Eugen d'Albert - Piano Music, Vol. 1 (Sofja Gülbadamova)

Information

Composer: Eugen d'Albert

• Suite in 5 Movements, Op. 1
• Impromptu in D-Flat Major
• Albumblatt in D-Flat Major
• 4 Pieces for Piano, Op. 16

Sofja Gülbadamova, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Grand Piano

_____________________

Pianist Sofja Gülbadamova performs a captivating program of works by Eugen d'Albert, recorded on the composer’s own fully restored 1898 Steinway at Villa Teresa in Coswig. As one of the era's premier virtuosos, d'Albert composed piano pieces characterized by expressive, forward-looking harmonies, Lisztian pyrotechnics, and Baroque stylistic elements. This recording features his inventive Suite, the reflective Albumblatt, and the dynamic Four Pieces, alongside the world-premiere recording of his newly rediscovered Impromptu, unearthing a compelling window into d'Albert's compositional legacy through the historic timbre of his personal instrument.

Eugen d’Albert (1864–1932) was a celebrated naturalized German composer and piano virtuoso whose international career spanned performance, pedagogy, and composition. Following early studies in London, d'Albert expanded his artistry in Vienna under the mentorship of Franz Liszt, establishing himself as one of the preeminent concert pianists of his generation. While maintaining an active teaching career in Berlin and touring extensively, d'Albert produced a diverse catalogue including 21 operas, piano concertos, chamber works, and Lieder. He remains best remembered today for his verismo opera Tiefland (1903) and his influential transcriptions of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Acclaimed Russian-born pianist Sofja Gülbadamova (b. 1981) is recognized as one of the most extraordinary virtuosos of her generation, celebrated for her international competition victories, including first prizes at the Concours International Francis Poulenc and the Rosario Marciano competition. Educated at prestigious institutions in Moscow, Lübeck, and Paris, her career encompasses solo recitals in world cultural capitals and performances with major orchestras under conductors such as Michail Jurowski. A featured artist at premier European festivals, Gülbadamova also serves as artistic director of the International Brahms Festival in Mürzzuschlag, combining refined technique with insightful interpretive leadership across the romantic and 20th-century repertoire.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz