Romantic Discoveries Recordings

Bruckner: Symphony no. 5 transcribed for solo piano by August Stradal
(first recording)
John Kersey, piano
RDR CD149

Total time: 77 minutes 8 seconds.

Anton Bruckner (1824-96) Symphony no. 5 in B flat major, WAB 105 transcribed for solo piano by August Stradal (1860-1930)

1. Adagio-Allegro (00:00)
2. Adagio (23:09)
3. (Scherzo) Molto vivace (41:04)
4. (Finale) Adagio-Allegro (52:47)

Artwork: Landscape in the moonlight by Carl Johan Fahlcrantz (1774-1861)

August Stradal was a Czech pupil of Bruckner and also studied piano with Liszt and Leschetizky. He was known for his ability to perform the most technically demanding piano works of Liszt, and made piano transcriptions of Liszt’s symphonic poems. He transcribed five of Bruckner’s symphonies for solo piano, following the performing versions prepared by fellow Bruckner pupil Franz Schalk.

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Bruckner: Symphony no. 7 transcribed for solo piano by Cyrill Hynais
(first complete recording)
John Kersey, piano
RDR CD148

Total time: 65 minutes 41 seconds.

Anton Bruckner (1824-96) Symphony no. 7 in E major, WAB 107 transcribed for solo piano by Cyrill Hynais (1862-1913)

1. Allegro moderato (00:00)
2. Adagio: Sehr feierlich, aber nicht schleppend (In memoriam +Richard Wagner, 13 February 1883.) (18:28)
3. Scherzo: Sehr schnell (42:42)
4. Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell (52:59)

John Kersey, piano

Artwork: Max Brückner and Otto Henning – Final scene of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung

Cyrill Hynais was a pupil and friend of Bruckner. He transcribed three of Bruckner’s symphonies for solo piano. This is the first complete recording of his transcription of the Seventh.

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