István Kassai & György Lázár – Széchényi: Waltzes & Hungarian Marches (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:15:47 minutes | 1,14 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Naxos
Count Imre Széchényi of Sárvár-Felsővidék was a highly regarded Austro-Hungarian diplomat and politician who counted Johann Strauss as a lifelong friend, and whose dances were popular and much in demand in his day. Széchényi composed waltzes throughout his creative period, but only a few of these have been preserved. His work was of interest to his contemporaries, and among these premiere recordings is Liszt’s own arrangement of the Ungarischer Marsch. These lively and melodious forgotten gems are brought to life on a 1908 Bechstein piano previously owned by Wagner’s grandson, Wolfgang.
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Gyorgy Lazar – Szechenyi: Piano Music from a Hungarian Dynasty, 1800-1920 (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:17:13 minutes | 1,25 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Grand Piano
The Czechenyi dynasty stood at the heart of Hungarys political and musical life in the 19th and 20th centuries. Their ideal milieu lay in the vibrant, melodious dance-patterned music, of which Imres Waltz No. 1 is a perfect example. Odons highly accomplished works reflect his sophisticated wit, whilst in Franciska, Hungary had its first female composer and in Gisa, the worlds first female film composer. Hungarian pianist Istvan Kassai graduated the Budapest Liszt Academy of Music in 1982. He continued his studies at the Conservatoire Europeen de Musiques de Paris. During his career, he has won several first prizes in international competitions such as the International Youth Piano Competition in Usti nad Labem, and the Hungarian Radio Piano Competition. György Lázár graduated from Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music Teacher Training Institute as a piano teacher in 1988. In August 1989 he became a member of the Hungarian State Opera Ballet as a ballet faculty director, and he is the main director since 2005. Between his directorial tasks he performs as a piano artist in Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra.
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