Egon Kornauth: Piano Music, Volume One
The music of the Czech-born Viennese composer Egon Kornauth (1891-1959) was once a staple of Austrian concert-halls, though it has largely been forgotten in the half-century since his death. In this pioneering recording Jonathan Powell uncovers the many strands that fed into Kornauth's rich and full-blooded soundworld — dark, late-Romantic harmony, inventive counterpoint, rhythmic assiduity, a fondness for folk-music and, not least, a straightforward melodic charm.
Jonathan Powell, piano
Listen To This Recording:
- Phantasie, Op. 10 (1915)
- No. 1 Praeludium
- No. 2 Improvisation
- No. 3 Walzer
- No. 1 Präludium
- No. 2 Intermezzo
- No. 3 Barcarole
- No. 4 Ländler
- No. 5 Notturno
- No. 6 Walzer
- No. 7 Finale
- Praeludium
- Passacaglia
- No. 1 Präludium
- No. 2 Intermezzo
- No. 3 Capriccio
- No. 4 Mährische Ballade
- No. 5 Walzer
Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 23 (1920)
Kleine Suite, Op. 29 (1923)
Präludium und Passacaglia, Op. 43 (1939)
Fünf Klavierstücke, Op. 44 (1940)
MusicWeb International :
‘All these pieces are brought thoughtfully and stylishly to life by Powell in performances given in the slightly chilly acoustic of Durham University Music School back in August 2008. They augur well for the next volume.’
—Jonathan Woolf, MusicWeb International
Fanfare Magazine :
‘Jonathan Powell is one of the most eloquent commentators on the music he plays I have come across, whether that be Sorabji or Kornauth, and his booklet note is a source of great interest. […]
The Präludium und Passacaglia offers maximal contrast, the B♭-Minor twilight of Bachian rigor and severity of the Prelude meeting the storm clouds of Chopin’s finest turbulence; the Passacaglia continues the gloominess. Powell paces it superbly: The close is truly crushing before the final surprise major-key end. […] The five pieces (“Präludium”; “Intermezzo”; “Capriccio”; “Mährische Ballade”; “Walzer”) speak of sweet nostalgia. Powell lavishes them with an attention to detail that almost makes them sparkle (in a retrospective sort of way). […]
This is a fascinating disc (as we are beginning to expect from Toccata Classics). The recording (made at Durham University, U.K.) is excellent.’
—Colin Clarke, Fanfare Magazine September/October 2013
Concerto Net :
‘Jonathan Powell (né en 1969), qui signe la notice (en anglais) de l’album et s’est fait une spécialité de Sorabji, se montre tout à fait à son aise dans ce répertoire ‘
—Simon Corley, Concerto Net