Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of classical piano music with Robert Armbruster's latest album, "Noel. Piano Music of Beethoven, Mozart and Legacy." Released on October 9, 2024, under the Novus Promusica label, this extraordinary collection spans an impressive 4 hours and 4 minutes, featuring 51 meticulously selected tracks. Armbruster, a virtuoso known for his profound interpretations, curates a journey through the masterpieces of Beethoven, Mozart, and other influential composers, offering a rich tapestry of musical heritage.
The album opens with the enchanting "Noel (December)" from Tchaikovsky's "The Seasons," setting a tone of warmth and nostalgia. It seamlessly transitions through a diverse array of compositions, from the dynamic energy of Mozart's "Piano Sonata No. 18" to the intricate beauty of Beethoven's "32 Variations in C Minor." Armbruster's renditions are complemented by arrangements from legendary pianists such as Franz Liszt and Sergei Rachmaninoff, adding layers of depth and historical context to each piece.
Highlights include the lively "Rondo Alla Turca" from Mozart's "Piano Sonata No. 11," the hauntingly beautiful "Barcarolle" by Chopin, and the powerful "Nimrod" variation from Elgar's "Enigma Variations." The album also showcases lesser-known gems like the "Contrabandista" transcription by Tausig and the "Song of the Volga Boatmen," offering a fresh perspective on classical repertoire.
Armbruster's technical prowess and emotional resonance shine through in every note, making "Noel. Piano Music of Beethoven, Mozart and Legacy" a testament to his artistry. Whether you're a seasoned classical enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album promises an enriching and captivating listening experience.
2024 Novus Promusica2024 Novus Promusica
Tracks
The Seasons, Op. 37a: No. 12, Noel (December) - Duo-Art 70829Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Nadia Reisenberg, Peter Phillips
Polonaise, Op. 89 in C Major - Duo-Art 0300 BrLudwig van Beethoven, Emil von Sauer, Peter Phillips
Piano Sonata No. 18 in in D Major, K. 576: I. Allegro - Duo-Art 67560Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Wanda Landowska, Peter Phillips
Fantasia in D Minor, K. 397 - Duo-Art 5677Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Peter Phillips, Alexander Raab
32 Variations in C Minor, WoO 80: Theme and Variations (Pt. 1) - Welte-Mignon 527Ludwig van Beethoven, Egon Petri, Peter Phillips
Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major, K. 331: III. Rondo Alla Turca - Duo-Art 6786Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lewis Loomis Richards, Peter Phillips
Contrabandista (The Smuggler) Transcription by Tausig - Duo-Art 5979Robert Schumann, Peter Phillips, Tina Lerner
Ballet Egyptien. Suite No. 1 - Duo-Art 6575Alexander Luigini, Elena de Marco, Peter Phillips
Sorochintsy Fair: Hopak (Arr. Solo Piano by Rachmaninoff) - Duo-Art 6856Modest Mussorgsky, Gitta Gradova, Peter Phillips
Lieder Ohne Worte, Op. 52: No. 4, Sadness of Soul - Welte-Mignon 228Felix Mendelssohn, Peter Phillips, Arthur Friedheim
Consolations S. 172: Consolation No.3 in D-Flat Major - Welte-Mignon 491Franz Liszt, Peter Phillips, Ernst von Dohnányi
Barcarolle, Op. 60, in F-Sharp Major - Welte-Mignon 1076Frédéric Chopin, Anna Essipoff, Peter Phillips
Andante and Five Variations in G Major for Piano, Four Hands, K. 501 (Tema Con Variazioni) - Duca 314Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Frieda Kwast-Hodapp, Lonny Epstein, Peter Phillips
Passacaglia in C Minor, BWV 582 (Arr. For Piano by Eugen D'albert) - Welte-Mignon 2964Johann Sebastian Bach, Peter Phillips, Eugen d'Albert
Contredanses, WoO 14: Contredanse (German Dance) No. 3, in C Major [Arr. By Isidor Seiss] - Duo-Art 6680Ludwig van Beethoven, Peter Phillips, John Henry Powell
Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D Minor BWV. 903: Fugue - Duo-Art 7317Johann Sebastian Bach, Harold Bauer, Peter Phillips
Preludes, Op. 23: No. 5 in G Minor - Triphonola 51661Sergei Rachmaninoff, Peter Phillips, Ossip Gabrilowitsch
Fireside Tales, Op. 61: No. 2. Of Br'er Rabbit - Welte-Mignon 3681-USEdward MacDowell, Peter Phillips, Carolyne Cone Baldwin
Le Prophète: Kronungsmarsch (Coronation March, Arr. Solo Piano by László) - Welte-Mignon 3323Giacomo Meyerbeer, Peter Phillips, Sándor László
Suite for Piano, Op. 3: No. 3, Adagio - Duo-Art 67280George Enescu, Peter Phillips
Stabat Mater, Op. 101: No. 3, Cujus Animan - Welte-Mignon 2415Gioachino Rossini, Peter Phillips, Paula Utz
Enigma Variations, Op. 36 (Arr. 4 Hands Piano by Whitmore & Manley): Variation 14 (Nimrod) - Duo-Art 0365 BrEdward Elgar, Peter Phillips, Cuthbert Whitmore, Dorothy Manley
Nocturne in D-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2 - Welte-Mignon 1194Frédéric Chopin, Peter Phillips, Theodor Leschetizky
Gavotte and Variations (Arr. By Leschetizky) - Duo-Art 6217Jean-Philippe Rameau, Peter Phillips, Ethel Leginska
Rhapsodie D' Auvergne, Op. 73 in C Major - Welte-Mignon 800Camille Saint-Saëns, Peter Phillips
String Quartet, Op. 18, No. 5 (Arr. Solo Piano by Bauer): III. Andante and Variations in A Major - Duo-Art 7106Ludwig van Beethoven, Harold Bauer, Peter Phillips
Military Marches, Op. 51: No. 3, Marche Militaire in E-Flat Major - Welte-Mignon 3309Franz Schubert, Wilhelm Backhaus, Peter Phillips
Ballade No. 3, Op. 47 in A-Flat Major - Welte-Mignon 1249Frédéric Chopin, Peter Phillips, Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Ballade No. 1, Op. 23 in G Minor - Duo-Art 8008Frédéric Chopin, Peter Phillips, Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Fantasia in C Minor, K. 396 - Welte-Mignon 1843Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Peter Phillips, Edwin Fischer
Song of the Volga Boatmen (Old Russian) - Welte-Mignon 3042Harriet arr Cady, Peter Phillips, Rudolph Ganz
Rondos, Op. 51: No. 2, in G Major - Welte-Mignon 771Ludwig van Beethoven, Peter Phillips, Hedwig Kirsch
Piano Concerto No. 20 K.466 (Arr. Solo Piano by Mayer-Mahr): II. Romance - Duca Dca 749Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Moritz Mayer-Mahr, Peter Phillips
Faust (Arr. Solo Piano by Gayraud): Fantasie and Selections - Welte-Mignon 2799Charles Gounod, P. Gayraud, Peter Phillips
Gigue (Arr. Solo Piano by Macdowell) - Duo-Art 6083Jean-Baptiste Lully, Peter Phillips, Victor Wittgenstein