Denis Kozhukhin – Grieg: Lyric Pieces – Mendelssohn: Lieder ohne Worte (2019) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

On his new solo album, Russian star pianist Denis Kozhukhin presents a personal and colourful collection of character pieces taken from Mendelssohn’s Lieder ohne Worte and Edvard Grieg’s Lyric Pieces. Combing these miniature gems by two outstanding poets of music, Kozhukhin provides a shining example of how disarmingly touching and penetrating a simple song or a vision of nature captured in sound can be.

The programme features classics such as Mendelssohn’s Venetian Gondola Song and Grieg’s Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, as well as less famous but equally enchanting pieces. Kozukhin lifts out the noble simplicity of these works with his delicate playing.

Denis Kozhukhin has established himself as one of the greatest pianists of his generation. He now presents the fifth chapter to his exclusive collaboration with PENTATONE, after albums with the piano concertos of Grieg and Tchaikovsky (2016), Brahms Ballades and Fantasies (2017), Ravel and Gershwin piano concertos, as well as Richard Strauss’ Burleske (both 2018).

Tracklist:
1 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 1, Op. 19b (Excerpts): No. 1 in E Major, MWV U 86 02:58
2 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 1, Op. 19b (Excerpts): No. 2 in A Minor, MWV U 80 02:38
3 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 1, Op. 19b (Excerpts): No. 3 in A Major, MWV U 89 “Jägerlied” 02:33
4 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 1, Op. 19b (Excerpts): No. 5 in F-Sharp Minor, MWV U 90 03:33
5 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 2, Op. 30 (Excerpts): No. 2 in B-Flat Minor, MWV U 77 02:13
6 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 2, Op. 30 (Excerpts): No. 6 in F-Sharp Minor, MWV U 110 “Venetianisches Gondellied” 02:52
7 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 3, Op. 38 (Excerpts): No. 2 in C Minor, MWV U 115 02:13
8 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 3, Op. 38 (Excerpts): No. 6 in A-Flat Major, MWV U 119 “Duetto” 03:17
9 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 5, Op. 62: No. 3 in E Minor, MWV U 177 “Trauermarsch” 02:56
10 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 6, Op. 67 (Excerpts): No. 2 in F-Sharp Minor, MWV U 145 02:38
11 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 6, Op. 67 (Excerpts): No. 4 in C Major, MWV U 182 “Spinnerlied” 02:00
12 Lieder ohne Worte, Book 8, Op. 102: No. 3 in C Major, MWV U 195 “Kinderstück” 01:22
13 (Excerpts): No. 1, Arietta 01:10
14 (Excerpts): No. 2, Vals 01:40
15 (Excerpts): No. 4, Alfedans 00:58
16 (Excerpts): No. 4, Halling 00:58
17 (Excerpts): No. 6, Elegi 02:26
18 (Excerpts): No. 1, Sommerfugl 02:04
19 (Excerpts): No. 4, Liden fugl 01:49
20 (Excerpts): No. 6, Til foråret 02:45
21 No. 7, Elegi 02:57
22 (Excerpts): No. 3, Trolltog 03:07
23 (Excerpts): No. 4, Notturno 03:02
24 (Excerpts): No. 5, Scherzo 03:10
25 No. 4, Bækken 01:53
26 No. 6, Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen 06:09