Various Composers - Transatlantiques (Gershwin Piano Quartet)

Information

• Sergei Rachmaninov - 14 Romances, Op. 34: No. 14, Vocalise (arr. Benjamin Engeli)
• Sergei Rachmaninov - Suite No. 2 in C Minor for 2 Pianos, Op. 17: IV. Tarantella (arr. Benjamin Engeli)
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, TH. 35 (excerpts)
• Sergei Prokofiev - Lieutenant Kijé, Op. 60 (excerpts, arr. Mischa Cheung)
• George Gershwin - Fantasy on „Porgy & Bess“ (arr. Benjamin Engeli & Stefan Wirth)
• Camille Saint-Saëns - Danse macabre, Op. 40 (arr. Benjamin Engeli)
• Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade reloaded for (almost) 1001 Strings (arr. Mischa Cheung)

Gershwin Piano Quartet

    Mischa Cheung

    André Desponds

    Benjamin Engeli

    Stefan Wirth

Date: 2025

Label: Prospero Classical

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The Gershwin Piano Quartet blends arrangement, improvisation, and virtuosic performance across a wide musical spectrum. While inspired by George Gershwin, their latest album Transatlantiques explores broader connections between classical and modern traditions. Highlights include Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker suite, Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé, Bernstein’s West Side Story, and a vibrant arrangement of Michael Jackson’s Bad. The quartet bridges classical, jazz, ballet, and Broadway, creating dynamic links between the Old and New Worlds.

The Gershwin Piano Quartet, founded in 1996 by André Desponds in Zurich, brings together four pianists performing on four grand pianos. Known for their dynamic blend of classical virtuosity and jazz-infused improvisation, they create original arrangements that transcend traditional transcription, incorporating recomposition, looping, and remixing techniques. While rooted in the music of George Gershwin, their repertoire spans from Beethoven and Rimski-Korsakov to Astor Piazzolla and Michael Jackson. Their performances range from lyrical to rhythmically electrifying and have been met with critical acclaim at major venues and festivals worldwide, including in Germany, Switzerland, China, Brazil, and Bulgaria.

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