Various Composers - Hommage à Pleyel (Finghin Collins)

Information

• Joseph Haydn - Sonata in E Minor, Hob. XVI:34
• Ignaz Pleyel - Rondo in E-Flat Major, B. 613
• Ignaz Pleyel - Sonata in B-Flat Major, Op. 91
• Frédéric Chopin - Three Nocturnes, Op. 9
• Frédéric Chopin - Waltz in A Minor
• Joseph O'Kelly - Au bord de la mer
• Joseph O'Kelly - 1ère Mazurka, Op. 48
• Georges Pfeiffer - 4ème Mazurka de Salon
• Georges Pfeiffer - Nocturne, Op. 36
• Claude Debussy - Hommage à Haydn, L. 115
• Claude Debussy - L'Isle joyeuse, L. 106

Finghin Collins, piano

Date: 2025

Label: Claves Records

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This project began in 2022 when pianist Finghin Collins was invited to perform on a fully restored 1937 Pleyel 280 concert grand piano by Matthias Maurer at the Lavaux Classic 2023 festival in Cully. Sharing the stage with a Steinway D, Collins performed movements on both instruments, offering the audience a direct comparison. The experience was revelatory, showcasing the Pleyel’s distinctive tone and responsiveness, prompting Collins to record a CD celebrating the history of the Pleyel family and brand. The Pleyel 280, a modern twentieth-century instrument, represents the pinnacle of French piano craftsmanship before World War II.

Finghin Collins (b. 1977, Dublin) is one of Ireland’s leading pianists. Trained at the Royal Irish Academy of Music with John O’Conor and at the Geneva Conservatoire with Dominique Merlet, he won the Clara Haskil Competition in 1999 and has since enjoyed an international career across Europe, the US, the Far East, and Australia. He has performed with major orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, London Philharmonic, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and Seoul Philharmonic, collaborating with distinguished conductors. Collins is also a celebrated recitalist and chamber musician, has an extensive discography with Claves Records, and holds key artistic roles in Ireland, including Artistic Director of Music for Galway, the New Ross Piano Festival, and the Dublin International Piano Competition. He received an honorary Doctor of Music from the National University of Ireland.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz