Louise Farrenc Complete Piano Works

Part 4 of 6 with world premiere recordings of Louise Farrenc's piano works. Farrenc's piano works have been neglected until now and this complete edition should have been released long ago. This is evident from even more world premieres on this cd. Louise Farrenc was one of the most respected pianists, composers and teachers in the Parisian music scene of her time and earned the admiration of Robert Schumann. Her variation cycles are considered some of the most important pieces she composed for piano. On this album Farrenc draws inspiration from the famous bel canto operas of Bellini and Donizetti and from popular melodies and dances heard in the fashionable salons of 19th-century Paris. Maria Stratigou continues her acclaimed exploration of Farrenc's complete works for piano. She studied at the Conservatory of Athens, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Northern College of Music, where she completed her dissertation "Performance Aspects of Louise Farrenc's Piano Etudes". She is currently lecturer (performance) at the University of Sheffield. Stratigou has given lectures and performed at numerous international conferences on this subject. She has performed throughout Europe and has been distinguished with numerous prestigious awards.