Moniuszko: Opera Songs for Piano

A traveller using Stanis 928;aw Moniuszko Central Train Station in Warsaw might wonder who he was … a political hero? A famous scientist? Or why not a musician? Besides its Chopin Airport (like Budapest with its Liszt Airport and Salzburg with its Mozart Airport), Warsaw honours the memory of the great Stanis 928;aw Moniuszko (1819–1872). Almost unknown outside Poland, this extraordinary composer, pianist and organist wrote mainly operas, operettas, masses and about 360 Lieder, but also a few piano pieces and two string quartets, not to mention a treatise on harmony. Internationally renowned pianist Cyprien Katsaris says of this recording: “Although his piano output is small in quantity, the quality of each piece—all of them exquisite miniatures—is wonderful: we are dealing here with pure gems. Like many composers, Moniuszko was of course influenced by others, such as Carl Maria von Weber, Robert Schumann, Mendelssohn etc, however, he found his own language. With regard to the various transcriptions and fantasies on Lieder and operas by several composers presented here, it is interesting to note that Moniuszko himself transcribed two mazurkas from his operas The HauntedManor and Halka. Personally, I am convinced that the music of Moniuszko, especially some pieces such as the ‘Kozak’, the dumkas and the Nocturne …if played as encores worldwide, could become international hits and help to spread the name of this great Polish genius.” – Cyprien Katsaris