Scharwenka: Piano Music, Vol. 2

Featuring

Seta Tanyel
Xaver Scharwenka

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Composer Biography

Scharwenka, the composer, established a conservatory in Berlin in 1881 and a New York branch in 1891, which became one of the world's largest musical education institutions.

Composition History

Scharwenka, the composer, used the first of his Polish National Dances Op 3 as a 'visiting card' to introduce himself to Franz Liszt in Weimar in 1870.

Performer Biography

Seta Tanyel, the pianist on this album, is acclaimed for her performances of core repertoire and her championing of works by lesser-known composers.

Recording & Production

This recording, along with others of music by Scharwenka and Moszkowski, was originally issued by Collins Classics and is now re-released on Hyperion's Helios label.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Throughout his career, Scharwenka, the composer, consistently returned to the Polish dance, much like Chopin did with the mazurka, writing about thirty in total.

Composer Biography

Xaver Scharwenka, the composer, was born and raised in a small provincial Polish town before entering Theodor Kullak's Neue Akademie den Tonkunst in Berlin at age fifteen.

Critical Reception

Scharwenka, the composer, was considered one of the leading pianists of his time, with beautiful tone and musicianly interpretations, according to his obituary in The Musical Times.