Stojowski: Piano Music

The Polish romantic composer Sigismond Stojowski is currently enjoying a welcome revival, thanks largely to Jonathan Plowright and Hyperion. Sumptuously lyrical, intensely chromatic, by turns poetic and dramatic, this music deserves to be better known. Jonathan Plowright has a natural affinity for Polish romanticism, and he has already proved his mettle with this composer in his enthusiastically received recording of Stojowski’s piano concertos. His imperious performances on this follow-up selection of solo piano music confirm him as this composer’s ideal advocate.

As well as the large-scale Fantasie, and Variations and Fugue, this disc includes charming miniatures such as Caprice oriental, once a favourite of Josef Hofmann, and Chant d’amour, Stojowski’s most famous piece during his lifetime thanks to the performances of Paderewski.

CDA67437  76 minutes 47 seconds
‘Those in search of music's Romantic by-ways played with rare authority need look no further, particularly when presented in Hyperion's immaculate sound’ (Gramophone)
‘He's fully up to all the demands of the music but also responds to the tenderness of the chromatic harmonies and yielding melodic lines with affectionate rubato and tonal shading … a delight’ (B ...
‘This is an enterprising release that takes us down an unusual and intriguing byway’ (International Record Review)