Theodor Kullak - Piano Works (Roman Fediurko)

Information

Composer: Theodor Kullak

• Grande Sonate in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 7
• Symphonie de Piano, Op. 27
• Ballade, Op. 54
• Scherzo in G Minor, Op. 96
• Impromptu-Caprice in E-Flat Major, Op. 97

Roman Fediurko, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Naxos

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The German pianist and pedagogue Theodor Kullak, a former student of Carl Czerny, enjoyed a distinguished career reflected in his enduring studies, arrangements, and original compositions. His lesser-known works showcase rich pianistic color, ranging from virtuosic bravura to refined parlor grace. Notably, the pensive and dramatic Grande Sonate in F-sharp minor draws clear influence from Mendelssohn and Beethoven, while the Symphonie de Piano reflects elements of Schumann alongside Kullak’s appreciation for Italian models. Uniting dramatic weight with technical elegance, these featured selections highlight Kullak's versatile mastery and significant contribution to nineteenth-century romantic piano literature.

Theodor Kullak (1818–1882) was a prominent German pianist, composer, and educator whose career bridged aristocratic patronage and groundbreaking institutional leadership. Initially a child prodigy, Kullak studied medicine in Berlin before pursuing advanced musical training in Vienna under Carl Czerny, Otto Nicolai, and Simon Sechter. Appointed pianist to the Prussian Court in 1846, he leveraged his elite social connections to teach noble pupils and prominent musicians, including Moritz Moszkowski and Nikolai Rubinstein. A dynamic pioneer in musical education, Kullak co-founded the Berliner Musikschule in 1850 before establishing the highly successful Neue Akademie der Tonkunst in 1855, which grew into Germany's largest private music school.

Ukrainian pianist Roman Fediurko completed his early studies with Galina Kotsyuba in 2021 before training under Milana Chernyavska at the Kunstuniversität Graz. A scholar of the Internationale Musikakademie in Liechtenstein, Fediurko established himself as an extraordinary talent after winning First Prizes at major events, including the Bösendorfer and Yamaha USASU and the International Robert Schumann Competition. His trajectory reached new heights at age 18 upon earning the Gold Medal and five special awards at the prestigious Horowitz Competition. Fediurko now enjoys an active international career, performing at elite venues like Vienna's Musikverein and Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie while appearing across prominent European and Asian festivals.

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