Special offer. Hélène de Nervo de Montgeroult
Edna Stern (piano)
When you listen to Edna Stern’s moreish disc of Montgeroult’s music, it’s impossible not to wonder exactly why she’s been so neglected. Here is a richly imaginative creative mind, as steeped...
Special offer. Hélène de Nervo de Montgeroult
Edna Stern (piano)
Purchase product
When you listen to Edna Stern’s moreish disc of Montgeroult’s music, it’s impossible not to wonder exactly why she’s been so neglected. Here is a richly imaginative creative mind, as steeped...
About
Imagine a composer, a woman, living during the classical times of late 18th century France. Her country is torn by a terrible revolution and grand revolutionary ideas. It is astonishing that France, who produced great composers throughout music history, failed to produce a great figure during the classical times. Or maybe it has and we don’t know about it. It is hard not to see the similarities between Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude and Montgéroult’s Etude No.107, or between the F minor Fugue and Mendelssohn’s Fugue Op.35/1. Hélène de Montgéroult wrote and published all her music between 1795 and 1812, either before or just around the time Chopin and Mendelssohn were born. It is fitting that the ideas of equality of the French Revolution coincided with the life of a great woman composer. It is fitting that her importance and influence in the history of music be recognized and the oversight corrected.
Contents and tracklist
- Edna Stern (piano)
- Recorded: April 2016
- Recording Venue: Cité de la Musique-Philharmonie de Paris, France
- Edna Stern (piano)
- Recorded: April 2016
- Recording Venue: Cité de la Musique-Philharmonie de Paris, France
- Edna Stern (piano)
- Recorded: April 2016
- Recording Venue: Cité de la Musique-Philharmonie de Paris, France
- Edna Stern (piano)
- Recorded: April 2016
- Recording Venue: Cité de la Musique-Philharmonie de Paris, France
Spotlight on this release
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Edna Stern on the piano works of Hélène de Nervo de Montgeroult
8th Mar 2017
David talks to the Belgian-Israeli pianist about the fascinating music of a musical innovator writing during turbulent times in France.
Awards and reviews
April 2017
When you listen to Edna Stern’s moreish disc of Montgeroult’s music, it’s impossible not to wonder exactly why she’s been so neglected. Here is a richly imaginative creative mind, as steeped in the contrapuntal glories of JS Bach as, say, Mendelssohn, yet anticipating Chopin…Stern…trumps Bruno Robilliard and Nicolas Stavy’s recordings for colour, style and panache.
5th February 2017
a strikingly individual musical personality. Twelve beguiling studies, a fine “Thème varié dans le genre moderne” and a far from staid F minor fugue complete Stern’s revealing and affectionate recital, given on a silvery 1860 Pleyel.
26th January 2017
a prolific composer whose music was often startlingly ahead of its time. Her Ninth Sonata plus 12 of her many Études and some imaginative variations are played here with warmth and poise by Edna Stern on a historic Pleyel piano.
Pianist Magazine April 2017
I found a sprightly, smiling joy in her playing…The life and career of Helene de Montgeroult (1764-1836) was amazing in itself…her music is no less striking.
