Mihai Ritivoiu - Transcendence Music CD

With his Genuin debut album, the Romanian pianist Mihai Ritivoiu takes us into other spheres: "Transcendence" is the name of the production that unites works by Franck, Enescu, and Liszt. The prizewinner of numerous competitions (including the Dinu Lipatti and George Enescu competitions) avoids thunderous pounding and superficial tinkling on the keys. From the first notes of Franck's Prelude to the mystical floating away at the end of Liszt's great sonata, the young musician draws us into his musical spell with a differentiated attack and staying power. Particularly noteworthy: George Enescu's expressive, first piano sonata - a real repertoire highlight! Ritivoiu writes of the album: "In choosing the repertoire for my first recording, I found myself drawn to three works which, albeit different, all transcend the boundaries of merely pianistic music, whether it is the quasi-organ sounds and bell chimes of Cesar Franck's Prelude Choral et Fugue or the orchestral sonorities of the Liszt and Enescu sonatas."