Sibelius: Piano Works, Vol. 2
Joseph Tong (piano)
Tong’s interpretations are on the swiftish side, in the Allegro first movement of the first Sonatina, I find his choice of tempo here, and indeed throughout- the most natural. The Sonatinas...
Sibelius: Piano Works, Vol. 2
Joseph Tong (piano)
Purchase product
Tong’s interpretations are on the swiftish side, in the Allegro first movement of the first Sonatina, I find his choice of tempo here, and indeed throughout- the most natural. The Sonatinas...
About
As with the first CD which Tong recorded, the choice of repertoire has evolved not only from his exploration of the composer’s sizeable body of piano works, but also from a desire to select an attractive and varied combination of pieces representing all the main periods of Sibelius’s creative life from the early 1890s through to the mid-1920s. At the same time, he wanted to continue the natural process of combining large scale works with shorter pieces (or sets of pieces) in a way which might mirror a concert programme. Therefore he has chosen one of Sibelius’s most important large-scale piano works, the Sonata in F major Op. 12, as well as one of his best-loved orchestral transcriptions, Valse triste. He always admired the three strikingly original Sonatinas Op. 67 and likewise the evocative Characteristic Impressions Op. 103. The captivating Bagatelles Op. 97 and by comparison, the more serene Lyric Pieces Op. 74 complete the selection for this disc, confirming that Sibelius was also a masterful miniaturist.
Contents and tracklist
- Joseph Tong (piano)
- Joseph Tong (piano)
- Recorded: 23-24 August 2016
- Joseph Tong (piano)
- Recorded: 23-24 August 2016
- Joseph Tong (piano)
- Recorded: 23-24 August 2016
- Joseph Tong (piano)
- Recorded: 23-24 August 2016
- Joseph Tong (piano)
- Recorded: 23-24 August 2016
- Joseph Tong (piano)
- Recorded: 23-24 August 2016
- Joseph Tong (piano)
- Recorded: 23-24 August 2016
Awards and reviews
November/December 2017
Tong’s interpretations are on the swiftish side, in the Allegro first movement of the first Sonatina, I find his choice of tempo here, and indeed throughout- the most natural. The Sonatinas are nicely done; full of light and shade.
27th August 2017
this beautifully played collection, culminating in the Sonata, Op 12 (1893)...shows this work succeeds on its own terms....Three sets of character pieces (Opp 97, 103 and 74) reveal Sibelius writing with distilled eloquence, much as Brahms did in his late Intermezzos.
Musical Opinion July-September 2018
Joseph Tong is a masterful Sibelian, and brings to these remarkably varied works a measure of understanding and technical adroitness which is admirable. The recording quality is first-class, and- as with the first CD – this deserves the highest recommendation.
Classical Ear October 2017
The biggest item here is the early Piano Sonata from 1893, whose central Andantino shows the influence of Karelian folk music and can boast some genuinely haunting invention. The recording is outstandingly real… altogether most enjoyable.
