GEORGE ENESCU (1881-1955): Piano Sonata No. 1 in F Sharp Minor, Op. 24/1, Suite No. 2 in D, Op. 10, Pièces impromptues, Op. 18, Nos. 6 & 7.

Catalogue Number: 11M065
Label: Naxos
Reference: 8.572120
Format: CD
Price: $11.98
Description: Enescu's only two sonatas are notable for their of their landscapes and mindscapes and the one here, dating from 1924 when he was also working on his opera dipe, is dark and serious, particularly the third movement whose aching nostalgia has a morbid quality to it. The Suite (1901-03), while still in the form of a four-movement suite of baroque dances, has all the glitter and style of the Paris where Enescu was living at the time. Since the Suite No. 3 was a collection of previously existing short pieces, presenting two of them by themselves, as here, makes perfect sense; the Carillon nocturne has very original tone colors and recreates the clangorous tone of large bells strikingly well. Matei Varga (piano).