{"product_id":"4589538834500","title":"Christof Keymer - Nicolai: Complete Piano Works - Import 2 CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChristof Keymer\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA rare collection featuring the complete piano works of Otto Nicolai, renowned as the founder of the Vienna Philharmonic’s predecessor ensemble and as the composer of works such as *The Merry Wives of Windsor*. After fleeing his father’s strict upbringing and leaving home at age 16, Nicolai honed his skills in Berlin and Rome. In the 1840s, he served as Kapellmeister to the Imperial Court in Vienna, and in 1842, he played a key role in founding the ensemble that would become the Vienna Philharmonic. He developed a unique style that fused the robust structure of German music with the lyrical spirit of Italian opera, but he died suddenly at the age of 38 due to illness.\nThis album features his complete piano works, which embody classical balance and the free-spirited creativity characteristic of the Romantic era. The “Sonata in D minor,” with its majestic structure, features bel canto-style melodies within a four-movement form that reveals the influence of Beethoven. The “Three Etudes,” dedicated to Liszt, include technically demanding parts for the left hand alone as well as opera quotations, making them works with an expressiveness that transcends mere etudes. From the brilliant variations on a theme from the opera *Norma* onward, every piece is imbued with a rich melodic beauty and refined touch reminiscent of the incidental music and waltzes he cherished during his lifetime. The performance is by German pianist Christoph Kämmer, who studied at the University of Music and Drama in Hanover. While active on international stages such as the Bayreuth Festival, he has also earned high acclaim for his recordings and critical editions of forgotten works by composers such as Moszkowski, Götz, and Bruch. At the end of each disc, a piece by a younger composer based on a melody from *The Merry Wives of Windsor* is included as a tribute.\nNaxos Japan\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CPO","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53419249074465,"sku":"4589538834500","price":5190.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/4589538834500.jpg?v=1788227584","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/products\/4589538834500","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}