Szymanowski: Complete Piano Music
The music of Szymanowski is lively, thrilling, robust, and exciting. It is also immensely difficult to play, and few artists can cope with its technical demands of bravura and virtuosity. One who can, with consummate skill and musicianship, is Sinae Lee, whose new recording “makes other versions of the complete piano works seem amateurish by comparison” according to pianist Raymond Clarke, whose own disc of Szymanowski sonatas was rightly acclaimed.
Track Listing
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Karol Szymanowski:
- Prelude in C sharp minor (3:13)
- Nine Preludes,op. 1 − No. 1 - Andante ma non troppo (2:01)
- Nine Preludes,op. 1 − No.2 - Andante co moto (2:12)
- Nine Preludes,op. 1 − No. 3 - Andantino (1:18)
- Nine Preludes,op. 1 − No. 4 - Andantino con moto (1:13)
- Nine Preludes,op. 1 − No.5 - Allegro molto (1:03)
- Nine Preludes,op. 1 − No. 6 - Lento, mesto (2:39)
- Nine Preludes,op. 1 − No. 7 - Moderato (2:18)
- Nine Preludes,op. 1 − No. 8 - Andante ma non troppo (1:50)
- Nine Preludes,op. 1 − No. 9 - Lento, mesto (2:23)
- Variations in B flat minor, op. 2 (10:17)
- Four Studies, op. 4 − No. 1 - Allegro moderato (3:45)
- Four Studies, op. 4 − No.2 - Allegro molto (1:39)
- Four Studies, op. 4 − No. 3 - Andante (4:34)
- Four Studies, op. 4 − No. 4 - Allegro (3:13)
- Piano Sonata no. 1, op. 8 − 1. Allegro moderato - agitato (7:18)
- Piano Sonata no. 1, op. 8 − 2. Adagio (6:14)
- Piano Sonata no. 1, op. 8 − 3. Tempo di minuetto, comodo (4:00)
- Piano Sonata no. 1, op. 8 − 4. Introducione, allegro, etc (10:30)
- Variations on a Polish Theme, op. 10 (18:59)
- Fantasy for Piano, op. 14 (13:18)
- Prelude and Fugue (6:43)
- Piano Sonata no. 2, op. 21 − 1. Allegro assai (8:34)
- Piano Sonata no. 2, op. 21 − 2. Theme and Variations (17:49)
- Melodies, op. 29 − 1. The Isle of Sirens (5:45)
- Melodies, op. 29 − 2. Calypso (5:25)
- Melodies, op. 29 − 3. Nausicaa (4:17)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 1 Presto (1:00)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 2 Andantino soave (1:13)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 3 Vivace assai, agitato (0:33)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 4 Presto (1:17)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 5 Andante espressivo (0:58)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 6 Vivace agitato e marcato (0:33)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 7 Allegro molto con brio (0:44)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 8 Lento assai mesto espressivo (2:03)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 9 Animato capriccioso e fantastico (0:51)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 10 Presto molto agitato (1:01)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 11 Andante soave rubato (1:28)
- Twelve Studies, op. 33 − No. 12 Presto energico (1:29)
- Masques, op. 34 − 1. Scheherazade (9:13)
- Masques, op. 34 − 2. Tantris the Clown (5:39)
- Masques, op. 34 − 3. Don Juan's Serenade (5:24)
- Piano Sonata no. 3, op. 36 − 1. Presto (6:57)
- Piano Sonata no. 3, op. 36 − 2. Adagio, mesto (4:25)
- Piano Sonata no. 3, op. 36 − 3. Assai vivace scherzando (0:50)
- Piano Sonata no. 3, op. 36 − 4. Fuga: allegro moderato scherzando e buffo (5:50)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 1 Sostenuto molto rubato (1:57)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 2 Allegramente poco vivace (2:13)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 3 Moderato (2:30)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 4 Allegramente risoluto (2:30)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 5 Moderato (2:33)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 6 Vivace (1:56)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 7 Poco vivace (1:45)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 8 Moderato non troppo (2:54)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 9 Tempo moderato (3:24)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 10 Allagramente, vivace, con brio (2:40)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 11 Allegretto (1:28)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 12 Allegro moderato (3:25)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 13 Moderato (3:20)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 14 Animato (1:54)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 15 Allegretto dolce (2:39)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 16 Allegramente vigoroso (3:33)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 17 Moderato (2:25)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 18 Vivace agitato (2:48)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 19 Poco vivace (1:18)
- 20 Mazurkas, op. 50 − No. 20 Allegramente con brio (2:49)
- Impromptu in F minor, D. 935 no. 4 (4:03)
- Four Polish Dances − No. 1 Mazurek (1:04)
- Four Polish Dances − No. 2 Krakowiak (1:22)
- Four Polish Dances − No. 3 Oberek (3:26)
- Four Polish Dances − No. 4 Polonaise (3:08)
- Two Mazurkas, op. 62 − No. 1 Allegretto grazioso (2:47)
- Two Mazurkas, op. 62 − No. 2 Moderato (3:12)
Reviews
“South Korea’s Lee Sinae proves to be, with English Raymond Clarke, the ideal interpreter of the piano music of Szymanowski. What is striking about this pianist is the meticulous attention with which she faces every piece (not for nothing that the thesis for her master’s degree in musicology has been dedicated to the work of this Polish composer). An album really ideal for those who like the great pianists of the twentieth century. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
” —Andrea Bedetti
“Sinae Lee certainly has the technical ability to master this repertory… she projects the music with a real sense of forward momentum and intensity… managing to bring welcome transparency of texture to the involved contrapuntal layering. Performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sound ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
” —Erik Levi
“There is no excuse for hesitation… a truly rewarding experience. Jaw-droppingly good with a delivery that is staggering in its ability to bring out the nuances within the music. Wonderful and seemingly effortless control, immaculate phrasing and beautiful coloration, resulting in performances I’ve never heard equalled.
” —Steve Arloff
“To hear the sound universe of Szymanowski in all its splendour, one needs the love and sensitivity of Korean pianist Sinae Lee, who offers this new performance in a brilliant recording on Divine Art. The result, quite simply is that everything here runs admirably right from the beginning and is quite simply extraordinary.
” —Michel Tibbaut
“This astounding set is as essential a purchase as the acclaimed Simon Rattle/EMI recordings of the orchestral works, and it is the most important collection ever to have been released of Szymanowski’s piano music. Sinae Lee’s release sets new standards for the performance of Szymanowski’s piano music, and her quest for accuracy has not in any way inhibited her playing’s wonderful sense of spontaneity. I am confident that any listeners responsive to late-Romantic music who buy this superb set will share my enthusiasm for it.
” —Raymond Clarke
“Lee is the choice…her fingers are as clever as her brain… Sinae Lee’s is the complete version to have
” —Marius Dawn
“A terrific survey of Szymanowski’s works… Lee’s sensitive and probing performances of Szymanowski provide a marvellous, fulfilling and informative way to spend four hours
” —David Lewis
“A young pianist unfazed by the exotic and complex demands… Lee’s command and lucidity are unfaltering… she is as true to the spirit as to the letter of every bar. Unflagging brio and refinement…an astonishing achievement
” —Bryce Morrison
