Hyperion CDA68269

JEAN LOUIS NICODÉ

6 Fantasiestücke, op. 6
Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme, op. 18
Ein Liebesleben: 10 Poësieen, op. 22

Simon Callaghan piano

Felix Draeseke’s description of Nicodé as ‘more a moderate progressive than a cacophonist’—in contrast to his younger contemporary Richard Strauss—may have been intended as a compliment, but doesn’t begin to do justice to this profoundly enjoyable music, its several influences (most notably Schumann) never far away.

In the following film, Callaghan explains how he came to record Nicodé, and talks about the composer and his music.

…and in the following videos you can hear two of the pieces from the disc:

Above: Nicodé | Ein Liebesleben (10 Poems) Op. 22 (IV: Glücklich)

Above: Nicodé | Ein Liebesleben (10 Poems) Op. 22 (VI: Reue)