Weigl's "Night Fantasies" (Nachtphantasien) was conceived as a cycle, with its five movements charting a trajectory hinted at by their tempo indications.
Composition History
Weigl's "Isle of the Dead" includes lines from Nietzsche's "Also sprach Zarathustra" on its score, adding another dimension to the piece.
Composition History
The "Pictures and Tales" (Bilder und Geschichten) cycle, despite its fairy-tale titles and dedication to a child, demands high pianistic proficiency and evokes adult memories of childhood.
Performer Biography
Joseph Banowetz, the pianist on this recording, is a Grammy® nominated American pianist who has performed with orchestras on five continents and has over thirty recordings, including many world premieres.
Composer Biography
Karl Weigl, an Austrian composer, had a successful career in Vienna but was forced into exile in the United States at age sixty due to the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938.
Recording & Production
This album features world premiere recordings of several works by Karl Weigl, including "Six Fantasies," "Isle of the Dead," "Pictures and Tales," and "Dance of the Furies."
Composition History
Weigl's "Isle of the Dead" (Toteninsel) is his only art-inspired work, influenced by Arnold Böcklin, a Swiss artist known for German symbolism.
