Czerny Romantic Piano Fantasies -- entertaining if not elevating

In the early 1800s, Sir Walter Scott was a wildly popular writer. As wildly popular as J.K. Rowling would be in the early 2000s. His "Waverly" series started a new genre, historical fiction. Scott would write between 30-48 novels set in historic Scotland, all best-sellers.

Carl Czerny published a series of four piano duets inspired by these novels. Titled Romantic Fantasies, they musically interpret four of the Scott titles. And his most popular ones at that: Waverly, Guy Mannering, Ivanhoe, and Rob Roy.

Scottish folk music was also a popular subgenre for piano. So Czerny incorporated distinctive elements like the Scottish snap into his duets. And he also quoted a tune or two.

Pei-I Wang and Samuel Gingher are an exceptional piano duo. Their playing meshing seamlessly, and of one mind with their interpretation and phrasing. Wang and Gingher use their skill to make this music sound as good as it can be.

And that's sort of where the problem is. Czerny's a skilled composer -- especially for the piano. There are all kinds of interesting things going on here. The music has fugues, dances, chorales, lyrical solos, and more. But for me, it never quite gels.

The Scottish themes and motifs don't seem fully integrated into Czerny's original material. And so when a folk tune surfaces, it's almost like switching to a different radio station for a moment.

Czerny knew his audience and I'm sure these pieces are as enjoyable to play as they are to listen to. They're definitely great fun -- just not great art.

And that's OK. If you know that going in, then you can take these pieces for what they are. And simply enjoy the artistry of Wang and Gingher.

Carl Czerny: Romantic Piano Fantasies on Sir Walter Scott's Novels
Pei-I Wang and Samuel Gingher, piano duet
Naxos 8.579099