Daniel Beliavsky (pianist)

Ecstasy and Poetry

Schubert Impromptu Op. 90, Nos 3 & 4/Op. 142, No. 2 &3/
Moments Musicaux Op. 94, No. 3, No. 6

Chopin Fantasy-Impromptu Op. 66/ Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2/ Nocturne Op. 32, No. 1/ Nocturne Op. 72, No. 1/Ballade Op. 23, No. 1 / Mazurka Op. 7, No. 3/ Mazurka Op. 17, No. 4
Mazurka Op. 41, No. 2/ Polonais e Op. 53, "Heroic"
CD 2: 1. Introduction, spoken by Daniel Beliavsky 2. A Conversation between Daniel Beliavsky and Professor Ulysses Kidgi

This is a well played and recorded recital with a sure grasp of ebb & flow and acceptable rubato. Beliavsky makes heavy weather of arguing with himself (a spoof professor) at length about head & heart in interpreting romantic piano scores.

Sonatabop.com sb004 (2 CD set)

From Italy to Russia

Mussorgsky - Pictures from an Exhibition/ Nanny and I/Album Leaf/ Hopak of the Merry Young Ukrainians
Scarlatti - Three Sonatas/J S Bach - Italian Concerto

A Conversation about Pictures from an Exhibition Mr. Beliavsky and Professor Kidgi

The interesting aspect which warrants consideration of this account of Mussorgsky's Pictures is Beliavsky's concept of it based on the bells of Kiev. He argues persuasively with his alter ego Professor Kidgi about its justification (more succinctly than in the Ecstacy/Poetry disc) and to my ears the performance proves his case. Enjoyable and convincing and good to have a few others of Mussorgsky's piano pieces.

The Complete Works for Solo Piano of Lukas Foss

First complete recording of American composer Lukas Foss' Solo Piano music on one disc. Includes a live interview with Lukas Foss.

Grotesque Dance (1938) (listen to an excerpt) Four Two-Voiced Inventions (1938) Passacaglia (1941) Fantasy Rondo (1946) Prelude in D (1951) Scherzo Ricercato (1953) (listen to an excerpt)
Solo (1981) For Lenny [Variation on New York, New York] (1988) (listen to an excerpt)
Interview (2002)

A meticulous recording of this oeuvre, assisted by the composer, its release predating the Naxos version. The interview is a pleasant addendum, but scarcely revealing about the composer's working methods which are, to a great extent, intuitive.