Hailed as the equal of Liszt and Chopin and dubbed “the hero of the pianoforte” by Schumann, the Bavarian Adolph von Henselt (1814-89) is all but forgotten today, but his virtuosic compositions have found a modern champion in British pianist Daniel Grimwood. Titanic variations, lilting waltzes, thundering impromptus and reflective nocturnes send the senses reeling in a blizzard of dazzling pianism, Grimwood admirably demonstrating why Henselt, who settled in St Petersburg, was considered the father of Russian pianism. All 78 minutes in one sitting can make you slightly dizzy, but this is a disc well worth exploring. The great Ballade, Op 31 in B flat major is a wonder and the Grand Valse, Op 30 in C sharp minor will leave you totally breathless.
