Cascade - Beethoven, Prokofiev & Schumann: Piano Music / Williams
SOMM Recordings
MusicWeb International Recording of the Year nominee

Cascade - Beethoven, Prokofiev & Schumann: Piano Music / Williams

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Details

Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven, Sergei Prokofiev, Robert Schumann
Artist
Cordelia Williams
Format
CD
Discs
1
Label
SOMM Recordings
Released
Sep 15, 2023
Catalog #
SOMMCD 0675
UPC
748871067523

About

SOMM Recordings announces Cascade; the exhilarating new recital by pianist Cordelia Williams featuring music by Beethoven, Schumann, and Prokofiev. Cascade explores music’s mercurial ability to change in an instant; to reveal depths beneath the surface; and to illustrate; as Williams says; “that the whole world can change entirely in one twist of perspective; one change of angle; to offer a glimpse of something bigger”.

Early and late Beethoven bookend the program. Unpublished in his lifetime; the C major Bagatelle (WoO 56) flickers and glints; sparkles and surprises with kaleidoscope-like brilliance. His Op.126 Six Bagatelles – among the very last pieces he wrote for solo piano – alternate between the introspective and the garrulous; each turned inside out to reveal new facets and features. A variegated collection of 20 miniatures with hints of Chopin; Scriabin and Shostakovich to be found; Prokofiev’s Visions fugitives; Op.22 are essentially a series of meditations; each individually pursuing a specific idea or mood while collectively exploring the hinterland between surface appearance and what lies beneath; and all expressed with comparable crystalline clarity. Schumann’s Waldszenen (Forest Scenes); his last major cycle for solo piano; is an enchanted landscape lit up by beguiling pastoralism and shadow-cast by darker recesses of the imagination. Two sides of the same coin: Arcadia in excelsis; and red in tooth and claw.

Booklets notes; as with all of Cordelia Williams’ recent SOMM releases; have been written by Michael Quinn. Piano winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition; Cordelia Williams’ previous SOMM releases include her acclaimed coupling of Bach and Arvo Pärt (SOMMCD 0186); hailed by International Piano as “a magnificently stimulating concept; brilliantly recognised”; well-received recitals of Schubert (SOMMCD 0127) and Schumann (SOMMCD 0150); and Nightlight (SOMMCD 0639); which Fanfare hailed for Williams’ “spectacular playing” and which Gramophone described as “extraordinary”.

Critic reviews

  • “Good though Williams’ Prokofiev and Schumann are – and they are very good – it was her performance of the Op126 Bagatelles that had me panting for more late Beethoven from her.”

    MusicWeb International, Nominee for recording of the year, December 2024

Tracklist 36 tracks

  1. 1 Bagatelle in C Major, WoO 56 02:13
    Track
    1
    Title
    Bagatelle in C Major, WoO 56
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  2. 2 I. Lentamente 01:20
    Track
    2
    Title
    I. Lentamente
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  3. 3 II. Andante 01:27
    Track
    3
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  4. 4 III. Allegretto 00:58
    Track
    4
    Title
    III. Allegretto
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  5. 5 IV. Animato - Più sostenuto 00:59
    Track
    5
    Title
    IV. Animato - Più sostenuto
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  6. 6 V. Molto giocoso 00:26
    Track
    6
    Title
    V. Molto giocoso
    Duration
    00:26
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  7. 7 VI. Con eleganza 00:28
    Track
    7
    Title
    VI. Con eleganza
    Duration
    00:28
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  8. 8 VII. Pittoresco (Arpa) 02:14
    Track
    8
    Title
    VII. Pittoresco (Arpa)
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  9. 9 VIII. Commodo 01:15
    Track
    9
    Title
    VIII. Commodo
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  10. 10 IX. Allegretto tranquillo 01:20
    Track
    10
    Title
    IX. Allegretto tranquillo
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  11. 11 X. Ridicolosamente 00:52
    Track
    11
    Title
    X. Ridicolosamente
    Duration
    00:52
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  12. 12 XI. Con vivacità 01:12
    Track
    12
    Title
    XI. Con vivacità
    Duration
    01:12
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  13. 13 XII. Assai moderato 00:57
    Track
    13
    Title
    XII. Assai moderato
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  14. 14 XIII. Allegretto 00:52
    Track
    14
    Title
    XIII. Allegretto
    Duration
    00:52
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  15. 15 XIV. Feroce 01:08
    Track
    15
    Title
    XIV. Feroce
    Duration
    01:08
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  16. 16 XV. Inquieto 00:51
    Track
    16
    Title
    XV. Inquieto
    Duration
    00:51
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  17. 17 XVI. Dolente 01:56
    Track
    17
    Title
    XVI. Dolente
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  18. 18 XVII. Poetico 01:00
    Track
    18
    Title
    XVII. Poetico
    Duration
    01:00
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  19. 19 XVIII. Con una dolce lentezza 01:19
    Track
    19
    Title
    XVIII. Con una dolce lentezza
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  20. 20 XIX. Presto agitatissimo e molto accentuato 00:46
    Track
    20
    Title
    XIX. Presto agitatissimo e molto accentuato
    Duration
    00:46
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  21. 21 XX. Lento irrealmente 01:57
    Track
    21
    Title
    XX. Lento irrealmente
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Sergei Prokofiev
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  22. 22 No. 1. Eintritt (Entering the Forest) 02:05
    Track
    22
    Title
    No. 1. Eintritt (Entering the Forest)
    Duration
    02:05
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  23. 23 No. 2. Jäger auf der Lauer (Hunter on the Look-out) 01:36
    Track
    23
    Title
    No. 2. Jäger auf der Lauer (Hunter on the Look-out)
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  24. 24 No. 3. Einsame Blumen (Solitary Flowers) 01:48
    Track
    24
    Title
    No. 3. Einsame Blumen (Solitary Flowers)
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  25. 25 No. 4. Verrufene Stelle (Haunted Spot) 03:19
    Track
    25
    Title
    No. 4. Verrufene Stelle (Haunted Spot)
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  26. 26 No. 5. Freundliche Landschaft (Pleasant Scenery) 01:15
    Track
    26
    Title
    No. 5. Freundliche Landschaft (Pleasant Scenery)
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  27. 27 No. 6. Herberge (At the Inn) 02:00
    Track
    27
    Title
    No. 6. Herberge (At the Inn)
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  28. 28 No. 7. Vogel als Prophet (The Songster-Prophet) 03:02
    Track
    28
    Title
    No. 7. Vogel als Prophet (The Songster-Prophet)
    Duration
    03:02
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  29. 29 No. 8. Jagdlied (Hunting-Song) 02:48
    Track
    29
    Title
    No. 8. Jagdlied (Hunting-Song)
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  30. 30 No. 9. Abschied (Farewell to the Forest) 03:57
    Track
    30
    Title
    No. 9. Abschied (Farewell to the Forest)
    Duration
    03:57
    Composer
    Robert Schumann
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  31. 31 No. 1 in G Major 02:38
    Track
    31
    Title
    No. 1 in G Major
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  32. 32 No. 2 in G Minor 01:49
    Track
    32
    Title
    No. 2 in G Minor
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  33. 33 No. 3 in E-Flat Major 02:34
    Track
    33
    Title
    No. 3 in E-Flat Major
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  34. 34 No. 4 in B Minor 03:57
    Track
    34
    Title
    No. 4 in B Minor
    Duration
    03:57
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  35. 35 No. 5 in G Major 02:09
    Track
    35
    Title
    No. 5 in G Major
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams
  36. 36 No. 6 in E-Flat Major 04:26
    Track
    36
    Title
    No. 6 in E-Flat Major
    Duration
    04:26
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Cordelia Williams