Dussek: Complete Piano Sonatas & Sonatinas

Dussek: Complete Piano Sonatas & Sonatinas
Composer Johann Ladislaus Dussek
Artist Bart van Oort, Viviana Sofronitski, Petra Somlai, Wolfgang Brunner, Alexei Lubimov, Tuija Hakkila, Zvi Meniker, Ursula Dütschler, Piet Kuijken on period instruments
Format 10 CD
Cat. number 95503
EAN code 5028421955032
Release March 2024

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About this release

Johann Ladislaus Dussek (1760–1812) was regarded by his contemporaries as one of the foremost keyboard performers and composers of his age. Over a span of three decades, Dussek completed nearly 300 compositions, most of which involve a keyboard instrument. The sonata as a genre holds a special position in his overall oeuvre: keyboard sonatas were among his first published pieces in the early 1780s, and the sonata Op.77 in F minor was to be his last work before his death in 1812.

This set is the result of an extensive recording project using the combined resources of eight excellent fortepianists to produce the first comprehensive recording of Dussek’s keyboard sonatas on period instruments. Listeners are invited to take a journey through the brilliant, harmonically beautiful and expressive music of one of the most fascinating composers at the threshold of early Romanticism. While in modern times piano building has been largely standardised, 18th-century instruments were very personal works of art, and their construction differed from town to town and from builder to builder, and even within one builder’s output. The distance between cities as far apart as London and Vienna resulted in two distinct schools of piano building: the “English” and the “Viennese.”

The formidable array of both English and Viennese fortepianos played on this recording (see info below) provides listeners with a parallel journey, alongside through Dussek’s music, exploring the great tonal variety that existed amongst fortepianos in the composer’s day, with each instrument’s unique qualities matched to the differing characters of Dussek’s works.

Other information:
- Recordings date from 2017–2021
- Period instruments used include fortepianos by Longman, Clementi & Co. (London, 1797), (London, 1798) & (London, 1798/9); Chris Maene (Ruiselede, 2003, after Longman–Clementi, London, 1799), (Ruiselede, 2010, after Anton Walter); Robert Brown (Oberndorf, 2009, after Michael Rosenberger, Vienna, c.1810); John Broadwood & Son (London, 1804); Paul McNulty (after Anton Walter, 1792); Thomas & Barbara Wolf (Washington DC, 1983, after Johann Schanz, c.1800); anonymous Viennese 5-octave (c.1795/1800)
- Booklet in English contains a profile of the composer by Olga Witthauer and extensive liner notes on each of the discs, written by several of the performers.

- For the first time all in one 10-CD box: the complete Piano Sonatas and Sonatinas by Johann Ladislaus Dussek!
- Johann Ladislaus Dussek (1760-1812) was born in rural Bohemia. He led a restless life, travelling Europe as a keyboard virtuoso and settling in several European capitals, notably Paris and London, where he became a fashionable pianist and teacher.
- Dussek’s style is rich, harmonically expressive and pianistically challenging, Classicism on the brink of Early Romanticism.
- Played by 10 eminent and foremost pianists playing period instruments: Bart van Oort, Piet Kuijken, Alexei Lubimov, Tuija Hakkila, Wolfgang Brünner, Viviana Sofronitsky, Zvi Meniker,
- Ursula Dütschler and Petra Somlai, all of them experts in the field of historically informed performance practice.
- The single CD issued previously has received numerous excellent reviews in the press: Fanfare: ‘Bart van Oort, playing on a late 18th-century Longman Clementi instrument, serves up vital, energetic performances that draw the most from the music… Strongly recommended.’, ‘Uniformly adept performances… that illuminate the music’s characteristic disruptions without over-emphasizing them, and that capture the music’s emotional character (or, more accurately, characters) with impressive conviction.’ (Volume 4, 95604).

Listening

Track list

Disk 1

  1. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A Major, Op 10 No. 1 Craw 60: I. Allegro moderato
  2. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A Major, Op 10 No. 1 Craw 60: II. Adagio cantabile
  3. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A Major, Op 10 No. 1 Craw 60: III. Rondo. Allegro assai
  4. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 10 No. 2 Craw 61: I. Allegro moderato
  5. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Minor, Op. 10 No. 2 Craw 61: II. Vivace con spirito
  6. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 10 No. 3 Craw 62: I. Allegro maestoso ed moderato
  7. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 10 No. 3 Craw 62: II. Presto con fuoco
  8. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 31 No. 2 Craw 133: I. Allegro non tanto
  9. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 31 No. 2 Craw 133: II. Adagio con espressione
  10. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 31 No. 2 Craw 133: III. Pastorale. Allegro non troppo

Disk 2

  1. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 25 No. 2 Craw 127: I. Adagio maestoso – Presto
  2. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 25 No. 2 Craw 127: II. Larghetto
  3. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 25 No. 2 Craw 127: III. Rondo. Allegremente
  4. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 39 No. 1 Craw 166: I. Allegro
  5. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 39 No. 1 Craw 166: II. Andantino ma moderato e con espressione – Allegro ma non troppo
  6. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 39 No. 2 Craw 167: I. Allegro moderato
  7. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 39 No. 2 Craw 167: II. Andantino quasi larghetto
  8. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 39 No. 2 Craw 167: III. Rondo. Allegretto
  9. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 39 No. 3 Craw 168: I. Allegro con spirito
  10. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 39 No. 3 Craw 168: II. Rondo. Andante sostenuto cantabile

Disk 3

  1. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 44 Craw 178: I. Introduzione. Grave – Allegro moderato
  2. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 44 Craw 178: II. Molto adagio e sostenuto
  3. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 44 Craw 178: III. Tempo di menuetto piuttosto allegro
  4. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, Op. 44 Craw 178: IV. Rondo. Allegro moderato ed espressivo
  5. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 77 Craw 259: I. Allegro moderato, ma energico
  6. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 77 Craw 259: II. Tempo di menuetto. Con moto
  7. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 77 Craw 259: III. Adagio non troppo, ma solenne
  8. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in F Minor, Op. 77 Craw 259: IV. Rondo. Allegro moderato

Disk 4

  1. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major, Op. 5 No. 3 Craw 43: I. Allegro
  2. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major, Op. 5 No. 3 Craw 43: II. Rondo. Allegro non tanto, con spiritoso
  3. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 24 Craw 96: I. Allegro con spirito
  4. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 24 Craw 96: II. Rondo. Pastorale, allegretto moderato con espressione
  5. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 43 Craw 177: I. Allegro moderato con espressione
  6. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A Major, Op. 43 Craw 177: II. Rondo. Allegro
  7. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 61 Craw 211, “Elégie harmonique sur la mort de Louis Ferdinand”: I. Lento patetico – II. Tempo agitato non presto
  8. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 61 Craw 211, “Elégie harmonique sur la mort de Louis Ferdinand”: III. Tempo vivace e con fuoco quasi presto

Disk 5

  1. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A Minor, Op. 18 No. 2 Craw 80: I. Agitato assai
  2. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A Minor, Op. 18 No. 2 Craw 80: II. Rondo. Allegretto moderato
  3. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 45 No. 1 Craw 179: I. Allegro cantabile
  4. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 45 No. 1 Craw 179: II. Adagio patetico
  5. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 45 No. 1 Craw 179: III. Rondo scherzo. Allegro da ballo
  6. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 45 No. 2 Craw 180: I. Larghetto sostenuto – Allegro di molto
  7. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 45 No. 2 Craw 180: II. Rondo. Andantino con moto
  8. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 45 No. 3 Craw 181: I. Allegro moderato
  9. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 45 No. 3 Craw 181: II. Larghetto con moto
  10. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 45 No. 3 Craw 181: III. Rondo. Allegro moderato assai

Disk 6

  1. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata, Op. 9 No. 1 in B-Flat Major Craw 57: I. Allegro non tanto
  2. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata, Op. 9 No. 1 in B-Flat Major Craw 57: II. Rondo – Allegretto grazioso
  3. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata, Op. 9 No. 2 in C Major: I. Allegro con spirito
  4. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata, Op. 9 No. 2 in C Major: II. Larghetto con espressione
  5. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata, Op. 9 No. 2 in C Major: III. Presto assai
  6. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata, Op. 9 No. 3 in D Major: I. Allegro maestoso con espressione
  7. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata, Op. 9 No. 3 in D Major: II. Prestissimo
  8. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata, Op. 75 No. 3 in E-Flat Major: I. Allegro ma non troppo
  9. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata, Op. 75 No. 3 in E-Flat Major: II. Andante moderato
  10. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata, Op. 75 No. 3 in E-Flat Major: III. Rondo – allegro moderato grazioso

Disk 7

  1. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 47 No. 1: I. Allegro con spirito
  2. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 47 No. 1: II. Adagio sostenuto ed espressivo
  3. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 47 No. 1: III. Rondo a la Militaire. Allegretto moderato
  4. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 47 No. 2: I. Allegro ma moderato ed espressivo
  5. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 47 No. 2: II. Rondo con espressivo. Andantino con moto
  6. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major, Op. 64 Craw 221: I. Allegro non troppo ed espressivo
  7. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major, Op. 64 Craw 221: II. Molto adagio, con anima ed espressione
  8. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major, Op. 64 Craw 221: III. Tempo di minuetto, scherzo. Quasi allegro
  9. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in A-Flat Major, Op. 64 Craw 221: IV. Finale. Scherzo, allegro con spirito

Disk 8

  1. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 14 No. 1 Craw 71: I. Allegro
  2. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 14 No. 1 Craw 71: II. Andante poco larghetto
  3. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 14 No. 1 Craw 71: III. Air Russe. Rondo. Allegretto non troppo
  4. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 14 No. 2 Craw 72: I. Larghetto con espressione
  5. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 14 No. 2 Craw 72: II. Molto allegro
  6. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 14 No. 3 Craw 73: I. Allegro
  7. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in F Major, Op. 14 No. 3 Craw 73: II. Rondo. Allegretto
  8. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Sonate pour le clavecin où le Forte-Piano in G Major, WoO, Craw 40: I. Larghetto col espressione
  9. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Sonate pour le clavecin où le Forte-Piano in G Major, WoO, Craw 40: II. Allegro

Disk 9

  1. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 35 No. 1 Craw 149: I. Allegro moderato e maestoso
  2. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 35 No. 1 Craw 149: II. Finale. Allegro non troppo ma con spirito
  3. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 35 No. 2 Craw 150: I. Allegro
  4. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in G Major, Op. 35 No. 2 Craw 150: II. Rondo. Molto allegro con espressione
  5. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 35 No. 3 Craw 151: I. Allegro agitato assai
  6. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 35 No. 3 Craw 151: II. Adagio patetico ed espressione
  7. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 35 No. 3 Craw 151: III. Intermezzo
  8. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 35 No. 3 Craw 151: IV. Finale. Molto allegro
  9. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 69 No. 3 Craw 242: I. Allegro maestoso e brillante
  10. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 69 No. 3 Craw 242: II. Larghetto espressivo
  11. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 69 No. 3 Craw 242: III. Finale. Chasse, allegro scherzo

Disk 10

  1. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: I. Allegro non troppo in C Major, Craw 106
  2. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: II. Andante sostenuto in F Major, Craw 107
  3. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: III. Rondo a la turca in F Major, Craw 108
  4. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: IV. Molto allegro in F Major, Craw 109
  5. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: V. The Empress of Russia’s Favourite Air with Variations in C Major, Craw 110
  6. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: VI. Pollaca in F Major, Craw 111
  7. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: VII. Allegro vivace in B-Flat Major, Craw 112
  8. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: VIII. In the Dead of the Night, a Favourite English Song with Variations in G Major, Craw 113
  9. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: IX. Oak Stick, a Scotch Reel arranged as a Rondo in B-Flat Major, Craw 114
  10. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: X. Con spirito in G Major, Craw 115
  11. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: XI. Romanella in G minor, Craw 116
  12. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 12 Progressive Lessons, Op. 32: XII. La retreta, an Original Spanish quick March arranged as a Rondo in G Major, Craw 117
  13. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 6 Sonatinas for the Piano Forte, Op. 20: I. Allegro non tanto – Rondo. Allegretto. Tempo di minuettoin G Major, Craw 88
  14. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 6 Sonatinas for the Piano Forte, Op. 20: II. Allegretto quasi andante – Rondo. Non presto in C Major, Craw 89
  15. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 6 Sonatinas for the Piano Forte, Op. 20: III. Allegro quasi presto – Rondo. Andantino, con espressione in F Major, Craw 90
  16. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 6 Sonatinas for the Piano Forte, Op. 20: IV. Moderato – Menuetto. Tempo di ballo in A Major, Craw 91
  17. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 6 Sonatinas for the Piano Forte, Op. 20: V. Allegro moderato – Rondo. Allegro moderato in C Major, Craw 92
  18. Johann Ladislaus Dussek: 6 Sonatinas for the Piano Forte, Op. 20: VI. Allegro – Rondo. Allegretto in E-Flat Major, Craw 93