{"product_id":"ian-pace-michael-finnissy-piano-works-compact-discs","title":"Ian Pace: Michael Finnissy: Piano Works - COMPACT DISCS","description":"\u003cb\u003eTitle: \u003c\/b\u003eMichael Finnissy: Piano Works\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eArtist: \u003c\/b\u003eIan Pace\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eLabel: \u003c\/b\u003eMetier\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eProduct Type: \u003c\/b\u003eCOMPACT DISCS\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eUPC: \u003c\/b\u003e809730740220\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eGenre: \u003c\/b\u003eClassical Artists\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eRelease Date: \u003c\/b\u003e2025-10-03\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \u003cb\u003eNumber of Discs: \u003c\/b\u003e4\u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \n                                         \u003cbr\u003e\n                                         \n                                         \n                                         Métier presents a landmark 4-disc box set from pianist Ian Pace in commanding performances of music by composer Michael Finnissy (b. 1946). Finnissy is widely regarded as one of Britain's most important living composers. Pace, one of the leading interpreters of Finnissy's work, presents an album focused around Finnissy's epic cycle for piano, The Verdi Transcriptions, alongside the second complete recording (after the composer's own) of the iconic English Country-Tunes, and works inspired by music of the late-18th and 19th centuries. The result is a broad view of Finnissy's extensive output of piano music in relation to Romantic aesthetics. The album is released in anticipation of the Métier label's upcoming celebrations of Michael Finnissy's 80th birthday in 2026. Finnissy's four-book cycle of Verdi Transcriptions reimagines Verdi's operas through a modern lens. As Finnissy states in his liner notes: \"Transcribing sound into a written form (notation) involves making significant choices. The choices can color the ongoing exploration of that sound as 'composition.'\" The result of those choices is a monumental, late-Romantic epic. Finnissy's English Country-Tunes has long been considered one of his signature and most technically demanding cycles. There is a similar line of composition through transcription as The Verdi Transcriptions, only in these works the source material is English folk music. Written in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee, the work can also be seen as a commentary on the spirit of British patriotism at the time. Ian Pace's readings reflect decades of study: he first performed English Country-Tunes in the 1990s and has played Finnissy's complete piano oeuvre in cycles (1996 and 2016). The set includes extensive liner notes by both Pace and Finnissy, offering rare insight into the compositional ideas and performance choices behind these demanding works. In Pace's recording of Michael Finnissy's other epic piano cycle, The History of Photography in Sound (MSV 77501), BBC Music raved: \"Pace's intimate acquaintance with the totality of History is apparent in his commanding performance... this is a magnificent achievement for both composer and performer,\" and Gramophone hailed Pace as \"Finnissy's David Bailey, each note shaded to perfection, structures translucently and sharply lit, defining sonic images of our time.\" Incomparable virtuoso, called the Paganini of the harp, Félix Godefroid was also a composer and teacher. This recording, performed by Sophie Hallynck, highlights the composer's studies in high virtuosity. Designed for his own use and that of professionals, they partake of both \"absolute music\" - as with the deservedly famous Étude in B-Flat Minor, Op. 193 - and the character piece, picturesque or sentimental. These musical miniatures are pieces overflowing with musicality in a refined style, but they express a pedagogical program first and foremost. Godefroid conceived of his études as a true school for harpists. Each technical problem becomes the medium for a musical expression - an approach that gives these études exceptional richness and relevance. Often based on one of those melodies for which Godefroid had such a knack, each one is set apart by a strongly marked expressive character, ranging from laughter to tears, as well as by it's structure, rhythm, novel sonorities, and harmonic surprises not lacking in audacity. Sophie Hallynck has risen to the technical challenges specific to each étude while staying faithful to the spirit of the era, with the aspiration to achieve a subtle balance between virtuosity and expression. Her essential objective has always been to make technique live through music, without ever obscuring that emotion that emanates from it. Shostakovich composed music for film throughout his life, from his teenage years as a pianist accompanying silent films in Leningrad until the early 1970s. New Babylon provoked a political and artistic storm upon it's release in 1929 but remains one of Shostakovich's finest film scores, performed here complete and uncut. Popular favorites The Gadfly and Hamlet are heard in premiere recordings of the complete scores. Also included is the music for Alone, The Girlfriends, Love and Hate, and The Fall of Berlin in premiere recordings that have garnered international critical acclaim. \"This composer of the New Complexity movement admires avant-jazz. He also digs 19th-century classics. So, when adapting Verdi, he does it via the spirit of Cecil Taylor. Near the midpoint of Finnissy's \"La Traviata\" potpourri, you'll find dense fireworks as well as tenderness deriving from a motif Verdi once assigned to Violetta.\" - Seth Colter Walls, NYT\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTracks:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1.1 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 1~I. Aria: 'Sciagurata! a questo lido ricercai l'amante infido!', Oberto (Act 2) \u003cbr\u003e1.2 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 1~II. Trio: 'Bella speranza in vero', Un giorno di regno (Act 1) \u003cbr\u003e1.3 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 1~III. Chorus: 'Il maledetto non ha fratelli', Nabucco (Part 2) \u003cbr\u003e1.4 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 1~IV. Chorus: 'Fra tante sciagure ... ', I Lombardi (Act 3) \u003cbr\u003e1.5 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 1~V. Septet with Chorus: 'Vedi come il buon vegliardo ... ', Ernani (Part 1) \u003cbr\u003e1.6 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 1~VI. Choral Barcarolle: 'Tace il vento, è queta l'onda', I Due Foscari (Act 3) \u003cbr\u003e1.7 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 1~VII. Aria: 'So che per via di triboli', Giovanna d'Arco (Act 1) \u003cbr\u003e1.8 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 1~VIII. Duet: 'Il pianto ... l'angoscia ... di lean mi priva', Alzira (Act 2) \u003cbr\u003e1.9 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 1~IX. Aria: 'Mentre gonfiarsi l'Anima', Attila (Act 1) \u003cbr\u003e1.10 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 2~X. Duetto: 'Vanitosi! Che abietti e dormenti', Attila (Prologo) \u003cbr\u003e1.11 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 2~XI. Coro: 'Patria oppressa! Il dolce nome ... ', Macbeth (Act 4, 1847 version) \u003cbr\u003e1.12 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 2~XII. Duetto: 'Qual mare, qual terra .... ', I masnadieri (Parte Terza) \u003cbr\u003e1.13 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 2~XIII. Récit et Duo: 'Non, ce bruit, ce n'est rien ... ', Jérusalem (Act 1) \u003cbr\u003e1.14 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 2~XIV. Romanza: 'Non so le tetre immagini', Il Corsaro (Act 1) \u003cbr\u003e1.15 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 2~XV. Inno di Vittoria: 'Dall'Alpi a Caridi echeggi vittoria!', La Battaglia di Legnano (Act 4) \u003cbr\u003e1.16 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 2~XVI. Scena e Quartetto: 'Rea fucina d'empie frodi ... ', Luisa Miller (Act 2) \u003cbr\u003e1.17 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 2~XVII. Duetto: 'Opposto é il calle che in avvenire', Stiffelio (Act 3) \u003cbr\u003e1.18 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 2~XVIII. Scena e Coro: 'Vendetta del pazzo! Contr'esso un rancore', Rigoletto (Act 1) \u003cbr\u003e1.19 Five Yvaroperas~Yvaropera 1 \u003cbr\u003e1.20 Five Yvaroperas~Yvaropera 2 \u003cbr\u003e1.21 Five Yvaroperas~Yvaropera 3 \u003cbr\u003e1.22 Five Yvaroperas~Yvaropera 4 \u003cbr\u003e1.23 Five Yvaroperas~Yvaropera 5 \u003cbr\u003e2.1 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 3~XIX. Canzone: 'La donna è mobile', Rigoletto (Act 3) \u003cbr\u003e2.2 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 3~XX. Duo: 'Vivra! Contende il giubilo', Il trovatore (Act 4, scene 1) \u003cbr\u003e2.3 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 3~XXI. Duetto: 'È nulla, sai?', La traviata (Act 3) \u003cbr\u003e2.4 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 3~XXII. Bolero: 'Merci, jeunes amies, d'un souvenir si doux!', Les vêpres siciliennes (Act 5, scene 2) \u003cbr\u003e2.5 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 3~XXIII. Scena: 'Tradimento!', Simon Boccanegra (Finale dell'Atto Primo, 1857 version) \u003cbr\u003e2.6 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 3~XXIV. Coro, Burrasca e Finale: 'Allora che gl'anni', Aroldo (Act 4) \u003cbr\u003e2.7 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 3~XXV. Stretta: 'Ogni cura si doni al diletto', Un ballo di maschera (Act 1) \u003cbr\u003e2.8 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 3~XXVI. Romanza: 'Me pellegrina ed orfano', La forza del destino (Act 1) \u003cbr\u003e2.9 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 3~XXVII. Aria: (a) 'Trionfai! Securi alfino' (1847), (b) 'La luce langue' (1864-5), Macbeth (Act 2) \u003cbr\u003e2.10 English Country-Tunes~Green Meadows \u003cbr\u003e2.11 English Country-Tunes~Midsummer Morn \u003cbr\u003e2.12 English Country-Tunes~I'Il give my love a garland \u003cbr\u003e2.13 English Country-Tunes~May and December \u003cbr\u003e2.14 English Country-Tunes~Lies and Marvels \u003cbr\u003e2.15 English Country-Tunes~The seeds of love \u003cbr\u003e2.16 English Country-Tunes~My bonny boy \u003cbr\u003e2.17 English Country-Tunes~Come beat the drums and sound the fifes \u003cbr\u003e3.1 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 4~XXVIII. Chorus: 'S'allontanarono! N'accozzeremo', Macbeth (Act 1) \u003cbr\u003e3.2 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 4~XXIX. (a) Duo: 'Restez! Auprès de ma personne' (Acte II, Tableau II); (b) Duo: 'J'ai tout compris' (Acte IV, Tableau I), Don Carlos (1866-7) \u003cbr\u003e3.3 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 4~XXX. Romanza: 'O cieli azzuri ... ', Aida (Act 3) \u003cbr\u003e3.4 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 4~XXXI. String Quartet: (a) III. Prestissimo, (b) IV. Scherzo fuga \u003cbr\u003e3.5 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 4~XXXII. Aria: 'Cielo, pietoso, rendila', Simon Boccanegra (Act 2) \u003cbr\u003e3.6 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 4~XXXIII. Aria: 'Tu che la vanità conoscesti', Don Carlo (Act 5) \u003cbr\u003e3.7 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 4~XXXIV. (a) Ballet No. 3: 'Chanson Grecque' (Cancone Greca); (b) Scena: 'Una gran nube turba', Otello (Act 3, Finale) \u003cbr\u003e3.8 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 4~XXXV. 'Brava! Quelle corna saranno la mio gioia!', Falstaff (Act 3, Part 1) \u003cbr\u003e3.9 Verdi Transcriptions for piano, Book 4~XXXVI. I. 'Requiem Aeternam', Messa da Requiem \u003cbr\u003e4.1 Romeo and Juliet are Drowning \u003cbr\u003e4.2 William Billings \u003cbr\u003e4.3 Beethoven's Robin Adair~Beethoven's Robin Adair 1 \u003cbr\u003e4.4 Beethoven's Robin Adair~Beethoven's Robin Adair 2 \u003cbr\u003e4.5 Beethoven's Robin Adair~Beethoven's Robin Adair 3 \u003cbr\u003e4.6 Beethoven's Robin Adair~Beethoven's Robin Adair 4 \u003cbr\u003e4.7 Beethoven's Robin Adair~Beethoven's Robin Adair 5 \u003cbr\u003e4.8 Beethoven's Robin Adair~Beethoven's Robin Adair 6 \u003cbr\u003e4.9 Beethoven's Robin Adair~Beethoven's Robin Adair 7 \u003cbr\u003e4.10 Rossini \u003cbr\u003e4.11 Preambule zu \"Carnaval\", gefolgt von der ersten und zweiten symphonischen Etüde nach Schumann~Preambule zu Carnaval \u003cbr\u003e4.12 Preambule zu \"Carnaval\", gefolgt von der ersten und zweiten symphonischen Etüde nach Schumann~Symphonische Etude 1 \u003cbr\u003e4.13 Preambule zu \"Carnaval\", gefolgt von der ersten und zweiten symphonischen Etüde nach Schumann~Symphonische Etude 2 \u003cbr\u003e4.14 What the meadow-flowers tell me \u003cbr\u003e4.15 Brahms-Lieder~1 \u003cbr\u003e4.16 Brahms-Lieder~2 \u003cbr\u003e4.17 Brahms-Lieder~3 \u003cbr\u003e4.18 Brahms-Lieder~4 \u003cbr\u003e4.19 Strauss-Walzer~Wo die Zitronen blühn \u003cbr\u003e4.20 Strauss-Walzer~O, schöner Mai \u003cbr\u003e4.21 Strauss-Walzer~Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Ian Pace","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41977371263047,"sku":"45355387","price":45.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2976\/0132\/files\/4442616-3418382.jpg?v=1757155232","url":"https:\/\/tower.com\/products\/ian-pace-michael-finnissy-piano-works-compact-discs","provider":"Tower Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}