Herzogenberg: Complete Piano Works

Veljković, Nataša

CPO 777789

If you enter the search requests »Herzogenberg« and »cpo« on our jpc website, no fewer than thirteen marvelous products will appear before your eyes. Our complete edition of thirteen volumes featuring symphonic, choral, and chamber music by Heinrich von Herzogenberg, a contemporary and friend of Brahms, represents a significant achievement. Did we say »friend«? Actually, there was more to these relational circumstances: Brahms held the composer's wife Elisabeth in much greater esteem as an adviser and friend! And the newest volume of our Herzogenberg series demonstrates that solid musical reasons were behind this high estimation. In 1882 Elisabeth von Herzogenberg, who actually was active only as an interpreting pianist, composed eight piano pieces that her husband would publish after her much too early death. Now these are indeed eight gems of romantic virtuosity! Heinrich's own piano pieces, now recorded in highly poetic style for the first time on three CDs by Natasa Veljkovic, a pianist based in Vienna, show that Herzogenberg had what was very much his own independent voice distinguishing him from his idol Brahms and truly meriting its own hearing – especially in this enthralling interpretation!

CD x 3

CPO

24.01.2014

761203778928