Maria Carreras, a name synonymous with virtuosity and elegance, presents her latest album, "La Fontaine. Liszt and Bach from the Golden Age." This exquisite collection, released on March 5, 2024, under the Novus Promusica label, is a testament to Carreras' profound musicality and her ability to breathe new life into classical masterpieces.
Spanning a duration of 1 hour and 47 minutes, the album is a journey through the works of two titans of classical music: Franz Liszt and Johann Sebastian Bach. Carreras' interpretations are not merely performances; they are conversations with the composers, revealing the depth and nuance of their compositions.
The album opens with Liszt's "La Fleurie, Ou La Tendre Nannette," arranged for solo piano by Jeanne-Marie Darrédarré, showcasing Carreras' delicate touch and expressive range. She then navigates through Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsodies" and "Paganini Etudes" with a technical prowess that is as awe-inspiring as it is captivating.
The second half of the album is dedicated to Bach's works, including selections from the "Well-Tempered Clavier," "French Suite No.6," and "Partita No. 1." Carreras' renditions are marked by a clarity and precision that bring Bach's intricate counterpoint to the forefront, while her phrasing and dynamics imbue each piece with a sense of narrative and emotional resonance.
Throughout the album, Carreras' playing is characterized by a remarkable balance of technical brilliance and artistic sensitivity. Her interpretations are deeply personal, yet they remain faithful to the spirit of the original compositions. Whether she is tackling the virtuosic demands of Liszt's "Don Giovanni: Fantasia" or the contemplative beauty of Bach's "Prelude in E Minor," Carreras' playing is consistently engaging and thought-provoking.
"La Fontaine. Liszt and Bach from the Golden Age" is not just an album; it is a celebration of the enduring power of classical music and a testament to Maria Carreras' extraordinary talent. It is a collection that will delight both seasoned concertgoers and newcomers to the world of classical piano, offering a rich and rewarding listening experience that showcases the very best of the golden age of classical music.
2024 Novus Promusica2024 Novus Promusica
Tracks
La Fleurie, Ou La Tendre Nannette (Arr. Solo Piano by Jeanne-Marie Darrédarré) - Duo-Art 075 BrFrançois Couperin, Peter Phillips, Jeanne-Marie Darre
La Fontaine, Op. 34 - Duo-Art 6348Charles Lysberg, Fannie Votey Rogers, Peter Phillips
Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10 - Duo-Art 5898Franz Liszt, Arthur Friedheim, Peter Phillips
Annees De Pelerinage. 1st Year. No. 7 (Eglogue; Ecologue) - Duo-Art 74010Franz Liszt, Harold Bauer, Peter Phillips
Annees De Pelerinage. 1st Year: No. 8 (Le Mal Du Pays; Longing for Home) - Duo-Art 70500Franz Liszt, Maria Carreras, Peter Phillips
Annees De Pelerinage. 2nd Year.: No. 3, Canzonetta Del Salvator Rosa - Duo-Art 5574Franz Liszt, Herbert Fryer, Peter Phillips
Hungarian Rhapsodies, S.244: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11 - Duo-Art 6135Franz Liszt, Alfred Cortot, Peter Phillips
Legende No. 1, S. 175, St Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Birds - Welte-Mignon 1031Franz Liszt, Bernhard Stavenhagen, Peter Phillips
Paganini Etudes, S. 161: No. 3, "La Campanella"Franz Liszt, Peter Phillips, Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Don Giovanni: Fantasia (Arr. Solo Piano by Liszt) - Welte-Mignon 876Franz Liszt, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Emil von Sauer, Peter Phillips
Schwanengesang D. 957: No. 12, Am Meer (By the Sea, Arr. Solo Piano by Liszt) - Duo-Art_71449Franz Liszt, Franz Schubert, Desider Vecsei, Peter Phillips
Prelude in E Minor, BWV 555 (Arr. By Siloti) - Duo-Art_66329Johann Sebastian Bach, Alexander Siloti, Peter Phillips
Violin Sonata No. 2: Bourree in B Minor (Transcription by Saint-Saens) - Duo-Art 67719Johann Sebastian Bach, Camille Saint-Saëns, Rudolph Reuter, Peter Phillips
Well Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 857 - Welte-Mignon 2965Johann Sebastian Bach, Eugen d'Albert, Peter Phillips
Well Tempered Clavier, Book I: Fugue No. 12, BWV 857 - Welte-Mignon 2965Johann Sebastian Bach, Eugen d'Albert, Peter Phillips
Well Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850 - Welte-Mignon 1836Johann Sebastian Bach, Edwin Fischer, Peter Phillips
Well Tempered Clavier, Book I: Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 850 - Welte-Mignon 1836Johann Sebastian Bach, Edwin Fischer, Peter Phillips
Two Part Inventions: No. 1, BWV 772 - Duo-Art 6392Johann Sebastian Bach, Harold Bauer, Peter Phillips
Two Part Inventions: No. 6, BWV 777 - Duo-Art 6392Johann Sebastian Bach, Harold Bauer, Peter Phillips
Two Part Inventions: No. 8, BWV 779 - Duo-Art 6392Johann Sebastian Bach, Harold Bauer, Peter Phillips
French Suite No.6 in E Major, BWV 817: Pt. 2, Sarabande - Duo-Art 7081Johann Sebastian Bach, Harold Samuel, Peter Phillips
French Suite No. 6: Part 1: Allemande, Courante - Duo-Art 7080Johann Sebastian Bach, Harold Samuel, Peter Phillips
Partita No. 1, BWV 825: No. 7, Gigue in B-Flat Major - Duo-Art 0216 BrJohann Sebastian Bach, Harold Samuel, Peter Phillips
Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D Minor BWV. 903: Fantasia - Duo-Art 7316Johann Sebastian Bach, Harold Bauer, Peter Phillips
Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D Minor BWV. 903: Fugue - Duo-Art 7317Johann Sebastian Bach, Harold Bauer, Peter Phillips
Gavotte and Variations (Arr. By Leschetizky) - Duo-Art 6217Jean-Philippe Rameau, Peter Phillips, Ethel Leginska
Gigue (Arr. Solo Piano by Macdowell) - Duo-Art 6083Jean-Baptiste Lully, Peter Phillips, Victor Wittgenstein