WEINBERG, M.: Complete Piano Works
Allison Brewster Franzetti
Grand Piano GP698-701

In this week’s podcast, Raymond Bisha introduces the 4-CD collection of the complete piano works of Mieczysław Weinberg—from teenage mazurkas written in his native Poland through to his last works for the instrument composed in Moscow. En route, Tashkent, Shostakovich and the Head of the post-Stalin KGB all play a part in the fascinating story of this displaced and somewhat forgotten composer. The boxed set from the Grand Piano label represents a significant meeting of minds between Weinberg and his distinctive creativity, pianist Alison Brewster Franzetti and her championing of his forgotten works, and Naxos in its well established role as a facilitator for such invaluable projects.