This recording was made in 2007 at the Lutheran Church of La Villette, using a Steinway D piano.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Grieg's personal style was heavily influenced by his friend Rikard Nordraak, author of the Norwegian national anthem, who believed in musical nationalism and introduced Grieg to Northern folk songs.
Composer Biography
Edvard Grieg, the composer, began piano studies early and, at 15, was sent to Leipzig, Germany, to complete his musical education.
Composition History
The Lyric Pieces, a series of short piano compositions, were published over many years, with the first volume appearing in 1867 and the tenth in 1901.
Composer Biography
Grieg's declining health prevented him from performing his Piano Concerto, and he often complained about his physical state, which was affected by pleurisy contracted in his youth.
Compositional Technique
The final piece of the Lyric Pieces cycle, 'Remembrances', quotes the very first Lyric Piece, 'Arietta', published 34 years earlier, bringing the cycle to a full circle.
Performer Biography
Daniel Propper, the pianist on this recording, is described as 'Viennese by origin, Swedish by birth and French by adoption', reflecting his European background.
