Album insights
Moritz Moszkowski, a composer of piano pieces such as "Serenata," "Guitarre," and "Valse Mignonne," along with the Spanish Dances for four-handed piano, has faded into obscurity. Thanks to the dedication of certain interpreters and risk-taking CD companies in recent years, this forgotten repertoire has resurfaced. Moszkowski was born in 1854 in Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland) and showed musical talent at a young age. He began his musical education in Dresden and continued in Berlin, where he became a teacher at just 17. In the early 1880s, he faced health issues but focused more on composing, alongside conducting engagements. He settled in Paris in 1897, where he became a sought-after teacher and conductor.
However, around 1910, Moszkowski's fortunes waned. He faced personal losses and a decline in popularity as musical tastes evolved. He withdrew from the art world, composing little and living in poverty. He passed away in Paris in 1925, almost forgotten. Influenced by Mendelssohn, Chopin, and Schumann, Moszkowski built his reputation with piano music and some successful early orchestral works. Despite early recognition, many of his major works remained unpublished and are now considered lost. He also excelled as a violinist.
Moszkowski's Ballade in G minor for violin and orchestra, op. 16, No. 1, composed in the early 1870s, showcases his melodic gift and technical prowess. With sections like Andante con moto and Tempo animato, the piece transitions from gentle themes to vibrant crescendos with finesse. The Violin Concerto in C major, op. 30, dedicated to Emile Sauret, the famous violinist, is a romantic heavyweight requiring exceptional virtuosity without sacrificing musical depth. The three movements—Allegro comodo, Andante, and Vivace—highlight Karlowicz's compositional maturity and skill.
Mieczyslaw Karlowicz, a subsequent figure to Moszkowski, played a significant role in Poland's music scene before his tragic death in 1909. Born in 1876, Karlowicz traveled extensively, engaging with progressive Neoromantic ideas and composing prolifically. His six symphonic poems, created between 1903 and 1909, stand as a testament to his growing reputation as a composer who defied convention and spurred musical innovation.