Godowsky: Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes by Johann Strauss

Published in 1912, Leopold Godowsky’s Waltz Masques: 24 Fantasies in Triple Time for Piano pay homage to such illustrious pianist-composers as Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Debussy and the ‘waltz king’ Johann Strauss.

The Symphonic Metamorphoses on Themes of Johann Strauss, Three Waltz Paraphrases I. Artists’ Life of the same year transforms Strauss’s waltz sequence into a piano piece of great virtuosity, a monument to Godowsky’s own phenomenal prowess as one of the great pianists of his time.

Konstantin Scherbakov’s previous Marco Polo recordings of Godowsky’s piano music have been highly praised.

The latest release in this Godowsky series includes many of his piano paraphrases; Albeniz’s Tango in D, Bizet’s Adagietto from L’Arlesienne, Saint-Saëns The Swan and works by Johann Strauss. Carlo Grante is a very active and accomplished performer.

As well as recording this series, he is currently working on a complete Scarlatti cycle.