Thalberg: Apothéose & Fantasies on French Operas;

Mark Viner's Piano Classics albums of romantic repertoire off the beaten track have attracted plenty of critical attention for their 'sympathy and style' as Pianist magazine summarised his recent selection of miniatures by Cécile Chaminade (PCL10164): 'His appreciation and enjoyment of these vignettes is palpable, relishing their wit, whimsy, charm and endearing pictorial qualities.'

His latest release returns to the music of Sigismond Thalberg (1812-1871), a contemporary and serious rival of Franz Liszt. A previous Piano Classics album compiling five of Thalberg's operatic fantasies (PCL0092) drew a glowing encomium from Gramophone for Viner's 'masterly' playing: 'His rubato is subtly, perfectly judged; the piano sings; and from Viner's fingers the iridescent showers of notes cascade with scintillating exuberance.' His touch and formidable technique are here put at the service of six more fantasies based on themes from operas by Auber, Bellini, Berlioz, Halévy, Mercadante and Meyerbeer.