Virtuoso pianist Ignaz Friedman's compositions have long been neglected but they possess great melodic beauty and harmonic inventiveness. Grouped into sets of character pieces, they exude the haunting melodies of late Romanticism. The lush inventiveness of the Vier Klavierstücke, Op. 27 finds time for Polish folkloric inspirations whilst Stimmungen, Op. 79 – dedicated to his friend Rachmaninov - is pensive, passionate, serious and colourful. Strophes reflects Friedman’s love of Grieg, as well as the abiding influence of Vienna.
“It takes pianistic skill to convey the essence of these works and that is evident in Joseph Banowetz’s lovely and committed performances.” - Mark Novak, Fanfare
