Hyperion has already given us a very fine recording of the Moscheles piano concertos and this equally distinctive collection of the composer's Concert Studies is very welcome.
Lane plays the Characteristic Studies, Op. 95 with a connived verve and astounding keyboard technique that show his prowess in such hard repertoire. Each of the twelve pieces is informed with passion and feeling and his is most definitely music that comes alive with a characterful interpretation. These are also arguably Moscheles' masterpiece.
The rest of the disc also contains some fine music that is also splendidly played by this genial Australian pianist. The Two Etudes, Op. 98 are overlooked gems as are the Op. 105 pieces, a particularly effective Allegro feroce having Lane in his element.
I also enjoyed the Grandes Etudes which are also highly regarded and are again full of interpretative and stylistic features that demonstrate the composer's prowess. The final Grande Etude is also a miniature gem.
Those who are fans of great barnstorming piano works will most definitely warm to this disc which is expertly annotated and scintillatingly interpreted from first note to last.
Copyright © 2004, Gerald Fenech