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SOMM Recordings

Leon McCawley: Piano Recital

$20.99

Details

Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Cesar Franck, Franz Liszt
Artist
Leon McCawley
Format
CD
Label
SOMM Recordings
Released
Apr 30, 2026
Catalog #
SOMMCD 0717
UPC
748871071728

About

SOMM Recordings continues it's long collaboration with pianist Leon McCawley, named "one of today's most impeccably musical pianists" by International Piano. His past recordings for SOMM include much-admired releases of piano music by Chopin; Barber (Critics' Choice in Gramophone); Brahms (Classic FM CD of the Week); Schumann; Rachmaninoff Complete Preludes; Haydn Sonatas and Variations (awarded a Diapason d'Or); Schubert; three further volumes of Haydn Sonatas; and the 2024 release Natural Connection, about which Gramophone wrote: "This scintillatingly varied recital combines sensuous virtuosity, compelling charm and musical probity. Highly recommended." In this recital McCawley presents some of his old favourites by composer-pianists Liszt, Beethoven, Chopin, and Franck. While the recital focuses on 19th century composers, the programme begins and ends with a nod to J.S. Bach. Among Bach's works that Franz Liszt revered were his six organ preludes and fugues. In transcribing them for piano, Liszt became a major influence on later arrangers. Heard here is the first in the set, Prelude and Fugue in A minor. The Piano Sonata in C major, Op. 53, "The Waldstein," by Beethoven-dedicated to his friend and patron, Count Ferdinand von Waldstein-comes from his aptly named "Heroic" period. It was written in 1804, two years after the watershed moment of his Heiligenstadt Testament, when he had contemplated suicide because of his encroaching deafness, but instead made the profound choice to channel his despair into a bold new musical style. The "Waldstein" Sonata is a vivid expression of this newfound path and of Beethoven's ability to transcend personal adversity to create ground-breaking works of deep complexity. One of the renowned "out-takes" of musical history is Beethoven's Andante favori. He originally intended it as the slow movement of his "Waldstein" Sonata, but he substituted it with a shorter adagio labelled "Introduzione." He had formed an attachment to the piece, though, and he published it as a stand-alone work, including it frequently in subsequent recitals. In an engaging piece of programming, Leon McCawley pairs it here with the "Waldstein" Sonata. Two introspective works by Chopin follow. The Berceuse is a series of continuous contemplations on a simple, nocturne-like theme. In the Barcarolle, Chopin's affinity to the bel canto operatic style is strongly apparent, especially in the beautiful, florid figurations in the right hand. Leon McCawley closes his beautifully curated recital with the Prélude, Choral et Fugue for solo piano by César Franck. Franck was trained as a pianist, but he served as an organist at Paris's Sainte-Clotilde Church from 1858 until his death in 1890. Inspired by the rich, orchestral sound of the Cavaillé-Coll organ there, he developed a grandiose, improvisatory style of keyboard writing that was harmonically influenced by Bach but thoroughly romantic in expression.

Tracklist 11 tracks

  1. 1 Prelude 03:12
    Track
    1
    Title
    Prelude
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Leon McCawley
  2. 2 Fugue 05:47
    Track
    2
    Title
    Fugue
    Duration
    05:47
    Composer
    Franz Liszt
    Performer
    Leon McCawley
  3. 3 Andante in F Major, WoO 57, "Andante favori" 08:58
    Track
    3
    Title
    Andante in F Major, WoO 57, "Andante favori"
    Duration
    08:58
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Leon McCawley
  4. 4 I. Allegro con brio 10:37
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Allegro con brio
    Duration
    10:37
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Leon McCawley
  5. 5 II. Introduzione: Adagio molto 03:28
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Introduzione: Adagio molto
    Duration
    03:28
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Leon McCawley
  6. 6 III. Rondo: Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo 09:50
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Rondo: Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo
    Duration
    09:50
    Composer
    Ludwig van Beethoven
    Performer
    Leon McCawley
  7. 7 Berceuse in D-Flat Major, Op. 57 04:38
    Track
    7
    Title
    Berceuse in D-Flat Major, Op. 57
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Leon McCawley
  8. 8 Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major, Op. 60 08:37
    Track
    8
    Title
    Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
    Duration
    08:37
    Composer
    Frédéric Chopin
    Performer
    Leon McCawley
  9. 9 Prélude - 04:31
    Track
    9
    Title
    Prélude -
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    César Franck
    Performer
    Leon McCawley
  10. 10 Choral (Chorale) - 06:15
    Track
    10
    Title
    Choral (Chorale) -
    Duration
    06:15
    Composer
    César Franck
    Performer
    Leon McCawley
  11. 11 Fugue 07:09
    Track
    11
    Title
    Fugue
    Duration
    07:09
    Composer
    César Franck
    Performer
    Leon McCawley