In celebration of the 100th anniversary of esteemed pianist William Masselos (August 11, 1920 – October 23, 1992) , Sony Classical is pleased to release his complete recordings for RCA Victor and Columbia Masterworks from 1950 to 1971 in a single 7-CD edition
This stunning collection includes 6 LPs appearing on CD for the first time on Sony Classical, remastered from the original analogue tapes using 24 bit / 192 kHz technology
William Masselos, who was born 100 years ago in Niagara Falls, New York and died in New York City in 1992, was among the most distinctive American artists of his generation
Many of Masselos’ spectacular recordings have never been released on CD – until now
There is at least one work that will forever be indelibly associated with Masselos: the mas- sive piano sonata written by Charles Ives between 1902 and 1910, which mysteriously dis- appeared after the composer sent his fair copy to a friend. Deciphered from the original sketches decades later by composer Lou Harrison – with Ives’s approval – the recreated First Piano Sonata was premiered by William Masselos in 1949. The following year, he made its first recording at Columbia’s New York studios. Ives had poured all his musical resources in- to the sonata, from Revivalist hymn tunes to ragtime, and Masselos claimed that its gran- deur and intensely American spirit said something new to him every time he played it
Sony Classical’s William Masselos Edition on 7 newly mastered and transferred CDs is a re- lease for which devotees of American piano music have long been clamouring. At last, the wait is over
