Franziska Lee has made a name for herself as an exceptional pianist capable of eliciting an orchestral palette of colors from the piano. Following her...

Franziska Lee has made a name for herself as an exceptional pianist capable of eliciting an orchestral palette of colors from the piano. Following her debut release featuring an exclusively 20th-century French program (Capriccio C3006), Lee has devoted her second recording to British composers of the same period. Together they tell a story of their time, from Britten’s exuberant Holiday Diary, a joyful interlude between the wars, to Tippett’s escapist Piano Sonata No. 1, written on the eve of the Second World War. With effortless virtuosity and musical insight Lee shines a light on a lesser-known corner of the piano repertoire.

REVIEW:

Michael Tippett’s Sonata No 1 for piano could have done with an explanation in the liner notes. Although an early work, it was his first composition to be critically acclaimed as stylistically integrated. Franziska Lee gives here an exhilarating, well-studied performance.

Franziska Lee is truly enthusiastic and sensitive towards 20th century British piano music. Do visit her webpage. I know well all the pieces recorded here: she gave me new insights—and considerable listening pleasure.

-- MusicWeb International