HYPERION RECORDS – CDA68205
Dimitar Nenov (1901 – 1953) Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1936) Ballade for Piano Concertante and Orchestra (1943) Ivo Varbanov, piano Royal Scottish National Orchestra Emil Tabakov, conductor A refusal to toe the party line in communist Bulgaria led to polymath Dimitar Nenov being marginalized in life, and to posthumous neglect. But this is hugely enjoyable music, well worthy of revival in such fiercely committed performances as we find here. ‘it’s a strangely compelling journey. Once you get on, it’s hard to get off’...
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J. Brahms, Sonata No. 1 Op. 38 for piano and cello, Sonata No. 2 Op. 99 for piano and cello ICSM 008 (OMNIA) Jozef Lupták, cello, & Ivo Varbanov, piano Johannes Brahms often consolidated his mastery of freshly explored domains by writing two examples in a specific genre in quick succession. His output consequently features such complementary couplings as the Piano Quartets Nos. 1 and 2, Opp. 25 and 26; the String Quartets, Opp. 51, Nos. 1 and 2; the Clarinet Trio, Op. 114, and Clarinet Quintet, Op. 115; Six Piano...
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I. Stravinsky, Pétrouchka, Le Sacre du printemps (original piano four hands versions by the composer) ICSM 006 (DIALOGUE) Fiammetta Tarli & Ivo Varbanov, piano four hands The piano was fundamental to the modus operandi of Igor Stravinsky as a composer, not least when he was writing orchestral scores. Touching the keys gave him immediate contact with sound which he considered to be a vital part of the creative process. This tactile element provided him with an opportunity to feel sonorities and harmonies in addition...
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J. Brahms, Sonata, Op. 1 Scherzo, Op. 4 Ballades, Op. 10 ICSM 004 (OMNIA) Ivo Varbanov, piano The second release of Ivo Varbanov on ICSM Records (ICSM Records 004) presents early piano works by Johannes Brahms: his Piano Sonata no. 1 in C major, Op. 1, the Scherzo, Op. 4, and the four Ballades, Op. 10. All three piano works were performed at crucial moments in Brahms’s life: the Piano Sonata was the focus of one of the most romantic ‘first encounters’ in musical history. The handsome 20-year-old-unknown from...
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L. v. Beethoven, Bagatelles Op. 126 R. Schumann, Gesänge der Frühe, Op. 133 J. Brahms, 6 Chorale Preludes Op. 122 (transcription F. Busoni) ICSM 002 (SOLO) Ivo Varbanov, piano The first release of Ivo Varbanov on ICSM Records (ICSM 002) features the last piano works by Ludwig van Beethoven (Bagatelles Op. 126), Robert Schumann (Gesänge der Frühe Op. 133), and the piano transcription of Ferruccio Busoni of 6 of the 11 Choral Preludes for organ Op. 122 by Johannes Brahms. Beethoven’s Bagatelles, written three years before his...
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Brahms, Walzer Op. 39 Liebeslieder Walzer Op. 52a Neue Liebeslieder Walzer Op. 65a ICSM 001 (OMNIA) Fiammetta Tarli & Ivo Varbanov, piano four hands The first release of ICSM Records (ICSM 001) features the complete recording of Brahms four-hand Waltzes. Dance music was in Johannes Brahms’s blood. Two particular dance-measures fascinated him throughout his life, the waltz and the Hungarian Czárdás. Here we explore what he could do with waltz-rhythms, even on the smallest scale, in the medium of the piano duet. Brahms’s two...
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Four Pieces for piano, op. 119, Two Rhapsodies for piano, op. 79, Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Händel for piano, op. 24 GEGA NEW – GD308 Ivo Varbanov, piano Pianist Ivo Varbanov has recorded again an interesting programme for Gega New with works by Brahms. In his previous releases for the label, he presented Mussorgsky (GD 117), Ildebrando Pizzetti, together with the cellist Seeli Toivio (GD 275), and 20th century music, which he recorded with the Voland Quartet (GD...
read more20th-21st Century Works for Two Pianos and Percussions
GEGA NEW – GD310 Béla Bartók – Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion (1937) Ari Ben-Shabetai – Hora (1997) Gheroghi Arnaoudov – Variations on a Theme by S. Rachmaninov (2001) Alexander Arutunian – Festive (1962) Christo Yotsov – Musical Moments (2004) Jerzy Bauer – Divertimento (1965) Voland Quartet: Ivo Varbanov (piano), Michal Drewnowski (piano) Christo Yotzov (percussion), Radosvet (Eti) Kukudov (percussion) Voland Quartet presents a very interesting program. The works included were created during the last 70 years and they...
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Sonata in Fa for cello and piano (1921), Tre canti for cello and piano (1924) GEGA NEW – GD275 Seeli Toivio, cello Ivo Varbanov, piano The famous Italian composer, conductor, critic and pedagogue Ildebrando Pizzetti (1880-1968) is almost unknown in Bulgaria. He worked as a conductor in Parma, Florence and was Director of the Milan Conservatoire and teacher in composition at the St. Cecilia Academy in Rome. He was also a music critic for leading newspapers and wrote essays for various specialised books and magazines....
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