César Cui - Complete Piano Music, Vol. 2 (Paul Rickard-Ford)

Information

Composer: César Cui

• 4 Morceaux, Op. 22 («À Mr Théodore Leschetizki», 1883)
• Valse-Caprice, Op. 26 («À Mme Anna Essipoff-Leschetizky», 1883)
• 2 Bluettes, Op. 29 («À Mme La Comtesse De Mercy-Argenteau», 1886)
• 2 Polonaises, Op. 30 («À Anton Rubinstein», 1886)
• 3 Valses, Op. 31 (1886)
• 3 Impromptus, Op. 35 («À Mr Hans De Bülow», 1886)
• 5 Morceaux, Op. 52 («À Louis Diemer Et Raoul Pugno», 1895)
• Impromptu-Caprice (1896)
• 4 Morceaux, Op. 60 (1900-01)
• Thème Et Variations, Op. 61 («À Joseph Hofmann», 1901)

Paul Rickard-Ford, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Piano Classics

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César Cui’s piano music, spanning his career from the late 19th to early 20th century, is being revived through a chronological survey performed by pianist Paul Rickard-Ford, following an earlier overview by Marco Rapetti. Born in Vilnius, Cui studied piano from childhood and ultimately wrote 29 opus numbers for the instrument, reflecting his consistent engagement with salon-style composition. Though now often viewed as the least prominent member of the “Mighty Handful,” he was widely respected in his time, with dedications from major figures such as Liszt, Leschetizky, and Hofmann. His works, including polonaises, impromptus, and character pieces, reveal a refined, lyrical style influenced by Chopin and Schumann, intended primarily for charm and entertainment within the Romantic salon tradition.

Paul Rickard-Ford is an Australian pianist, educator, and scholar whose career combines international performance, competition success, and academic leadership. He studied at the Melbourne Conservatorium and the Royal College of Music in London, where he received the ARCM and the Dannreuther Prize for an outstanding performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2. He has performed widely in the UK, Australia, and Asia, and has appeared at major venues and diplomatic events, including recitals in London and Beijing. A prolific recording artist, he has recorded major cycles by composers such as Franz Liszt and Robert Schumann. As a senior lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium, he is also an influential pedagogue, examiner, and competition juror internationally.