This Chandos recording uses 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.
Composer Biography
Grieg, despite his love for Norway, disliked cold weather and regularly wintered in Germany to stay warm, which explains the absence of winter themes in his 'Lyric Pieces'.
Performer Biography
Peter Donohoe, the pianist on this album, was 'employed' at a rural café as a child, playing his own solo piano version of Grieg's Piano Concerto in exchange for Scotch pancakes and tea.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Grieg was influenced by Rikard Nordraak, composer of the Norwegian National Anthem, and Ole Bull, a world-renowned violinist, to find inspiration in Norwegian folk music.
Composition History
Grieg's 'Lyric Pieces' began as a new genre he 'invented' with eight simple pieces for solo piano, many rooted in Norwegian folk music.
Composer Biography
Edvard Grieg's mother, Gesine Hagerup Grieg, was the best-paid piano teacher and pianist in Bergen, and he grew up surrounded by music.
Critical Reception
Grieg's 'Lyric Pieces' were the best-selling sheet music in the Peters Verlag catalogue, leading the publisher to hoist a flag whenever a new album arrived.
