Schmidt: Variations on a Hussar's Song, Fantasia & Chaconne

When one thinks of the compositions of Franz Schmidt, his organ pieces and his oratorio The Book with Seven Seals automatically come to mind. This recording, however, explores some of Schmidt’s lesser-known works. A notable addition to this album is the Fantasia for piano and orchestra in B flat major, in which the listener can hear material from his future successful opera Notre Dame. The work was considered lost for some time, with the work’s premiere coming a century after its composition. This is the piece’s world premiere recording. Performing on the Fantasia is pianist Jasminka Stancul. Stancul performs worldwide with orchestras and as a soloist, and has been a professor at the Music University Ljubljana since October 2013.