Beethoven Festival
Here what belongs together is brought together. On the “Manfred Bürki” Steinway concert grand, built in 1901 and today a piano legend, the Trenkner-Speidel Piano Duo presents Ludwig van Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony in the interpretation by Xaver Schwarwenka, who must have been waiting for such a perfect instrument for his progressive and opulent piano texture. Moreover, this CD presents Beethoven’s own arrangement of the Great Fugue. With boundless energy Evelinde Trenkner and Sontraud Speidel celebrate an enthralling and stirring Beethoven festival.

Virtuosic Reach
As a composer and a musician respected as the world’s leading piano virtuoso of the nineteenth century, Xaver Scharwenka knew precisely how to reach the public. The exuberant 6/8 time of the first movement immediately makes listeners want to get up and dance. There is more to his piano arrangement than what this name might suggest; it is an original pianistic and extremely demanding interpretation of the score. And the overall result? A brilliant and interesting display of instrumental sound and rhythm? That – and much more!

Voluntary Rendering
The Great Fugue, one of Beethoven’s last works, poses many a riddle. The master must have had realized this because he penned the version for piano four hands on his own. This is extremely unusual, for he mostly only grudgingly agreed to have others produce arrangements of his works in order to promote their sales. In this rendering, the fugue, often difficult to comprehend, is much easier to grasp; finely ramified structures come clearly into view, gnarled themes begin to develop percussive swing, and the enormous dynamic breadth produces an unexpected tonal gain.

Seventh Heaven
Evelinde Trenkner and Sontraud Speidel number among the few piano duos who are at all able to endow such intricate scores with musical life. The two women even resort to artistic moves (they have to play some passages while standing – since otherwise their hands and arms would become entangled!), which is possible only because of their many years as a team and the mutual trust they have developed. With this Super Audio CD in MDG’s 2+2+2 recording technique you have a front-row seat and a ticket to audio heaven.