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Anton Arensky was a pupil of Rimsky-Korskov, succeeded Balakirev at the Court Chapel in St. Petersburg (in fact Sergei Lyapunov was his deputy – see DDA25084). The body of work he produced in his short lifetime featured operas, choral music, a number of orchestral works including two symphonies, chamber pieces, songs as well as several works for solo piano. He has been described as one of the most eclectic Russian composers of his generation, and influences of a good number of composers are evident in his work. He had an easy command of keyboard textures and produced some beautiful miniatures – many of which are present here.
Described by The New York Times as “a man whose nature was designed with pianos in mind”, Anthony Goldstone is one of Britain’s most respected pianists. A sixth-generation pupil of Beethoven through his great teacher Maria Curcio, Anthony Goldstone was born in Liverpool. He studied with Derrick Wyndham at the Royal Manchester College of Music (which later honoured him with a Fellowship), later with Curcio in London.
He has enjoyed a career encompassing six continents, the Last Night of the Proms (after which Benjamin Britten wrote to him, “Thank you most sincerely for that brilliant performance of my Diversions. I wish I could have been at the Royal Albert Hall to join in the cheers”), very many broadcasts and nearly seventy CDs (including the BBC issue of his London Promenade Concert performance of Beethoven's fourth Piano Concerto). He has an adventurous approach to repertoire and has been praised by Vienna's Die Presse for “his astonishingly profound spiritual penetration”. In the last few years Goldstone has become known for his acclaimed completions and realisations of works for solo piano and piano duet by Schubert, and for two pianos and solo piano by Mozart, all of which he has recorded on Divine Art CDs.He is also one half of the acclaimed and brilliant piano duo Goldstone and Clemmow with his wife Caroline. The duo has made many CDs for Divine Art and other labels.
This CD was released very briefly on Olympia – but not widely available as the label ceased trading shortly afterwards.
Anton Stepanovich Arensky: 12 Preludes, Op. 63
No. 1 in A minor
No. 2 in A major
No. 3 in G sharp minor
No. 4 in A flat major
No. 5 in G minor
No. 6 in G major
No. 7 in E major
No. 8 in E flat minor
No. 9 in E flat major
No. 10 in D minor
No. 11 in D major
No. 12 in D flat major
Anton Stepanovich Arensky: Essais sur les rythmes oublies, Op. 28
No. 1. Logaedes
No. 2. Peons
No. 3. Ioniques
No. 4. Sari
No. 5. Strophe alceenne
No. 6. Strophe sapphique
Anton Stepanovich Arensky: 12 Etudes, Op. 74
No. 1 in C major
No. 2 in C minor
No. 3 in D flat major
No. 4 in C sharp minor
No. 5 in D major
No. 6 in D minor
No. 7 in E flat major
No. 8 in E flat minor
No. 9 in E minor
No. 10 in F sharp major
No. 11 in A flat major
No. 12 in G sharp minor
Anton Stepanovich Arensky: Arabesques, Op. 67
I. Allegro moderato
II. Vivace
III. Tempo di valse
IV. Andantino
V. Allegro molto
VI. Allegro risoluto
Anton Stepanovich Arensky: 3 Pieces, Op. 42
No. 1. Prelude
No. 2. Romance
No. 3. Etude
July 2010
“Heard separately, many of the 38 pieces on this fine CD acquire the status of gems. Salon music in the best sense, such writing is raised by Anthony Goldstone to a still higher level...all this music is played by Goldstone with unflagging musical energy and brio.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
No. 1 in A minor