Schubert: Moments Musicaux, D780: No. 2 in A flat

Julius Drake is renowned as one of the best accompanists working today and has chosen the ATMA label to record his first solo CD. He has conceived this recording as a personal journal and performs selections from Brahms’ Intermezzi, Mendelssohn’s Lieder ohne Worte and Schubert’s Moments musicaux, among others.

Susanne Lang’s debut album includes musical miniatures from romantic, late romantic and 20th century composers. It ranges from two of Franz Schubert’s six Moments musicaux to Smetana, Liszt and de Falla and then to Prokofiev and Shchedrin. Many of these works are popular encores. Susanne Lang is an international performer and is on the jury for a number of piano competitions.

A year ago we issued, to great critical acclaim. A double album of Paderewski’s first recordings, made in Europe in 1911-12 (APR6006). Between 1914 and 1931 the pianist recorded for Victor in the US but in 1937, after it appeared Paderewski had retired from the studio, he was persuaded to return to the HMV studios in London to make a final series of recordings. At first the plan was to record the repertoire which featured in the film ‘Moonlight Sonata’, a huge blockbuster success at the time which featured Paderewski playing himself, but in addition to this repertoire Paderewski went on to record works by Haydn and Mozart which were new to his discography. It has often been said that in later life Paderewski’s technique was not what it had been, and to an extent the is undoubtedly true, but this is not an issue in the classical works featured here, and the Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven in particular reveal the extreme poetry that had mesmerised audiences for fifty years and had made Paderewski the most famous pianist of his generation.

This is the first time all Paderewski’s 1930’s HMV recordings have been assembled together and two unissued tracks from the 1938 sessions are also included.

Music is a powerful and mysterious art. With the simplest of means it is able to conjure up a mood, emotion or atmosphere and instantly draw the listener in. Centuries ago the wealthy paid a fortune to composers and performers to provide them with music to raise their spirits or simply help them relax. Now everyone can enjoy these benefits. This collection has been specially selected from the most restful music of the past 300 years to help us relax.