Mischa Levitzki: Complete Works for Solo Piano
With works by OSSIP GABRILOWITSCH and IGNAZ FRIEDMAN
What was called ‘the Golden Age of Pianism’ – the last decades of the nineteenth century and the first of the twentieth – also saw the final flourish of the composer-pianist, a tradition that had begun with Mozart and Beethoven. This recording presents music by three of these last lions. The handful of works left by Mischa Levitzki (1898–1941) are charming miniatures; those by Ossip Gabrilowitsch (1878–1936) are slightly more ambitious; and the compositions of Ignaz Friedman (1882–1948) – both original pieces and transcriptions – point to a substantial body of music that has yet to be fully explored.
Margarita Glebov, pianist
Listen To This Recording:
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Mischa Levitzki
- Valse de Concert, Op. 1
- Valse, Op. 2
- Gavotte, Op. 3
- Arabesque valsante, Op. 6
- The Enchanted Nymph
- Valse Tzigane, Op. 7
- Dance of the Doll, Op. 8
- Romance, Op. 1 No. 4
- No. 1 Fantaisie-Nocturne
- No. 2 Gavotte
- No. 3 Feuillet d’Album
- Franck: Prelude, Fugue and Variation
- Grazioli: Adagio
- Stamitz: Symphony in G major: Prestissimo
- Couperin: La Tendre Fanchon
- No. 1 Pensieroso
- No. 2 Vivo e molto leggiero
- No. 3 Con abandono
- No. 4 Molto appassionato ed animato
- No. 1 Allegro, molto leggiero
- No. 2 Vivo e con delicatezza
- No. 4 Andante molto cantabile
- No. 9 Allegro, con abandono
- No. 10 Allegretto, sempre leggiero
- No. 11 Allegro patetico
- No. 16 Allegro appassionato
Ossip Gabrilowitsch
Three Piano Pieces, Op. 2:
Ignaz Friedman (transcriptions)
Ignaz Friedman (original works)
Four Preludes, Op. 61:
Etudes, Op. 63:
Gramophone :
‘From adventurous Toccata Classics comes a programme of short works by three pianist-composers from the so-called Golden Age… While he [Levitzki] left behind a substantial amount of recordings, he composed only eight short miniatures. All these appear in chronological order on Margarita Glebov’s delightful disc. The most famous … is the Valse in A major, Op 2, a Kreisleresque miniature of enormous charm… The remainder of Glebov’s disc has four slightly more ambitious pieces by Ossip Gabrilowitsch… These are followed by a selection of transcriptions and original works by the great Ignaz Friedman… These original works alone are worth the price of the disc in convincing and powerful performances. Altogether an imaginative and rewarding disc that comes with an excellent booklet by Maxwell Brown.’
—Jeremy Nicholas Gramophone, October 2016
MusicWeb International :
‘This very well-packed CD is further evidence that Toccata continues to enrich the classical listening experience with unexpected perspectives. Where Toccata lead others may follow. Not everything from these three contemporaries has striking musical substance but there is much to impress and where it does not impress it certainly delights.’
— Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International
Primephonic :
‘The four highly atmospheric preludes together form a convincing suite, with a fine-paced emotional temperature that builds throughout, reaching fever pitch in the final one. […]
The Russian-born pianist Margarita Glebov delivers this rare and special music with lashings of affection and care. Her efforts suggest that the treasure-trove of Friedman’s compositions may have many more gems to reveal. I, for one, hope that there’ll be more to hear soon.’
—Jessica Duchen, Primephonic
Classics Today :
‘This delightful disc serves as a reminder that many keyboard practitioners from the piano’s so-called “Golden Age” also were composers. […] Margarita Glebov’s nuanced performance compares well alongside Stephen Hough’s recording from the early 1990s. […]
Four pieces by Ossip Gabrilowitsch (1868-1936) prove no less captivating and skillfully composed; they wouldn’t be out of place among Grieg’s Lyric Pieces. […]
On the other hand, Friedman’s Grazioli, Stamitz, and Couperin transcriptions utilize the kind of full-bodied chords, rapid leaps, and double notes that are more difficult to execute than they sound; certainly Glebov’s suave performances make them sound easy. She fares impressively in Friedman’s original Four Op. 61 Preludes and seven of the Op. 63 Etudes, all recorded here for the first time.
[…] the ingenuity and sophistication of his piano writing holds interest, and comes to life through Glebov’s colorful and polished fingerwork. Maxwell Brown’s informative booklet notes add further value to a disc that connoisseurs of the piano repertoire’s flavorful fringes will certainly enjoy.’
—Jed Distler, Classics Today