Piano Music, Vol. 2
In this second volume of MacDowell piano music, Barbagallo plays the composer's first published works, opp. 1 and 2, which are pleasant salon music. The title of theModern Suiteseems inappropriate even for 1881; it sounds like music Mendelssohn could have written half a century earlier. The "Norse" Sonata is appropriately dedicated to Grieg, who provided most of its inspiration. As in volume 1, the strongest attraction is the committed, colorful playing of the late James Barbagallo, bronze-medallist at the 1982 Tchaikovsky Competition. He plays this music with such obvious dedication and affection that his performances overcome critical reservations about the music itself.--Leslie Gerber