LEOPOLD KOŽELUCH

COMPLETE KEYBOARD SONATAS • 4


KEMP ENGLISH, Fortepiano

“All the sonatas in Volume Four of this complete cycle date from 1784. Characteristically, Koželuch delivers an impressive panoply of styles and textures: at one moment doffing his hat to C.P.E. Bach with a stirring Sturm und Drang opening to the Sonata Op.10, No. 2 and, at the next, emulating early Haydn in the Sonata Op. 13, No. 2. If this were not contrast enough, we can luxuriate in a typically divine - but unusually expansive - slow movement in the Sonata Op. 13, No. 3 and once again marvel at Koželuch ’s propensity to foreshadow in the Beethovenian opening to the Sonata Op. 15, No. 1 - definitely one of the highlights of the set.” - Kemp English

Listen to an extract from
Piano Sonata No. 12 in C Major: I. Moderato

GP645

Leopold Koželuch

About this Recording

A native of Bohemia, Leopold Koželuch made his name in Vienna, a thriving musical center dubbed “the land of the Clavier” by Mozart. The sonatas in this volume all appeared in 1784, meeting the challenge of Mozart’s popularity head-on. Koželuch was singularly adept at producing what was considered the ideal fortepiano sonata of the time, his high reputation making him an influential supporter of a new instrument capable of accommodating “the clarity, the delicacy, the light and shade he demanded in music.

PIANO SONATA 12 IN C MAJOR OP. 10, NO. 2, P. XII: 16 (1784) *
1 I. Moderato (06:36)
2 II. Andante espressivo (05:01)
3 III. Rondeau - Allegretto (03:52)

PIANO SONATA 13 IN E FLAT MAJOR OP. 13, NO. 1,
P. XII: 3 (1784) *

4 I. Allegro molto (06:41)
5 II. Poco adagio (05:31)
6 III. Rondeau: Presto (04:03)

PIANO SONATA 14 IN G MAJOR OP. 13, NO. 2, P. XII: 7 (1784) *
7 I. Allegro (04:38)
8 II. Andante (04:35)
9 III. Rondeau (03:43)

PIANO SONATA 15 IN E MINOR OP. 13, NO. 3, P. XII: 6 (1784) *
10 I. Allegro molto (06:02)
11 II. Cantabile (06:11)
13 III. Presto (03:32)

PIANO SONATA 16 IN G MINOR OP. 15, NO. 1, P. XII: 17 (1784)
14 I. Largo - Allegro molto (09:13)
15 II. Rondeau: Allegro (04:36)

* WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDINGS

TOTAL TIME: 74:20

KEMP ENGLISH

Kemp English is one of New Zealand’s leading concert performers. Much in demand as a solo organist, collaborative pianist, and specialist fortepiano exponent, he relishes the opportunity to work in a diverse array of styles and periods. His solo CDs Schwammerl, Kemp English at the Fortepiano and the Stormin’ Norma trilogy, showcasing the magnificent Dunedin Town Hall organ, have all met with widespread critical acclaim at home and abroad and feature regularly on Radio New Zealand, the ABC, BBC Radio, Classic FM UK and USA radio networks. His collaborative discs with violin duo partner Robin Wilson (Head of Violin at the Australian National Academy of Music) have been equally well received. He enjoyed a distinguished studentship at the Royal Academy of Music in London and later completed a Master of Arts degree in Music Performance at the University of York.

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