Mily Balakirev - Piano Works Vol. 4 (Nicholas Walker)

Information

Composer: Mily Balakirev

1. Scherzo No. 1 in B minor
2. Novelette in A major
3. 10 Songs: No. 2. Pustïnya (The Wilderness)
4. Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor
5. Fandango-étude
6. Sérénade espagnole
7. Jota aragonesa (Mikhail Glinka)
8. 'La fuite en Égypte' Overture (Hector Berlioz)
9. Scherzo No. 3 in F sharp major
10. Mélodie espagnole
11. Valse-caprice No. 1 in A flat major (Alexander Taneyev)
12. Valse-caprice No. 2 in D flat major (Alexander Taneyev)

Nicholas Walker, piano

Date: 2019

Label: Grand Piano

-----------------------------------------------------------

Mily Balakirev (21 December 1836 – 16 May 1910) was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor. He was leader of the Russian nationalist group of composers now known as The Five (or The Mighty Handful), including him, Alexander Borodin, César Cui, Modest Mussorgsky and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. It has been said that it was Balakirev, even more than Glinka, who set the course for Russian orchestral music and lyrical song during the second half of the 19th century. His most famous works include the brilliant piano fantasy Islamey, Overture on Russian Themes, Symphony No. 1, and the symphonic poem Tamara.

***

Nicholas Walker studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Moscow Conservatoire. He has performed with major British orchestras, given recitals worldwide, and recorded for the BBC, BMG Arte Nova, ASV, Chandos and Danacord labels. He is also sought after as an imaginative and sensitive accompanist. Although his Beethoven performances have brought him special critical acclaim, Walker is best known for championing the neglected leader of 'The Mighty Handful', Mili Alekseyevich Balakirev. In 2010 he organised the Balakirev Centenary concerts in London. He teaches at the Royal Academy of Music.

-----------------------------------------------------------