Catalogue

Summary:

“Sarah Beth Briggs’s performance conveys thoughtful dynamic contrasts and a stylistic purity … one must acknowledge her understated poise and superb finger legato in the [Schubert] Andante … Briggs sheds her inhibitions and dons her most characterful and imaginative pianistic garb for the three Hans Gál preludes … And speaking of microphones, Briggs and her piano benefit from robust, full-bodied sound.” – Gramophone

“Sarah Beth Briggs, a consistent champion of Gál’s music … In the sparkling clarity of Briggs’s performance, the opening Vivacissimo lives up to its tempo marking … Briggs’s Haydn is similarly arresting.”★★★★ – John Allison, BBC Music Magazine

“Lyricism and dance are the watchwords of Briggs’ beautifully prepared performances…a player at the height of her powers” ★★★★★ – Musical Opinion

“Briggs’ interpretations can certainly bear comparison with any and her programme is unique and illuminating” – Guy Rickards

“The final Presto, passionate and elusive, gives another opportunity to become all ears for this very Austrian musical journey, to marvel at the stylistic range of the programme offered, and to also say thank you for this beautiful and important musical declaration of love to Hans Gál by the outstanding pianist Sarah Beth Briggs.” – Dr Ingobert Waltenberger, OnlineMerker.com

“Briggs’ playing has all the prerequisite warmth and eloquence, and her phrasing is imaginative and characterful…The release gets my enthusiastic endorsement.” – Stephen Greenbank, MusicWebInternational.com

“There is chiarscuro and drama aplenty here too, and once again, these emotional voltes faces are handled with an eloquent sensitivity… a varied and stimulating Austrian musical journey”- Frances Wilson, ArtMuseLondon.com

“The opening movement of Schubert’s A major Piano Sonata (D664) is bewitching: shapely phrasing, sensitive touch, and attentively yet naturally dynamic. This is a lovely performance overall, soulful in the slow movement, frolicsome and feisty in the Finale.” - Colin Anderson, Colin’s Column

“An enjoyable “recital disc”, which takes the listener on a varied and stimulating Austrian musical journey.” - TheCrosseyedPianist.com

Much lauded for her interpretations of Hans Gál’s concerto and chamber music works, Sarah Beth Briggs presents the composer’s beguiling Three Preludes alongside well-loved works by three of his greatest Austrian forebears – Haydn, Mozart and Schubert. Following meticulous examination of the original scores, Briggs sensitively translates the authentic character of each work to the resources of a modern piano with revelatory results.

Tracklist:

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN (1732–1809)
1. Variations on Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser (7.28)

Piano Sonata in C, Hob. XVI/50 (15.25)
2. Allegro 6.33
3. Adagio 6.19
4. Allegro molto 2.33

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756–1791)
Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor, K. 310 (20.11)
5. Allegro maestoso 5.56
6. Andante cantabile con espressione 11.08
7. Presto 3.07

FRANZ SCHUBERT (1797–1828)
Piano Sonata in A, D. 664 (21.00)
8. Allegro moderato 8.09
9. Andante 5.14
10. Allegro 7.37

HANS GÁL (1890–1987)
Three Preludes, Op. 65 (1944) (9.28)
11. Vivacissimo 2.40
12. Lento e tranquillo 4.35
13. Presto grazioso e con anima 2.13

Total timing: 74.21

Sarah Beth Briggs, piano