Description
On his latest release for AVIE Records, Charles Owen traverses the late piano works by Johannes Brahms, in which he finds myriad moods and the composer both nostalgic and forward looking.
Steinway ambassador, Guildhall professor and co-founder of the London Piano Festival, Charles Owen turns to the late piano works by Johannes Brahms for his latest AVIE release. Within this collection of Capriccios, Rhapsodies and Intermezzi, Charles reveals myriad moods with the composer harking back as well as facing forward – from evocations of Schubert, Schumann and Liszt in the Eight Klavierstücke, Op. 76; winter-like darkness in the two Op. 79 Rhapsodies; Hungarian foot-stomping dance forms in the seven Fantasies that comprise Op. 116; nostalgic contemplation in the Op. 117 Intermezzi; romantic inflections in the Op. 118 Klavierstücke which were dedicated to Clara Schumann; and the tonally forward Klavierstücke, Op. 119.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"This beautifully produced 2CD set of the later piano works of Brahms confirms Charles Owen as a leading interpreter in this repertoire … a splendid survey of the late piano music." Musicweb International
"Owen plays quite beautifully … [his] tone carries an admirable sense of hushed drama … altogether very impressive playing." - BBC Music Magazine instrumental Choice - February 2019
"A class above the rest ... His performances are underpinned by an unwavering musicality that is enhanced by close attention to the score" – International Piano
"Exemplary. Classic. Spellbinding. And enthusiastically recommended." – Fanfare
"Fantastically versatile … he hits the nail on the head … very stylish, very faithful" – BBC Radio 3 Record Review (on J. S. Bach The Six Keyboard Partitias, AV 2366)