SIGISMUND THALBERG (1812-1871): 12 Études, Op. 26, Fantaisie sur des thèmes de l'opéra Moise de G. Rossini, Op. 33, Fantaisie sur des motifs de La Donna del Lago, Op. 40.

Description: A little more Thalberg leaks out now and then, adding to our knowledge of the pianist excoriated by Liszt for being, well, not Liszt. Thalberg's metier was cantabile playing, an extremely nuanced style and a very soft touch on the keys, all in the service of reproducing the Rossinian and Bellinian bel canto arias he so loved as faithfully as the piano would allow. His op. 26 etudes move somewhat away from this and into virtuosic performance practice but without ever entirely abandoning tonally nuanced melodic presentation. Stefan Irmer (1901 Steinway D).