertos aren't played nearly enough. The slow movements of both, but especially that by Von Sauer, are quite heart-rendingly beautiful, and literally stop listeners in their tracks. It took me a long time to find the recording in the shops and when a friendly and helpful proprieter took the time to search his catalogues for me he admitted he didn't know the pieces, but his eyes were opened when he put the CD on for me. He couldn't believe he hadn't listened to it before. Stephen Hough has an afinity with the piano that is to my mind unique, and he makes the changes from majestic to lyrical to tear-jerking and finally almost comically joyful. His technique is faultless and this has to be, without doubt, my favourite CD of all time.

A Romantic Piano Concerto lover
I bought this CD knowing neither of the concertos, but having in my collection many from the Hyperion series. Scharwenka's Piano Concerto No. 4 was a revelation; it is the stronger of the two works - more coherent, more exciting. The Sauer is a good piece though, sadly neglected. The 4th is also the best of Scharwenka's four concertos (I bought the other three within days of discovering No.4). Following that discovery, I listened to nothing else for ten days. The final movement of the 4th Concerto is one of the most exciting concerto finales I've heard in years, and Hough's playing is stupendous. This is a finale to rank with the best of Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Moszkowsi; the syncopated rhythms will have your feet tapping and you wondering how on earth Hough can get his hands round it. The disc won prizes - rightly so. If you discover one new piece this year, and you are fond of Romantic Piano Concertos, then buy this one - it is an absolute joy!

70 minutes of first rate musical discovery
Before this CD was produced in 1994 Scharwenka and Sauer were two names unheard of by most Classical music fans. Despite the awards this CD gained, and recordings of other works by them since they remain largely unknown. On the strength of these two works they deserve a wider hearing, and these two concertos deserve to be played in our major concert halls.

Both composers were hailed as composer pianists in their lifetimes. Scharwenka's Concerto No 4 from 1910 is the more innovative. At 40 minutes long with an 18 minute first movement it is a big beast.The virtuosity displayed ranks with the best of Rachmaninov, whilst in style the music is more adventurous, rather as with early Prokofiev there is the sound of late romantic music being pulled in new directions: sometimes verging on the early modern, sometimes with the innovative rhythms sounding almost like symphonic jazz 20 years before its time.

At half an hour long Sauer's Concerto No 1 of 1902 is a substantial piece as well. It is less showy, but what it lacks for in musical fireworks it makes up for in its beautiful sense of melody and harmony. The way in which piano and orchestra augment each other is a joy to listen to.

As to the performances, they are of a very high calibre. Honours must go to pianist Stephen Hough. Such is the ease with which he plays even the most difficult passages that the danger is to let them roll over you and think `well, that's very nice' without appreciating the level of skill being demonstrated. The sound complements the music well.

The notes are excellent, giving good information on the two composers.

All in all a five star discovery.