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New Release: Stunning Mozart Sonatas

Marco Borggreve

The very latest release from Turkish pianist Fazil Say is music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The six cd set was recorded in Mozart's hometown of Salzburg, at the academy that bears the Austrian genius' name. WBAA's John Clare spoke to Say about this brilliant set of Mozart Piano Sonatas from Warner Classics.

This is a stunning set of Mozart, both in the scope of interpretation, and for the beautiful tone and recording. It's ideal for that classical music lover on your holiday list!

Faz?l Say, was born in Ankara in 1970 and trained in the Turkish capital, in Düsseldorf, and Berlin. In 1994 he won the Young Concert Artists competition in New York. As a pianist, his repertoire ranges from Bach, through the Viennese Classics and the Romantics to contemporary works, including his own compositions.

Say has grouped the sonatas according to their tonality rather than their chronology: each CD is devoted to works in a particular key – A minor, C major, F major, D major, B flat major and C minor. He has also given each sonata a brief name that reflects the particular images, ideas, memories or stories that it evokes for him - he did not have to do this for the famous sonata No 11, known as ‘Alla Turca’, but some of the other subtitles include: “Two Sisters”; “Scarlatti”; “Schweben” (Above the Clouds); “Beethoven”; “Opera Orchestra”; “Erlkönig” and “Märchenbilder” (Fairy-Tale scenes). In addition to all 18 sonatas, the set includes the Fantasia in C minor K475.

John Nasukaluk Clare is comfortable behind a microphone, streaming video or playing violin. A former broadcaster for NPR, John has previously worked with Voice of America, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation and stations in Texas, Kansas, Nevada, California, and Pennsylvania. In 2005, Clare earned the Deems Taylor Award from ASCAP for radio broadcasting, citing his work on 20/20 Hearing. Having performed with famed tenors Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli, John has worked with the Mozart Festival Texas, Mid Texas Symphony, Nevada Chamber Symphony, Shreveport Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic and Wichita Symphony Orchestra.
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