On their fifth recording for cpo, the young and award-winning Piano Duo Genova & Dimitrov present piano music by Muzio Clementi, whose important position as a composer in the history of piano music is undisputed and who has often been unjustly recognized only as a pedagogue and virtuoso. Of his oeuvre for piano, the works for piano four hands and for two pianos occupy only a small portion and all come from his early creative period. Of the total of nine sonatas, the self-confident individualists Aglika Genova and Liuben Dimitrov have now recorded seven. Whereas in the five sonatas for piano four hands opp. 3, 1-3, 6, 1 and 14, 3 Clementi was still rather exploring voice leading and expressive ranges, in the sonatas for two pianos op. 1a and 12 he makes much greater use of echo effects and contrasts through alternating solo playing. Once again, this repertoire is interpreted in a vital, pointed and brief manner by the Bulgarian piano duo on Seiler grand pianos.
Works:
•Clementi: Sonatas Op. 14/3, 3/1, 3/2, 6/1 & 3/3 for piano four hands
• Clementi: Sonatas Op. 1a & 12 for two pianos