Catalogue

Summary:

“Borac plays with technical assurance and the utmost sensitivity. The London recording of the Concertino is a litle lacking in intimacy; the Berlin solo recordings have a church acoustic that blurs the textures, but more often enhances the beauty of Lipatti’s writing and Borac’s playing.” ★★★★★ – BBC Music Magazine

“Borac breezes with the same breezy confidence as Lipatti” – Gramophone

“this two-disc set of solo and orchestral works, played with commitment by the pianist Luiza Borac, offers an intriguing traversal of his compositional aesthetic and influences.” – New York Times

“While reasonably rich in passionately youthful outings this programme is worth every penny of its asking price, not only for its fine recording qualities and Luiza Borac’s superb playing, but for undiscovered gems – in particular the amazing Fantaisie, as well as the fascinating Concertino.” – MusicWeb International

Pianist Luiza Borac is the most dedicated champion of music from her native Romania. She was recognised with a BBC Music Magazine Award for her artistry and advocacy of the piano canon of Georges Enescu. She now turns to another compatriot best known as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century who was also during his short lifetime a celebrated composer: Dinu Lipatti. With influences that range from the counterpoint of Bach to the lyricism of Chopin and the folk-tinged soundscapes of Enescu (Lipatti’s godfather), as well as his teachers Paul Dukas and Nadia Boulanger, Lipatti forged an individual voice over the 18 years of his compositional career.

The rarities that Luiza has unearthed for this 2-disc set include a number of world-premiere recordings including Lipatti’s first Piano Sonata, an arrangement of Albeniz’s Navarra, and the complex Fantasie. For the Concertino in Classical Style, Lipatti’s first published composition, Luiza is joined by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields conducted by Jaime Martin. Aiming to recreate Lipatti’s sound world as faithfully as possible, Luiza performs on a Bechstein piano, Lipatti’s instrument of choice.

In a tribute written shortly after Lipatti’s death at the age of 33, Nadia Boulanger wrote, “When the compositions of Dinu Lipatti are all printed, the greatness of his gift and of his craftsmanship will be recognised.” Through these recordings, Luiza Borac reveals the extent of those gifts which can be appreciated to a fuller extent than ever before.

Tracklist:

DINU LIPATTI (1917–1950)

CD 1

Concertino en style classique, Op. 3
for piano and chamber orchestra (1936, dedicated to Florica Musicesco)
1. I. Allegro maestoso (4.15)
2. II. Adagio molto (4.41)
3. III. Allegretto (3.32)
4. IV. Allegro molto (5.28)

Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Jaime Martin, conductor

Sonatine
for the left hand (1941)
5. I. Allegro (2.28)
6. II. Andante espressivo (3.17)
7. III. Allegro (3.01)

Piano Sonata in D minor
Motto: Musica este limbagiul zeilor – ‘Music is the Language of Gods’ (1932)
8. I. Allegro moderato (9.17)
9. II. Andante (3.57)
10. III. Allegro (8.59)

11. Navarra (5.50)
by Albeniz, arranged by Lipatti (1940)

12. Nocturne in F sharp minor, Op. 6 (4.57)
(dedicated to Clara Haskil) Andante, ma non troppo

13. Nocturne in A minor (3.39)
on a Moldovan theme – Moderato

Total duration CD 1: 63.22

CD 2

Fantaisie, Op. 8
(1940, dedicated to Madeleine Cantacuzène)
Première partie
1. I. Andante malinconico (3.36)
2. II. Molto tranquillo (6.35)
3. III. Presto (5.09)
Deuxième partie
4. I. Allegretto cantabile (3.37)
5. II. Allegro (10.56)

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1695–1750)
transcribed by Dinu Lipatti

Pastorale in F, BWV 590
6. I. Andantino tranquillo (1.58)
7. II. Allegretto grazioso (2.29)
8. III. Andante cantabile (2.48)
9. IV Allegro deciso (2.12)

Was mir behagt ist nur die muntre Jagd!, BWV 208
10. XIII. Weil die wollenreichen Herden (2.38)
11. IX. Schafe können sicher weiden (Sheep may safely graze) (4.49)

Total duration CD 2: 47.08

Recorded 23 – 27 April 2012, Jesus-Christus Church, Berlin (solo piano)
11 July 2012, St. Johns Smith Square, London (Concertino)
Recording engineer & Tonmeister: Holger Siedler
Assistant sound: Ulf Ronneberger (London)
Engineering services (London): Phil Rowlands