Carl Reinecke - Complete Works for 2 Pianos (Genova & Dimitrov Piano Duo)

Information

Composer: Carl Reinecke

CD1

• Andante & Variations for 2 Pianos, Op. 6
• La belle Grisélidis, Op. 94
• Sonata in G Major for 2 Pianos, Op. 275 No. 1
• Fest-ouverture, Op. 148 (Version for Piano 4 Hands)
• Variationen über eine Sarabande von J.S. Bach, Op. 24

CD2

• 4 Pieces for 2 Pianos, Op. 241
• Impromptu for 2 Pianos, Op. 66
• Sonata in C Major for 2 Pianos, Op. 275 No. 2
• Concert-Allegro for 2 Pianos (After Mozart's K. 459)
• Dramatische fantasiestücke, Op. 194

CD3

• Prologus solemnis, Op. 223 (Version for Piano 4 Hands)
• Sonata for Piano 4 Hands in F Major, Op. 240a
• Zur Reformationsfeier Overture, Op. 191
• Bilder aus Süden, Op. 86
• Improvisata über eine Gavotte von Gluck, Op. 125

Genova & Dimitrov Piano Duo

    Aglika Genova

    Liuben Dimitrov

Date: 2023

Label: CPO

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Review

Carl Reinecke (1824-1910) garnered veneration and respect throughout his long life for his multi-faceted talents as a pianist, conductor, teacher, and prolific composer with more than 300 works in many genres to his credit. His mellifluous conservative style was formed early on, and never really changed. It owes a great deal to his role model and mentor Robert Schumann, although one can detect traces of early Wagner and more than a hint of Brahms-like contrapuntal rigor. His works for two pianos are consummately crafted and skillfully deployed between both instruments.

A good starting point is the Variations on a Sarabande by Bach Op. 24, which ranges from obsessive dotted rhythms right out of Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes to the kind of Bach-inspired thickness typical of Max Reger, minus the clutter and pomposity. The three Sonatas for two pianos contain plenty of rhythmic surprises and harmonic twists to hold one’s attention, and deserve consideration by piano duos looking for obscure yet substantial repertoire.

I suspect that Reinecke’s student Busoni modeled his Duetto Concertante upon his teacher’s less interesting Concert Allegro, both of which are based on the finale of Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 459. The Impromptu on a Motif from Schumann’s Manfred is anything but “impromptu” in its intricate passagework and carefully worked out registrations. Imagine a Brahms Overture reworked by César Franck, and you’ll get the Prologus Solemnis.

To my ears, Gluck’s unpretentious little Gavotte gets crushed under Reinecke’s weighty variations and pedal-point sequences, but the litheness and transparency of the Genova and Dimitrov duo’s ensemble playing makes the best possible case for this work, and indeed for Reinecke’s complete two-piano output. Everything about this release constitutes a labor of love, from the interpretations and the wonderful engineering down to Matthias Corvin’s booklet notes. A valuable addition to the catalog.

— Jed Distler

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Carl Reinecke (23 June 1824 – 10 March 1910) was a German composer, pianist, conductor and educator. He began composing at seven and performed publicly at twelve. After studying with prominent musicians, including Mendelssohn, Schumann and Liszt, he became court pianist in Copenhagen in 1846. In 1860, he was appointed conductor of Leipzig's Gewandhaus Orchestra and professor at the Leipzig Conservatory, leading the orchestra until 1895. Best known for his flute sonata Undine, Reinecke composed nearly 300 published works and taught influential musicians, including Edvard Grieg and Leoš Janáček.

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Genova & Dimitrov is a Bulgarian piano duo which consists of Aglika Genova (born 29 June 1971) and Liuben Dimitrov (born 12 October 1969). Both artists were born in Bulgaria, and studied solo piano at the Music Academy in Sofia and the Hannover Music Academy. Formed in the city of Hannover in 1995, the duo's international concert career began with winning all the major piano duo competitions, including the 1996 ARD Music Competition in Munich. Since then Genova & Dimitrov has performed at the major concert halls of Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa, in recital as well as with orchestras.

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