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Adolf von Henselt (1814–1889) made spectacular progress as a piano student before withdrawing from the limelight to perfect his unique way of playing widely spaced chords without using the sustaining pedal. Considering the damage that Robert Schumann reportedly did to his own hands while experimenting with stretching exercises, Henselt was taking a huge risk in persevering with his idiosyncratic technique. But his determination paid off, for even Liszt is said to have blanched at aspects of Henselt’s piano playing that bordered on the reckless.
Adolf von HENSELT (1814–1889)
Complete Piano Études
12 Études caractéristiques
12 Études de Salon
Étude in A minor
La Gondola
Marcel Tadokoro, PianoAdolf von Henselt belongs firmly in the realm of 19th-century composer-pianists such as Chopin, Schumann and Liszt. He was influential in establishing a true Russian school of pianism and held in high esteem by Rachmaninov. Henselt’s virtuoso technique was admired for its cantabile qualities but his performing career was cut short by extreme stage fright. Dating from early in his career, the études blend technical demands with clarity of vision and a lyrical poetic expressiveness often reflected in colourful descriptive titles.
No. 5 in C Sharp Minor, ‘Vie orageuse’
Japanese pianist Marcel Tadokoro won the John Giordano Jury Chairman Discretionary Award at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and Third Prize at the 20th Paloma O’Shea International Piano Competition in the same year; he was also a finalist at the 2021 Concours musical international de Montréal. He has given solo recitals across Europe and Asia, and appeared as a concerto soloist with the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra, State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra and Aichi Chamber Orchestra.
– MusicWeb International
– primephonic ★★★★★
– Classical Explorer
– MusicWeb International