Etsuko Hirose: The Complete Denon Recordings 2003-2007 (4CD)

Acclaimed early recordings by star pianist Etsuko Hirose are finally brought together in a magnificent 4-CD box set!

Etsuko Hirose is one of the most dazzling Japanese piano virtuosos of her generation. The legendary Martha Argerich herself has described Hirose as “an exceptionally gifted and brilliant musician.” The Danish label Danacord has now collected Hirose’s highly regarded early-career recordings—originally made for the Japanese Denon label—in a single set. Offering nearly five hours of music, the collection has received enthusiastic praise from the international music press, including Gramophone and MusicWeb International—and deservedly so.

This box set is a genuine treat for lovers of Romantic repertoire and great piano music. It offers performances of works that are technically extraordinarily demanding, yet played with profound sensitivity, subtlety and nuance.

Four themed CDs take the listener on a journey through some of the most demanding masterpieces in the piano repertoire:

• Brilliant ballet transcriptions: Highlights include Mikhail Pletnev’s magnificent piano arrangements from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and Igor Stravinsky’s fiendishly difficult Three Movements from Petrushka.

• The colours of France and Russia: Maurice Ravel’s intoxicating La Valse is paired with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s brilliant early work Morceaux de fantaisie, Op. 3.

• The great Romantics: Robert Schumann’s monumental Fantasie in C major appears alongside Franz Liszt’s ingenious transcriptions of works by Schubert and Wagner, including the dramatic Erlkönig.

• Virtuosity at its peak—Chopin and Alkan: Frédéric Chopin’s moving Funeral March Sonata and 12 Études, Op. 25 are complemented by Charles-Valentin Alkan’s rarely heard and technically formidable works Le vent and Le festin d’Ésope.

This elegant release is a perfect addition to any classical-music collection and a wonderful opportunity to discover Hirose’s phenomenal touch.

FORMAT: 4xCD