Credits:

Dennis Russell Davies

Description:

This is the first of the complete piano works by Giovanni Zgambati, who was a central figure in 19th century Italian music but is now little known. Known as a virtuoso pianist himself, he was influenced by Liszt. His most famous work is his arrangement of the "Dance of the Spirits" from Gluck's opera "Orfeo e Euridice," now heard as an encore piece. The Piano Classics label will continue to release Zgambati's piano music from now on, featuring Italian pianist Gaia Federica Caporiccio, born in Florence in 1988. The Italian pianist Gaia Federica Caporiccio, born in Florence in 1988, has successfully captured and expressed Zgambati's characteristic technique. Although the works themselves are not very long, she plays the improvisations, lyric pieces, and nocturnes with great care. This is a very pleasing disc with the charm of a young pianist who specializes in Romantic works on the European stage.