Henryk Melcer-Szczawiński - Piano Works (Matti Asikainen)

Information

Composer: Henryk Melcer-Szczawiński

1. Trois morceaux caracteristiques, Op. 5: No. 1, Andante con moto
2. Trois morceaux caracteristiques, Op. 5: No. 2, Alla menuetto
3. Trois morceaux caracteristiques, Op. 5: No. 3, Vivo
4. Morceau fantastique (Phantasiestück)
5. Etude in D major, Op. 8
6. Nocturne in A major
7. Prelude in C major
8. Fugue in C sharp minor
9. Variations sur un theme populaire polonais
10. Quasi mazurka sur le theme W.M.S.
11. Valse a la Chopin
12. La Fileuse de l'opera "Maria"

Matti Asikainen, piano

Date: 2008

Label: Acte Préalable

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Henryk Melcer-Szczawiński (25 July 1869 – 18 April 1928) was a Polish composer, pianist, conductor and music educator. Trained initially by his family, he studied in Warsaw and Vienna under distinguished teachers, including Theodor Leschetizky. He gained international recognition through major composition and piano competitions, winning prizes for his piano concertos and other works. Throughout his career, he held teaching, conducting and administrative positions in Helsinki, Lviv, Łódź, Vienna, and Warsaw. As director of the Warsaw Conservatory, he modernized curricula and expanded its artistic activities.

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Matti Asikainen (born 25 June 1957) is a Finnish pianist with strong cultural ties to Poland. He earned pianist diplomas from the Sibelius Academy and the Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, studying under Zbigniew Śliwiński, and further trained with renowned masters including Dmitri Bashkirov and Regina Smendzianka. An active performer since 1974, he has appeared across Finland, Poland, Russia and Italy, including with major orchestras and festivals. He has received international competition prizes and Poland's Knight Cross of the Order of Merit. Since 1990, he has taught piano at the University of Jyväskylä.

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