Ferrucio Busoni: Piano Works

Roland Pöntinen

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Ferrucio Busoni: Piano Works Review

by James Manheim

It's odd that Mozart is given priority in the subtitle of this CPO release, "Hommages à Mozart, Bach & Chopin": Mozart is involved only in the four-minute Giga, Bolero, e Variazione (nach Mozart) aus: An die Jugend, K. 254, and that's not one of the more impressive works on the album. Instead it is Bach who is, as usual with Busoni, the primary inspiration. Swedish pianist Roland Pöntinen, a specialist in rarities of the post-Romantic era, has a rather relaxed, discursive style. Some listeners approach Busoni in search of pianistic thrills, and if you're among that group, you can probably find more muscular versions of the centerpiece work here, the mighty transcription of the Chaconne from Bach's Partita for solo violin in D minor, BWV 1004. But there is plenty here to interest the true Busoni lover. The 10 Variations on a Prelude by Chopin, BW 213a, is a fine example of Busoni's wild chromaticism. The Drei Albumblätter (Three Album Pages), BV 289, are in a Lisztian mold, and the Bach chorale arrangements (tracks 2-6) show Busoni working out individual details of his unique neo-Baroque style. The sound quality from Southwest German Radio is an unusually good match for Pöntinen's quiet, clear style. Recommended for good post-Romantic collections.

Track Listing

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
	1	Chaconne for violin (after Bach), BV B 24 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	14:26	Amazon
	2	Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	05:06	Amazon
	3	Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 645 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	03:32	Amazon
	4	Ich ruf zu dir, Herr. Choralvorspiel, BWV 639 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	03:07	Amazon
	5	In dir ist Freude. Choralvorspiel, BWV 615 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	02:19	Amazon
	6	Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns den Zorn Gottes wandt, BWV 665 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	05:31	Amazon
	7	Giga, Bolero e Variazione (after Mozart), BV 254 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	04:01	Amazon
Drei Albumblätter, BV 289
	8	No. 1 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	02:53	Amazon
	9	No. 2 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	01:57	Amazon
	10	No. 3 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	04:52	Amazon
	11	Zehn Variationen über ein Präludium von Chopin, BV 213a Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	13:17	Amazon
	12	Fantasia (after Bach), BV 253 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	12:21	Amazon
	13	Nuit de Noël. Esquisse pour le Piano, BV 251 Ferruccio Busoni	Roland Pöntinen	04:33	Amazon