Leopold Koželuch (1747-1818)

Complete KEYBOARD SONATAS • 5

KEMP ENGLISH

“Whilst Koželuch was definitely a composer who satisfied amateur tastes, he was also a skilled pedagogue, frequently providing music that would challenge the best of his aristocratic students. The sonatas contained in Volume 5 are no exception. These four sonatas demonstrate a sophistication and brilliance in technique and musical language that were truly ahead of their time, foreshadowing elements in Beethoven’s, Mendelssohn’s and Schubert’s own compositions.” – Kemp English

GP646

LEOPOLD KOŽELUCH
(1747-1818)

About this Recording

Leopold Koželuch’s music satisfied the ever-changing musical tastes of 18th-century Vienna but he was also a skilled pedagogue, challenging the best of his aristocratic students with the blistering semiquaver climaxes and double octaves of Sonatas Nos. 17 and 18. Koželuch foreshadows Beethoven in his Sonata No. 19, but the Sonata No. 20 represents a musical watershed, anticipating Schubert and others with its adventurous harmonic shifts and the surprising romanticism of its extended slow movement.

PIANO SONATA NO. 17 IN C MAJOR, OP. 15, NO. 2, P. XII: 18 (1785) (17:59)

I. Allegro (08:29)

II. Poco adagio (04:28)

III. Presto (05:02)

PIANO SONATA NO. 18 IN A FLAT MAJOR, OP. 15, NO. 3, P. XII: 19 (1785) (20:06)

I. Andante con variazioni (13:56)

II. Allegro molto (06:10)

PIANO SONATA NO. 19 IN F MINOR, OP. 17, NO. 1, P. XII: 20 (1785) * (18:44)

I. Largo – (04:04)

II. Allegro agitato (08:08)

III. Finale: Allegretto (06:32)

PIANO SONATA NO. 20 IN A MAJOR, OP. 17, NO. 2, P. XII: 21 (1785) * (18:32)

I. Allegro molto (08:09)

II. Adagio (06:36)

III. Allegro molto (03:47)

^* WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDINGS

TOTAL TIME: 75:21

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Listen to an excerpt from Piano Sonata No. 19 in F minor

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.

PREVIOUS RELEASES

GP642

“here is a player who understands the enthusiasm that 18th Century composers must have had for this exciting, versatile new instrument”

- American Record Guide

GP643

“His [English] sensitive playing and intelligent sleeve notes evoke variously “strong energy and drama”, “brilliant naivete” and “advanced bravura”. His light and shade and finger clarity are superb.”

- New Zealand Listener

GP644

“Delightful music, essayed with clarity and elegance; and there’s lots more to come.”

- MusicWeb International

GP645

“English’s playing is beautifully clean and you are never in doubt of his championing of the composer.”

- David’s Review Corner

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