Czerny: Piano Music Vol. 2

Vienna-born Carl Czerny is primarily known—and notorious—for his countless pedagogical studies, of which there are literally hundreds. Yet his astonishing productivity—his catalogue reaches opus number 861 (and there are many more pieces)—has overshadowed the fact that he was a significant composer whose works build a natural bridge between Ludwig van Beethoven (his teacher) and Franz Liszt (his pupil), between the Classical and Romantic eras. The four pieces recorded here—two for two pianos and two for piano four-hands—were intended to impress the salons of Biedermeier Vienna. It is no coincidence that the titles of three of them contain the word "brilliant": Czerny's intention was to dazzle and to entertain in equal measure, and that is precisely what this sparkling music does.