Robert Muczynski: Complete Piano Sonatas

Robert Muczynski (composer), Zachary Lopes (piano)

Catalog #: TROY1771
Release Date: May 1, 2019
Format: Digital
Instrumental

Composer Robert Muczynski (1929-2010) garnered national and international recognition for his compositions, which have been heard throughout the world. Muczynski studied composition at DePaul University with Alexander Tcherepnin, crediting Tcherepnin for inspiring his career. He performed his first Piano Concerto with the Chicago Symphony in 1958 and was a noted film composer. He became composer-in-residence at the University of Arizona in 1965, where he spent the remainder of his professional career. Some may call Muczynski's music traditionalist or conventional, but there is no arguing his music is truly authentic, expressive, invigorating, and meticulously crafted. Pianist Zachary Lopes offers the first recording of his piano sonatas since the composer's own recording done in 2000. Lopes is an active soloist and collaborative artist and has given performance and master-classes across the U.S., South America, and Europe. He has held teaching positions at Wittenberg University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and serves as President of the Kentucky Music Teachers Association. He studied at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is on the faculty at Western Kentucky University.

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Track Listing

Title Composer Performer
First Piano Sonata, Op. 9 Robert Muczynski Zachary Lopes, piano
Second Piano Sonata, Op. 22 Robert Muczynski Zachary Lopes, piano
Third Piano Sonata, Op. 35 Robert Muczynski Zachary Lopes, piano

Reviews

  • "This is a most welcome recording of Robert Muczynski's three compelling piano sonatas – the first to appear since Laurel released its two-CD set of the composer's own performances of his complete solo piano music. Listeners will derive much pleasure from pursuing the works of these composers who never abandoned their commitments to traditional musical values. This fine recording of Muczynski's piano sonatas provides such an opportunity."

    – Fanfare

  • "Zachary Lopes plays the sonatas with a tremendous dynamic range, a great deal of variety of articulation and tone color, and thoughtful sensitivity to texture and contrast. He also plays them with passionate conviction. He is not shy of extremes, either in technique or in expression. And he plays these sonatas as virtuoso concert pieces, meant to communicate with a packed house of listeners eager for emotional transport. "

    – Fanfare

*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.