Grieg: Piano Sonata; 14 Lyric Pieces

Idmtal, Matthieu

PCL 10239

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) was at the forefront of a flourishing of creativity that took place in Scandinavian culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, alongside his contemporaries, Nielsen and Sibelius. His imagination was particularly fired by the folk music and stories of his native Norway. His catchy tunes, lively rhythms and haunting musical evocations of the majestic Norwegian landscapes have made Grieg immensely popular with a wide audience.

This new recording presents Grieg’s substantial Piano Sonata Op.7 and a selection of his famous Lyric Pieces (Lyrische Stücke). The Piano Sonata contains all the elements so characteristic of Grieg's genius: long lyrical melody lines, passionate drama, intimate moments of respite, nimble dance rhythms, and grandiose outbursts. It fully reflects the ambitions and character of the then still young composer: high-spirited, virtuosic, impetuous, and permeated with brusque mood swings.

"The ten volumes of Lyric Pieces form an intimate slice of my life," Grieg wrote in a letter to his publisher in 1901. Published between 1867 and 1901, the volumes can almost be read as a personal diary. The cycle contains 66 pieces and clearly follows the line of Grieg's examples Mendelssohn, Schumann and Chopin. Yet even here the composer's own personal mark is unmistakably present: the compositions often feel traditionally romantic, but at the same time the typically Norwegian melodies and folk dance rhythms are undeniably present.

As a prize winner of more than 15 international competitions, Matthieu Idmtal has firmly established himself as a distinctive musical personality, having been praised for his highly sensitive interpretations. Hi Scriabin recording met with enthusiastic critical acclaim: “I have listened to Sofronitsky, Gilels, Richter and Ashkenazy – great Scriabin players all. Young Matthieu Idmtal has the potential to join that lofty group.” – The American Record Guide.

His affinity with the music of Chopin made him create the ‘Brussels Chopin Days’: an international concert series dedicated to Frédéric Chopin, of which he is the artistic director since 2013.

CD x 1

Piano Classics

02.11.21

5029365102391