About this Release
“Although Bersa was the most influential Croatian composer at the turn from the 19th to the 20th century, his music stayed pretty much unknown to international audiences. When I discovered his piano works, which seem to be evoking styles by other major composers, such as Brahms, Schubert or Liszt, I was very much impressed by his talent. Sometimes raw in the realisation and shaping, but remarkable in his musical intentions, Bersa is a composer who will surely be appreciated by music lovers.” — Goran Filipec
BERSA, BLAGOJE (1873–1934)
Complete Piano Music • 1
Piano Sonata No. 2 in F Minor • Airs de Ballet • Marcia Trionfale • Ora Triste • Bagatella
- Goran Filipec, piano
In his orchestral music, Croatian composer Blagoje Bersa absorbed stylistic traits from contemporaries such as Strauss and Mahler, but his piano music reveals a rich diversity drawn from Classical models. His art encompasses charming Chopinesque barcarolles, a melancholic Notturno, a stirring Liszt-inspired Fantaisie-Impromptu, beautiful balletic miniatures and the Brahmsian grandeur of the powerfully conceived Sonata No. 2 in F minor.
This recording was made on a modern instrument: Fazioli, F278
Tracklist
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1
Piano Sonata No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 20 (1897) (00:11:36)
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2
Na žalu (At the strand) (1921) (00:03:36)
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3
Notturno, Op. 38 (1903) (00:04:44)
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4
Ora triste, Op. 37 (1903) (00:05:08)
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5
Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 27 (1899) * (00:03:58)
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6
Ballabile (1894) (00:01:31)
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7
Bagatella, Op. 16 (1897) * (00:06:48)
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Po načinu starih airs de ballet (Airs de ballet in the Old Way) (1926) (00:09:05 )
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8
No. 1. Fantasia breve: Grave - Andante (00:02:58)
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9
No. 2. Scherzo: Vivo (00:02:19)
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10
No. 3. L’Heure de rêveries: Grave (00:03:47)
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11
Marcia trionfale, Op. 24 (1898) * (00:09:06)
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The Artist(s)
A pianist of fiery energy and captivating performing style inspired by the legendary piano traditions of the early 20th century, Goran Filipec (Rijeka, 1981) is acclaimed by critics from Argentina to New York and London for his “poetic, brilliant and refined performances”. Primarily renowned as a remarkable Lisztian, Goran Filipec endeavours in the domain of musical interpretation consist primarily of the perpetual rediscovery of emotional values of the music in question, and its relative subtraction from historicisation. Starting from this point, Filipec creates vibrant audible representations of the interpreted music in the spirit of the so-called "grand style," which occasionally unites interpretation and arrangement. The Composer(s)
As a composer of symphonic music, operas and songs, as well as chamber and piano works, Blagoje Bersa (1873–1934) was undoubtedly one of the central figures of Croatian musical life at the turn of the 20th century. Reviews
“…Bersa couldn’t have sought a better prophet for his piano music than Filipec” – Fanfare
“Croatian composer proves a truly exciting discovery.” – Limelight
“…Goran Filipec’s performances…basically left me stunned and speechless from the first notes, and I’m still recovering!.. I cannot recommend this release highly enough” – Gramophone
Also Available
Grand Piano has gained a reputation for producing high quality recordings of rare keyboard gems. Dedicated to the exploration of undiscovered piano repertoire, the label specialises in complete cycles of piano works by many lesser-known composers, whose output might otherwise have remained unknown and unrecorded.
- info@grandpianorecords.com
