A treasure island of piano music — Spiegel Online
The Grand Piano label continues to uncover gems of the piano repertoire. — Fanfare

GROSZ, WILHELM (1894–1939)

Piano Music • 1


  • Gottlieb Wallisch, piano

The Viennese composer and pianist, Wilhelm Grosz, was also a renowned conductor, orchestrator and recording director – a musician of remarkable versatility and wide-ranging influences. This first volume of his complete piano music reflects his immersion in the stylised dance music of his time, with the two Tanzsuites being distinctive examples. He sought novel ways to bring individuality to the Classical sonata, and in the 12 Improvisations, Op. 45 his music is full of innovation with evocations of gospel singing and tango.

Tracklist

 
Spiegelmensch, Op. 12: 2 Pieces (version for piano) (1922) (00:04:00 )
1
Vorspiel (Prelude): Sehr breit und feierlich (00:02:46)
2
Hochzeitmarsch (Wedding March): Sehr rhythmisch, nicht übereilen (00:01:30)
 
Tanzsuite (Dance Suite) No. 1 (1912) (00:11:00 )
3
I. Menuett: Sehr gemächliches Zeitmaß (00:02:19)
4
II. Gavotte: Lebhaft bewegt, mit Humor - Musette: Etwas ruhiger (00:02:24)
5
III. Walzer: Etwas zögernd (00:02:27)
6
IV. Polka: Zögernd beginnen - Gemessenes Polkazeitmaß (00:03:21)
 
Piano Sonatina on E-H-A-E, Op. 2 (1925) (00:07:00 )
7
I. Marcia: Ma non troppo (00:02:09)
8
II. Quasi Serenata: Andantino amoroso (00:02:57)
9
III. Finale: Sehr lebhaftes - aber etwas gemessen beginnendes Stepzeitmaß (00:01:50)
 
Tanzsuite (Dance Suite) No. 2, Op. 20 (1925) (00:17:00 )
10
I. Foxtrot: Sehr rhythmisch, nicht zu rasch (00:02:59)
11
II. Boston: Molto rubato (00:04:12)
12
III. Tango: Sehr lebhaft beginnen - Langsam, wiegendes Zeitmaß (00:03:39)
13
IV. Shimmy: Sehr rhythmisch, etwas gemessen (00:03:02)
14
V. Quasi Fivestep (Tanzphantasie): Sehr lebhaft und heftig bewegt (00:02:58)
 
Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 21 (1926) (00:18:00 )
15
I. Allegretto amabile (00:07:48)
16
II. Siziliana: Andantino con grazia - (00:03:22)
17
III. Allegro molto (00:06:11)
 
12 Improvisations, Op. 45 (1939) (00:16:00 )
18
No. 1. Allegro molto agitato (00:00:56)
19
No. 2. Quasi Presto (00:00:42)
20
No. 3. Andante, dolcissimo (00:01:44)
21
No. 4. Presto (00:00:48)
22
No. 5. Allegro ma non troppo (00:00:48)
23
No. 6. Agitato, poco gracioso (00:01:15)
24
No. 7. Allegretto molto scherzando (00:00:50)
25
No. 8. Adagio, molto con espressione (00:02:23)
26
No. 9. Allegro ma non troppo, poco gracioso (00:01:24)
27
No. 10. Prayer: Poco tranquillo, con molto espressione (00:02:03)
28
No. 11. Presto, molto scherzando (00:00:54)
29
No. 12. Allegro più agitato, Tempo di Tango (00:01:42)
Total Time: 01:11:23

The Artist(s)

Gottlieb Wallisch Born in Vienna, Gottlieb Wallisch first appeared on the concert platform when he was seven years old, and at the age of twelve made his debut in the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein. A concert directed by Yehudi Menuhin in 1996 launched Wallisch’s international career: accompanied by the Sinfonia Varsovia, the seventeen-year-old pianist performed Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ Concerto. Since then Wallisch has received invitations to the world’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals including Carnegie Hall in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, the Cologne Philharmonie, the Tonhalle Zurich, the NCPA in Beijing, the Ruhr Piano Festival, the Beethovenfest in Bonn, the Festivals of Lucerne and Salzburg, December Nights in Moscow, and the Singapore Arts Festival. Conductors with whom he has performed as a soloist include Giuseppe Sinopoli, Sir Neville Marriner, Dennis Russell Davies, Kirill Petrenko, Louis Langrée, Lawrence Foster, Christopher Hogwood, Martin Haselböck and Bruno Weil. Orchestras he has performed with include the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna Symphony Orchestras, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, the Festival Strings Lucerne, the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra in Budapest, the Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra in Los Angeles, and the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra.

The Composer(s)

Wilhelm Grosz The Viennese composer and pianist, Wilhelm Grosz, was also a renowned conductor, orchestrator and recording director – a musician of remarkable versatility and wide-ranging influences.