Farrenc: Complete Piano Works Vol. 4

This is the fourth volume in the world premiere recording of Louise Farrenc’s complete piano works. While Louise Farrenc is represented in record catalogues, her piano works have been neglected, and a complete edition of her piano music is widely considered to be long overdue. This is confirmed by further world premiere recordings included in this fourth volume, which completes both parts of Farrenc’s "Theme and Variations" cycles. Louise Farrenc was one of the most respected pianists, composers, and teachers on the Parisian music scene of her time and earned the admiration of Robert Schumann. Her "Theme and Variations" cycles are considered among the most significant pieces she composed for piano. On this album, Farrenc draws inspiration from the famous bel canto operas of Bellini and Donizetti, as well as from popular melodies and dances that would have been heard in the fashionable salons of 19th-century Paris. Maria Stratigou continues her acclaimed exploration of Farrenc’s complete piano works. She studied at the Athens Conservatoire, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the Royal Northern College of Music, where she completed her doctoral thesis, "Performance Aspects of Louise Farrenc’s Piano Études." She is currently a lecturer (performance) at the University of Sheffield. Stratigou has given lectures and lecture-recitals on this topic at numerous international conferences. She has performed throughout Europe and has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards.