Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838) was born in Bonn and moved to Vienna in 1801, where his life became closely related to that of Ludwig van Beethoven (also a native of Bonn…). Ries studied piano with him, copied his scores and was the interpreter of several new works, notably the premiere of the Third Piano Concerto. Ries also wrote the first biography of Beethoven, an invaluable source of first-hand information.
Ries’ style inevitably is modelled on that of his master Beethoven, he was however strong enough to stand on his own. His compositions include symphonies, violin and piano concertos, three operas, and numerous chamber works, reflecting a style that bridges classicism and early romanticism.
The compositions presented on this recording – only a small part of Ferdinand Ries' extensive and still largely unexplored catalogue – belong to the genre of salon music: pieces designed for performance and private enjoyment, with brilliant and virtuosic tones. While remaining within conventional forms, Ries infuses these pages with surprising vitality and inventive richness. What is striking above all is the breadth of the structures: traditionally short genres such as polonaises and marches are significantly expanded to accommodate a generous amount of musical ideas.
Played with gusto and flair by Gianluca Faragli and Silvia Giliberto. Faragli already recorded successfully a CD with piano works by Ries for Piano Classics.
