Stenhammar: Piano Music

Stenhammar was the finest Swedish pianist of his time and he wrote four sonatas and two concertos for his instrument. Rediscovered in 2008, the Sonata in G minor (1890) is the passionate, Schumannesque work of a nineteen-year-old full of romantic transport but already a master of the form. The three cycles of character pieces included in this recording (the 3 Fantasies Op.11, Nights of Late Summer Op.33 and Three Small Piano Pieces) show a distinctive musical voice, full of passion, lush harmonies and sensuality, evoking the mysteries of the Swedish countryside.

Italian pianist Paolo Scafarella (b. 1993) has taken up the cause of Stenhammar, planning to record the two piano concertos and the piano music of the Swedish master.