MILI ALEKSEYEVICH BALAKIREV
(1837–1910)
COMPLETE PIANO WORKS • 4
SCHERZI AND OTHER WORKS
NICHOLAS WALKER
‘This album is the fourth in a series of the complete piano music of Balakirev. Like the first three volumes, it includes previously unpublished and unrecorded work, in this case Balakirev’s arrangement of Chernomoor’s March from Glinka’s Ruslan i Ludmila, exciting codas to Chopin’s Scherzo No.2 and Liszt’s Mazurka Brillante, as well as the charming Polonaise Brillante, written when the composer was only 16. In addition there are a number of beautiful and often quite spectacular arrangements and original works, even including portrayals of snow and balalaikas.’
– Nicholas Walker
![Mili Alekseyevich Balakirev Mili Alekseyevich Balakirev](images/about.jpg)
About this Recording
This fourth volume in Nicholas Walker’s complete edition of Balakirev’s piano music is structured around his three Scherzos, which take us from the youthful influence of Chopin and Liszt in the First Scherzo, to the music of his prolific final decade, from which the Second Scherzo is one of his finest compositions. Balakirev’s interest in Spanish music was kindled by his mentor Glinka, creating surprisingly authentic sounding textures and rhythms, and the programme is topped with the elegantly masterful poetry of the two Valse-Caprices.
(VERSION FOR SOLO PIANO, 1898) (03:14)
PAR M. GLINKA (1902) (04:40)
DE ‘LA JOTA ARAGONESA’ DE M. GLINKA (1900) (10:56)
TOTAL TIME: 73:53
![Nicholas Walker Nicholas Walker](images/artist.jpg)
NICHOLAS WALKER
Nicholas Walker studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the Moscow Conservatoire. Winner of the first Newport International Piano competition, he has performed with major British orchestras, given recitals worldwide, and recorded for the BBC, BMG Arte Nova, ASV, Chandos and Danacord labels. He is also sought after as an imaginative and sensitive accompanist. Although his Beethoven performances have brought him special critical acclaim, he is best known for championing the neglected leader of ‘The Mighty Handful’, Mili Alekseyevich Balakirev. In 2010 he organised the Balakirev Centenary concerts in London. He also teaches at the Royal Academy of Music.
EARLIER RELEASES IN NICHOLAS WALKER'S ACCLAIMED BALAKIREV CYCLE
“neo Russian school”.’
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– American Record Guide
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★★★★
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