Reger Collection (18CD)

http://www.renaud-bray.com

http://www.renaud-bray.com

*** Résumé en anglais seulement *** Brilliant Classics have celebrated the 150th Anniversary of Reger’s birth last year by expanding their Reger Collection of a decade ago from 11 to 18 CDs.Added to the original set, which presented Reger’s best known works – the glorious orchestral Böcklin Suite, the Mozart, Beethoven and Hiller Variations, the mighty piano and violin concertos, the beautiful clari- net quintet (not in the least inferior to Brahms’ masterpiece), the complete Chorale Fantasias for organ (Reger, an organist himself, wrote extensively and superbly for his instrument) and a fine selection of choral music– is a new set of chamber music including the Piano Trio, Flute-Violin-Viola Serenades, Clarinet-, Piano Sonatas and other works, and Reger’s compostitions for solo viola and for solo cello.The transparency of the chamber music genre particularly highlights the composer’s absolute mastery of counterpoint.Also new is an expanded keyboard section, with more works for the organ, so associated with Reger, including the Sonatas and Fantasy- Fugues, and a new solo piano CD recorded in 2023 by Eden Walker featuring Dreams by the Fireside and the Bach Variations and Fugue.Other information:Recordings date from 1973–2023Booklet in English contains new liner notes by Peter QuantrillMax Reger (1873-1916) was a prolific German composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher. His work spans the late Romantic and early Modern periods, characterized by complex counterpoint and rich harmonic language, deeply influenced by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Johannes Brahms.Reger’s early musical education began with piano and organ lessons from his mother, and he later studied under Adalbert Lindner. His formal training took him to the conservatories in Sondershausen, where he studied with Hugo Riemann, and Wiesbaden (continuous studies with Hugo Rieman as well as with Albert Fuchs). Hugo Riemann in particular had a significant influence on Reger’s theoretical and compositional development. His early compositions, primarily for piano and organ, demonstrated his affinity for Bach’s counterpoint, which would become a hallmark of his style. In 1907, Reger was appointed as a professor at the Leipzig Conservatory, where he influenced a generation of musicians and composers. His output includes a vast array of compo- sitions: over 1,000 works encompassing organ pieces, piano music, chamber works, symphonies, choral works, and lieder. His organ compositions are particularly renowned for their technical demands and profound musical depth.This comprehensive collection includes Reger’s orchestral works (Böcklin Suite, Variations on themes by Beethoven, Hiller and Mozart, violin concerto, piano concerto), organ works (the great Chorale Fantasias and Sonatas), chamber music (Clarinet Quintet, Piano Trio, Clarinet Sonatas, suites for viola and cello), piano music (Bach Variations, Träume am Kamin) and choral music.Performed by excellent performers: Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Leipzig, Rundfunkchor Berlin, organists Roberto Marini and Adriano Falcioni and many others.