Melnikov, Alexander / Fantasie – 7 composers, 7 Keyboards

J.S. BACH, C.P.E.BACH, MOZART, MENDELSSOHN, CHOPIN, BUSONI, SCHNITTKE
Alexander Melnikov (harpsichord/fortepiano/tangent piano/piano)

Harmonia Mundi France, 2023

3149020947111

Bach, J S: Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue in D minor, BWV903  12:01 (harpsichord)

Bach, C P E: Fantasia in F-Sharp Minor, Wq. 67  11:18 (tangent piano)

Mozart: Fantasia in C minor, K396  2:54 (Walther fortepiano)

Mozart: Fantasia in D minor, K397  5:47 (Walther fortepiano)

Mendelssohn: Fantasia in F sharp minor, Op. 28  13:01 (Graf fortepiano)

Chopin: Fantasia in F minor, Op. 49  11:17 (Érard piano)

Busoni: Fantasia in modo antico Op. 33b No. 4  5:51 (Bechstein piano)

Schnittke: Improvisation and Fugue  6:07 (Steinway piano)

⁠The Russian pianist performs seven fantasias by composers from JS Bach to Schnittke on seven historically-appropriate instruments, including an extraordinary tangent piano from 1790 and two fortepianos from his own personal collection. A lover of historical keyboard instruments, Alexander Melnikov has already successfully met the challenge of exploring ‘Four Pieces, Four Pianos’ on disc and in concert back in 2018. Today, he has chosen to perform seven emblematic works of the fantasia genre on harpsichord, fortepiano, tangent piano, early grands, and so on. In this journey through the keyboards of time, we can discover these pieces as they sounded at the time of their creation, but also grasp the invisible thread that links them to each other.