HUGO WOLF (1860-1903): Variations, Op. 2, Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 15, Humoreske, Schlummerlied, Scherz und Spiel, Meistersinger-Paraphrase, Walküre-Paraphrase.

Description: Self-taught, with no particular piano-playing background, Wolf composed all these piano pieces (and more) by 1880, the date of the two big Wagner paraphrases. The Variations and Rondo will remind you of Haydn and Mozart (remember that the young Sibelius was writing similar-sounding pieces at much the same time), the other three short works are more Romantic in style while the hero-worship of Wagner by the young Wolf produced the paraphrases which are more homages than showpieces. Ana-Marija Markovina (piano).