Daniel Wnukowski - Rathaus: Piano Music, Vol. 1 (2019)

Karol Rathaus (1895–1954), born on the eastern fringes of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was one of the myriad Jewish composers who had to abandon a successful career in Europe, where he wrote for stage, screen and concert hall, and flee to the USA; there he earned his living in academia, working in obscurity. This first recording of his piano music reveals a powerful and individual voice, where echoes of his distant homeland color a musical language that is striking for its harmonic tension and rhythmic energy. Hailed as “rapturous and glowing” by International Record Review and “an inspirational and devoted pianist” by Life & Arts – Financial Times, Polish-Canadian pianist Daniel Wnukowski has performed throughout Europe, North America, South America and Asia in prestigious concert halls. He has performed with many orchestras, including the Polish Radio Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, Windsor Symphony, Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana, Poznan Philharmonic, Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic with conductors such as Jerzy Maksymiuk, Alain Trudel and David Amos. He has also performed in numerous International Festivals such as Chopin and His Europe in Warsaw, Poland; Festival Dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy; Chopiniana in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and the Pre-LSO Concert Series in London, UK.

TRACKLIST

01. 5 Klavierstücke, Op. 9: No. 1, Andante
02. 5 Klavierstücke, Op. 9: No. 2, Allegro
03. 5 Klavierstücke, Op. 9: No. 3, Andante
04. 5 Klavierstücke, Op. 9: No. 4, Durchaus gemächlich
05. 5 Klavierstücke, Op. 9: No. 5, Presto
06. Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 8: I. Allegro energico
07. Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 8: II. Presto (Rubato)
08. Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 8: III. Andante con moto
09. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 1, Im Rhythmus einer Mazurka
10. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 2, Schnell, etwas flüchtig
11. 3 Mazurkas, Op. 24: No. 3, Allegro vivace
12. Der letzte Pierrot, Op. 19 (Excerpts Arr. for Piano): Valse sentimentale
13. Der letzte Pierrot, Op. 19 (Excerpts Arr. for Piano): Tanz der Arbeiter
14. Lied der Gruschenka (From "Der Mörder Dimitri Karamasoff") [Arr. for Piano]
15. Lied vom weißen Schwann (From "Der Mörder Dimitri Karamasoff") [Arr. for Piano]
16. Bei den Zigeunern (From "Der Mörder Dimitri Karamasoff") [Arr. for Piano]