Piano Works Vol.2: Barbagallo

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 the Modern Suite seems 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 it's inspiration. As in volume 1, the strongest attraction is the committed, colorful playing of the late James Barbagallo, bronze medalist 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.