Happy news from the German Radio, released under the SWR label, with this collection of small pieces performed by Jörg Demus. You’ll find there the rare Nocturne written in 1892 by Debussy, still used to salons and marked by Borodine’s harmonies and Anton Bruckner’s Errinerung (Memory) which hasn’t left much to the piano. This unassuming little piece could appear in a trivia quiz, because no one could remember the author of these 9 symphonies that are as monumental as sublime…
This program shows once again the scope of the culture and sophistication of such a delicate pianist. A variation written by Schubert for the famous collection intended as an homage to Diabelli (Beethoven’s contribution being his vast Diabelli Variations) and a few pieces by Fauré complete this recital recorded in 1962. The following year, Demus is once again in the radio’s studios for the Piano Sonata in A major, D 664, from his dear Schubert with whom he seems to have a special friendship across the years that separate them.
Like his colleague and long time friend Paul Badura-Skoda, with whom he so often performed, the Austrian pianist Jörg Demus was lucky enough to perform at an extremely advanced age and to make a huge number of recordings. Superb interpret of Schubert, but also of Debussy (his beautiful complete works recorded in 1969 is now available), he leaves behind admirable discs, notably as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau’s partner. © François Hudry/QOBUZ