The Ignaz Moscheles I love: selected solo piano works

This recording project presents selected solo piano works of Ignaz Moscheles, the nineteenth century Bohemian pianist and composer. Moscheles, born May 23, 1794, is perhaps not as well-known as some other musical giants of the Romantic period, such as Liszt, Chopin, or Schumann. However, he had close relationships with many great musicians. For example, he was a dedicated follower of Beethoven and a teacher of Mendelssohn. His contributions to piano literature and pedagogy not only had a profound impact during his time but would also go on to enrich and benefit the world of music for centuries to come.

A prolific composer, his works in various forms and styles were numbered up to Opus 142. Moscheles composed a few orchestral works, chamber music and songs, but his contribution to the piano repertoire (solo piano or piano with orchestra) is particularly outstanding. Some of his piano etudes, sonatas and concertos are popular and well known to pianists, and there are many commercial recordings of these works. However, a large number of his other equally noteworthy piano works in various genres have been very little studied and performed. For this high-quality recording project, I selected five compositions by Moscheles to demonstrate his personal musical ideas and distinctive style. These pieces are Les Charmes de Londres-Rondo brilliant, preceded by an Introduction, Op. 74; Rondeau expressif on a Favourite Theme of Gallenberg, Op. 71; Variations on a Theme of Handel, Op. 29; Fantasia Brillante on Themes of Benedict’s Opera “The Bride of Venice”; selected Airs from Beethoven’s Fidelio arranged for solo piano.

Living during a period of transition from the Classical to the Romantic period, Moscheles’ early musical education and his admiration for Beethoven gave his musical style Classical characteristics. Most of his piano works emphasize brilliance and elegance in their musical character, while having short, clear phrases, homophonic textures, contrasting themes and more predictable cadences. But his piano works also have certain early Romantic features, such as wider range of dynamics and a richer harmonic coloring. I hope to present to the public through this project a deeper understanding of Moscheles as a composer and musician.