Johann Andreas & Nanette Streicher: Works For Pianoforte

Description

It was not only as a married couple that they were devoted to each other - Nannette and Andreas Streicher, two equally influential and fascinatingly versatile personalities in the history of music at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century. Together, with one of the most important Viennese piano manufacturers, they had a decisive influence on the piano sound of their time. In addition to their joint, impressively successful entrepreneurial commitment, both also enjoyed a high reputation as concert pianists. As if that were not enough, they also distinguished themselves with a remarkably similar artistic self-image in composition and music education. Despite high instrumental esteem, however, there has surprisingly been virtually no discussion of their compositions to date: With the exception of Andreas Streicher's subtly varied Rondeau ou Caprice, all the works on this recording are first recordings. The focus is on the works for fortepiano, interpreted by Tobias Koch, who has been fascinated by the expressive possibilities of historical keyboard instruments since the beginning of his musical career. Naturally, in the stylistic classification of their piano works, it becomes clear how exemplary both of them are in their conceptual orientation towards the strings' own sound ideal.