Annette Töpel, Piano

If one thinks of Schubert’s piano pieces, it is the famous Moments Musicaux and his Impromptus which in the first place spring to mind, and then perhaps the late Drei Klavierstücke, all works in the repertoire of international concert pianists. Quite a number of other piano pieces rarely, or hardly ever, appear on the programme. They remain unknown for whatever reason. At least, it is not due to their smaller musical content when compared with works that are frequently played. It may well be that in some cases, the late publication of the first edition was also a contributory factor. A representative selection from the astonishingly large group of unknown piano music has been compiled for this CD. The well-known Scherzo in B-Dur is an exception. It is a popular piece with teachers because of its straightforward melodic form and technical challenge. However the companion piece, the Scherzo in Des-Dur, has remained largely unknown. Occasionally, one also comes across the Ungarische Melodie, a favourite encore piece. A rewarding voyage of discovery through Schubert’s unknown piano pieces, awaits the listener of this CD.

Annette Töpel started Piano lessons at the age of five and Violin lessons later. Diploma in Music Education and Diploma in Performance at the Musikhochschule, Lübeck. Attended Master Classes (Peter Kamnitzer [LaSalle-Quartet] and Rudolf Buchbinder among others). In great demand as Soloist and in Chamber Music, both classical and contemporary (in many varied combinations, including an ensemble of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, Bremen). She has performed in the Schleswig-Holstein-Festival, in the Bruckner-Festival Linz (Austria), in Sweden and in Switzerland. Editorial work, adding fingering for Bärenreiter-Verlag Kassel, radio broadcasts, CD productions with solo works for piano, including Mozart and Schubert for Thorofon and Musicaphon labels and for Sikorski Hamburg, document her artistic production. Since 1997 member of the music staff of the Music Academy, Kassel.