Grieg: Complete Music For Piano 4-Hands

- Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) is without doubt the most significant Norwegian composer. He was educated at the Leipzig Conservatory, where his early models were Schubert and Schumann. Later, in his early twenties, he developed an affinity for Norwegian peasant culture thanks to the influence of the great Norwegian musician Ole Bull. That effected a major change in his musical outlook, and for the rest of his life he immersed himself in Norwegian literature and folk music, placing him firmly in the ranks of the nationalist composers that characterized the second half of the 19th century. He was surrounded and fascinated by Norway’s breath-taking fjords, mountains, forests and lakes; even when not directly quoting folk materials, the harmonies, rhythms, and melodic nuances of that tradition deeply influenced his musical style and approach.

- This new recording presents Grieg’s complete works for piano 4-hands. They consist of arrangements by the composer himself of his most popular works: the two Peer Gynt Suites, the Norwegian Dances and Nordic Melodies, music of great originality, beauty and power, wonderfully written for the piano, using its full coloristic resources.

- Roberto Plano (First Prize Winner at the 2001 Cleveland International Piano Competition) and Paola del Negro have long enjoyed a fruitful duet partnership; this is their second album together for Brilliant Classics, after Schumann’s complete works for piano-duet. Plano has accumulated an impressive catalogue of recordings for the label including music by Luchesi, Piatti, Sgambati and Smetana. The Luchesi (BC95811) was reviewed in glowing terms by Classics Today: ‘this wonderful pianist’s sensitive, intelligently inflected interpretations. Plano truly makes the music sound better than it is, and his artistry holds your attention… (9/10)'.

• Grieg: Norwegian Dances (4), Op. 35
• Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
• Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55
• Grieg: Two Nordic Melodies, Op. 63
• Grieg: Two Symphonic Pieces, Op. 14
• Grieg: Waltz-Caprices, Op. 37