Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
âšStep into the remarkable performance by the talented pianist Bogang Hwang. She will be showcasing significant piano works by BedĆich Smetana, featured in the Naxos Romantic Piano series.
Sparkling with distinctive character and inventiveness, Smetana's 'Czech Dances Book 1' elevates the humble polka to the level Chopin achieved with his mazurkas, while 'Book 2' was inspired by the old Moravian and Bohemian dances played to Smetana by his neighbour, a local amateur violinist. Coloured with Lisztian harmonic richness, the Piano Sonata in G minor combines Romantic expressiveness with puckish good humour.
đ¶Pre-order your copy now: naxos.lnk.to/8574718ID
đčDISCOVER the full Romantic Piano series:
naxos.lnk.to/NaxosRomanticPiano
#NewOnNaxos #BedĆichSmetana #BogangHwang #PianoWorks #Pianosonatas #RomanticPiano
***
Listen to Naxos playlists:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/user/naxosofficial
Apple Music: apple.co/2LPfG8G
Follow us:
Facebook: facebook.com/Naxos
Instagram: instagram.com/naxosmusic
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Website: naxos.com
âšStep into the remarkable performance by the talented pianist Bogang Hwang. She will be showcasing significant piano works by BedĆich Smetana, featured in the Naxos Romantic Piano series.
Sparkling with distinctive character and inventiveness, Smetana's 'Czech Dances Book 1' elevates the humble polka to the level Chopin achieved with his mazurkas, while 'Book 2' was inspired by the old Moravian and Bohemian dances played to Smetana by his neighbour, a local amateur violinist. Coloured with Lisztian harmonic richness, the Piano Sonata in G minor combines Romantic expressiveness with puckish good humour.
đ¶Pre-order your copy now: naxos.lnk.to/8574718ID
đčDISCOVER the full Romantic Piano series:
naxos.lnk.to/NaxosRomanticPiano
#NewOnNaxos #BedĆichSmetana #BogangHwang #PianoWorks #Pianosonatas #RomanticPiano
***
Listen to Naxos playlists:
Spotify: open.spotify.com/user/naxosofficial
Apple Music: apple.co/2LPfG8G
Follow us:
Facebook: facebook.com/Naxos
Instagram: instagram.com/naxosmusic
Twitter: twitter.com/Naxosrecords
Naxos Blog: blog.naxos.com
Website: naxos.com
![The Real Rococo Variations: Gabriel Schwabe & Christopher Ward on Tchaikovskyâs hidden versions [CC]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ypUOfKUnoXQ/mqdefault.jpg "The Real Rococo Variations: Gabriel Schwabe & Christopher Ward on Tchaikovskyâs hidden versions [CC]
Naxos artist Gabriel Schwabe and conductor Christopher Ward share their excitement about their new recording of Tchaikovskyâs cello works, featuring the Rococo Variations. In this vivid programme of Variations on a Rococo Theme and Pezzo capriccioso, the composerâs original intentions are restored after decades of altered editions.
Tchaikovsky wrote the Rococo Variations quickly, and Fitzenhagen gave the premiere in Moscow on 30 November 1877. The Rococo theme is by Tchaikovsky himself, though it was consciously written in the style of his beloved Mozart, with a classical orchestration featuring strings, winds, and horns. The cello theme showcases Romantic qualities, particularly in the Andante of the third variation, with flowing triplets in the first and a discussion of the motif in the second.
The album concludes with the rarely heard second version of the Romeo and Juliet fantasy overture, highlighting Schwabeâs rich tone and confident dialogue with the orchestra, performed by the Sinfonieorchester Aachen under Wards direction.
Discover now: https://Naxos.lnk.to/8574741ID
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZIkspURcYI
00:00 Introduction
00:27 Tchaikovskyâs connection to Aachen
00:36 Album programme overview
00:45 The Rococo Variations and the controversy over the version performed
01:47 Fitzenhagenâs alterations and how the familiar version came about
03:33 Why the original version matters
05:17 The pieceâs success and Tchaikovsky in Aachen
06:52 Tchaikovskyâs love of Mozart and its influence on the sound world
07:01 About Pezzo capriccioso
08:16 Comparing the pieces
12:35 Three shorter Tchaikovsky pieces in the programme
12:42 Nocturne and its origins as a piano piece
13:22 Valse sentimentale and the new string-orchestra arrangement
15:03 A personal arrangement: Violin Concertos slow movement
16:52 Why the programme works together
17:01 Romeo and Juliet, second version
17:34 Conclusion
***
Listen to Naxos playlists:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/naxosofficial
Apple Music: https://apple.co/2LPfG8G
Follow us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Naxos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naxosmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Naxosrecords
Naxos Blog: https://blog.naxos.com/
Website: https://www.naxos.com/")
