1CD (79'29)
FERRUCCIO BUSONI: Fantasia Contrappuntistica BV256 (35.32)
1. Preludio corale (8.27)
2. Fuga I (5.23)
3. Fuga II (2.55)
4. Fuga III (6.54)
5. Intermezzo, Variazioni I, II & III, Cadenza (6.55)
6. Fuga IV, Corale, Stretta (4.58)
7. J. S. BACH/ BUSONI: Ich ruf’ zu dir, her Jesu Christ BWV639 (3.41)
Recorded in Vienna 1953 (Society of Participating Artists SPA56)
FRANZ LISZT: Weinachtsbaum (Christmas Tree) S186 (39.57)
8. “Psallite” - Altes Weihnacthslied (2.50)
9. O heilige Nacht (4.48)
10. Die Hirten an der Krippe (In dulci jubilo) (3.18)
11. Adeste fideles (2.25)
12. Scherzoso (Man zündet die Kerzen des Baumes an) (1.58)
13. Carillon (1.50)
14. Schlummerlied (4.00)
15. Altes provenzalisches Weihnachtslied (1.23)
16. Abendglocken (4.28)
17. Ehemals (4.16)
18. Ungarisch (1.59)
19 Polnisch (6.35)
Recorded in Vienna 1952 (Society of Participating Artists SPA26)
Alfred Brendel’s least known recordings are the four LPs he made for the US label SPA Records in the early 1950s. Until now, none has been given a full commercial release in the digital era but among them is a recording which is surely one of the most important in Brendel’s discography – that of Busoni’s ‘Fantasia Contrappuntistica’, the composer's monumental response to Bach's 'Art of Fugue'. We are delighted to reissue it here with Mr Brendel’s blessing, along with his first solo LP, the complete recording of Liszt’s
‘Weihnachtsbaum’. Both these works were recorded premieres at the time and the pianist was not to return to them again in the studio, so this marks an important addition to his available discography.
The booklet contains a note by the pianist himself, written specially for this release, with his reflections on Busoni and the Fantasia Contrappunctistica.