But following Godowsky's death in 1938, his compositions were largely ignored until the year 2000, when super-virtuoso pianists such as Marc-André Hamelin and Boris Berezovsky began to record and perform his works in concert.

Ivan Ilić is the latest pianist to rise to the formidable challenge. His album focuses on the 22 Studies for the left hand alone, considered among the most difficult pieces ever written for the instrument.

But there is a poetry in Ilić's interpretations which makes one forget the difficulty, and allows the listener to bask in Godowsky's rich, dark re-working of Chopin's masterpieces.

This album is a tour de force of virtuosity and musicianship.

- Daily Telegraph Classical CD of the Week
- Classique News Top 5 CD of the Month

"A major achievement"
BBC Radio 3

1. Study no5 in D flat major Tristesse (L Godowsky)
2. Study no2 in D flat major Triumphant (L Godowsky)
3. Study no22 in C sharp minor Revolutionary (L Godowsky)
4. Study no35 in B flat minor Cantabile (L Godowsky)
5. Study no13 in E flat minor Appassionata (L Godowsky)
6. Study no40 in G flat major Butterfly (L Godowsky)
7. Study no12 in G flat major Black Key (L Godowsky)
8. Study no18a in F sharp minor Patience (L Godowsky)
9. Study no21 in A major Spring Rain (L Godowsky)
10. Study no3 in A minor Ants (L Godowsky)
11. Study no31 in A minor Grasshopper (L Godowsky)
12. Study no20 in A flat major Rambler (L Godowsky)
13. Study no41 in B minor Winter (L Godowsky)
14. Study no28a in F sharp minor Autumn (L Godowsky)
15. Study no30 in F major Pastoral (L Godowsky)
16. Study no44 in F minor Yearning (L Godowsky)
17. Study no15a in E flat major Miller's Wheel (L Godowsky)
18. Study no23 in A flat major Aeolian Harp (L Godowsky)
19. Study no16a in G flat major Luminous (L Godowsky)
20. Study no6 in C sharp minor Battle (L Godowsky)
21. Study no45a in D flat major Andantino (L Godowsky)
22. Study no43 in C sharp minor Tempest (L Godowsky)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 3/24/2012
Ivan Ilic lives in Paris France

Tagged as: Classical, Romantic Era, Instrumental Classical, Classical Piano, Composer: Leopold Godowsky

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