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"Christopher Czaja Sager trekt in deze Clementi-opnamen het dynamisch net
dicht om zich heen om daarbinnen een eigen wereld van vloeiend evenwicht te
scheppen. Een prachtig subtiele uitvoering."
Sem van Gelder,
redacteur Pianowereld
About LAI
In the last years artist-directed and owned recording endeavours have taken
a healthy place in the classical music world (Gruberova, Pavarotti, Earl
Wild, come to mind). Lapwing Artist Issue had its first release in 1990.
That CD, 'European Anniversary Recital', revealed Czaja Sager's well-known
eclectic and provocative repertoire: the 3rd Partita of J.S. Bach,
lesser-performed Schumann, late Haydn, Schoenberg and a hint of what will
appear in 2004: a Scriàbine recital and a 'live' recital from various
cities, featuring C.P.E. Bach, rarely-heard Mozart and Ben Weber.
'Muzio Revisited', LAI's first Millennium release, refers to the artist's
earlier CD-album 'Remembered Anew' (1992) devoted to 3 Sonatas of Clementi;
the major recording of LAI of the entire 1st Book of Bach's Clavier-Übung,
the 6 Partitas, appeared in 1993; it was released daringly in
'purist'-cembalo territory, the Netherlands, 3rd on the 10 best-selling list
of CDs for 2 months as NKV's 'CD of the Month' in 1994.
The Steinway Piano: the sublime Pianoforte of unparalleled Perfection
Since my first lessons and subsequent conservatory training, the Steinway
piano has been central to my pianistic development and experience. With one
exception, all my teachers have played the Steinway.
Some of my most memorable concert experiences are indelibly-linked with the
greatest pianists, who preferred the Steinway and who, each in his own
inimitable way produced extraordinary music on this noble instrument. Among
the most vivid memories, recitals by Curzon, Hess, Horowitz, Kempff,
Michelangeli, Novaes, Rubinstein and Solomon still echo in my ear!
For many years I have been privileged to own a remarkable 1907 New York
Steinway grand and since 1999 the realization of a dream: an exceptional
Hamburg Steinway concert grand of greatest finesse and poetry. Recently I
have had the joyous privilege of recording 8 Sonatas of Muzio Clementi in my
Music Room on this extraordinary concert grand. These magnificent
instruments give me daily joy and inspiration! What's more, they instruct
and reveal new insights in all music for the pianoforte. Even with fine
'pretenders to-the-throne' Steinway remains King of the pianoforte: vive le
Roi!
Christopher Czaja Sager, Eibergen, NL 2003
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