Piano solo pieces Vol. II

Wilhelm Berger
Wilhelm Berger (1861-1911), a German composer of the late Romantic period, grew up in Bremen and studied in Berlin. After having held important musical positions there for several years, he was appointed Kapellmeister of the renowned Meiningen Hofkapelle. He composed more than 100 works: Gustav Ernst, who wrote biographies of composers, Berger included, at the beginning of the 20th century, wrote concerning his music: “Music [...] that combines grace and seriousness, comprehensibility and depth, Mozartian grace and modernity to a rare degree”.

Two great works for piano by him were recorded on our earlier CD Wilhelm Berger: works for piano solo: his Sonata for piano op. 76 and the Variationen und Fuge über ein eigenes Theme für Klavier op. 91. Fugues occur throughout Berger’s works and are therefore given pride of place on this CD. The Introduktion und Fuge op. 42 is one of his most prestigious and important works. The exceptional quality of Berger’s contrapuntal works demands and here receives a new recording, one that breathes new life into this music.

Mitsuko Saruwatari was born in Tokyo and studied at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo. Subsequently she continued her studies at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam under Willem Brons. She then worked with John Bingham in London for two years.

Mitsuko Saruwatari is based in Amsterdam and appears frequently throughout The Netherlands and abroad. Alongside her solo career she is the regular pianist of the Uriël Ensemble and has performed as a guest pianist with many other chamber music ensembles.