New CD Releases on Bechstein

Andrey Gugnin: „Homage to Godowsky“ und "Russische Balletsuiten"

Andrey Gugnin records most of his CDs for the Hyperion label on C. Bechstein concert grands. Following his outstanding "Homage to Godowsky," he recorded a Grieg CD. Gugnin brings out so many colors and enchanting sounds from the C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano in Lyric Pieces, the Holberg Suite, and the rarely heard Ballade in the Form of Variations on a Norwegian Melody, Op. 24, that one cannot help but be amazed. Excerpts can be found on YouTube.

In late September 2025, Hyperion will release Andrey Gugnin's recording of Russian ballet suites, including: Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty, arranged by Pletnev; Three Movements from Petrushka; and Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite, arranged by Guido Agosti. In his Facebook post about the release, Gugnin thanks his musical partner: "And finally, I would like to give my accomplice, a beautiful C. Bechstein grand piano, a virtual handshake — we had a great time, didn't we?"

Dmytro Choni: „Pilgrimage“

Dmytro Choni received a scholarship from the Carl Bechstein Foundation during the pandemic and has felt a close connection to the C. Bechstein brand ever since. Since winning the bronze medal at the 2022 Cliburn Competition, Choni has been considered one of the most promising pianists on the path to a great career. He released a CD entitled Pilgrimage on the Naïve label, on which he embarks on a musical pilgrimage with works by Silvestrov, Liszt, Debussy, and Lowell Liebermann. The recording has received high praise from the press. The online magazine Pizzicato praised his sensitivity, sense of color and substance, and ravishingly coherent performances. Dr. Ingobert Waltenberger writes on "OnlineMerker": "In short, Pilgrimage has become a significant and exciting album, both pianistically and artistically. Recorded on a magnificent C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano at the Wiener Konzerthaus, Choni delights with a delicate 'Allegretto con moto (rubato), dolce, leggero e trasparente' by Valentyn Silvestrov and a stirring, caustic, and diabolical 'Fantasia quasi Sonata, Après une lecture du Dante' by Franz Liszt. Keyboard magic, narrative storytelling, and abysmal demonism."

Anna Geniushene: „Hallelujah Junction“

Incidentally, Anna Geniushene won the silver medal at the Cliburn Competition that same year. Together with her husband, Lukas Geniusas — who has also won numerous awards at major competitions — she recorded pieces by Adams, Stravinsky, Gershwin, Rzewski, McPhee, and Copland for the Alpha label. The album, titled "Hallelujah Junction," was recorded at the famous Funkhaus Berlin in Nalepastraße. This studio was used by East German radio from 1956 to 1990. The linked video not only provides beautiful impressions of the studio but also explanations of the exciting program and insights into a marriage filled with humor. Guido Fischer praised the "phenomenally talented Russian-Lithuanian piano duo" in the highest terms on the Rondo magazine website and concluded: "There are already countless albums that have paid tribute to the American Way of Sound and its roots. The program entitled 'Hallelujah Junction,' featuring exclusively works for two pianos, is clearly one of the most exciting, rousing, and adventurous."

Etsuko Hirose: „Scheherazade“

Etsuko Hirose, a Japanese pianist living in France, has recorded her third solo album on a C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano. This recording took place from September 2 to 4, 2024, at the Théâtre Georges-Leygues in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, France. Titled Scheherazade, the album features Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's famous Scheherazade as a masterful piano transcription for the Danacord label. Hirose also includes a lesser-known but equally fascinating suite by Sergei Bortkiewicz, who was also inspired by the tales from One Thousand and One Nights. "I particularly enjoyed this CD because it evokes the magic of One Thousand and One Nights and its heroine, Scheherazade, in such a unique way. The pianist has created a wonderful interpretation of this music that will appeal to fairy tale lovers of all ages. And it is not just a transcription, but a faithful reproduction. Hirose has developed a truly pianistic score," comments John France of MusicWeb International (MWI).

Severin von Eckardstein: „Vers la flamme“

Although it is no longer current, the fascinating CD Severin von Eckardstein's “Vers la flamme” is worth mentioning. It was recorded in 2022 on a C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano at the B-Sharp Recording Studio in Berlin and released in fall 2023 by the AVI-Music label. In addition to Scriabin's eponymous composition, the Brussels winner presents his own improvisation on this album, as well as his arrangement of Richard Strauss's "Death and Transfiguration," Beethoven's last piano sonata, and Messiaen's No. 20 from "Vingt regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus." "This is a remarkable release. The program concept brings everything together, and it is superbly played," the American Record Guide judged.

Jan Gerdes: „East-West-Central-South“

Pianist Jan Gerdes also recorded his album East-West-Central-South, featuring contemporary African music, on the C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano at the Ölbergkirche recording studio for the Genuin label. Excerpts are also available on YouTube. Holger Sambale summarized in his detailed review on klassik-heute.de: “On this album, Jan Gerdes proves himself to be a sensitive, thoroughly creative advocate of this music; ... An interesting new release.”

Julian Jaeyoung Kim

Also in Berlin, but at the Ölbergkirche recording studio, American pianist Julian Jaeyoung Kim recorded his Beethoven recital in November 2024, featuring the piano sonatas Op. 2 No. 3, Op. 53, and Op. 81a on a C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano. The album was released in 2025 by the Hänssler Classic label and praised on pizzicato.lu as "an interesting and attractive Beethoven album." Beethoven's Second Sonata was described as an "inspired interpretation." The reviewer continued, “The recording of the Waldstein Sonata is also a marvel of fine articulation and tonal variety, with another very meditative Adagio and a dance-like Rondo with very characteristic rhythms.” Regarding the interpretation of "Les Adieux," the reviewer wrote, "The virtuosity is always present, but it remains in the background, as it were, with a wink."

Carmen Stefanescu: „The Voice of Piano“

Here's another release recorded at the Ölbergkirche studio: On her album “The Voice of Piano” for the Prospero Classical label, Carmen Stefanescu presents a colorful mix of musical works and arrangements by Bach-Busoni, Debussy, Poulenc, Rachmaninoff, Vaughan-Williams, Say, Schubert-Liszt, Mompou, De Falla, and Grieg. On concerti.de, Ecki Ramón Weber rates the album as very successful and writes, "Carmen Stefanescu is truly convincing in every piece of this broad stylistic diversity. Whether it's romantic intimacy, impressionistic dream worlds, or variations on folklore, she penetrates the respective forms of expression in a differentiated way. ... This double album will make you want to embark on a musical journey again and again." The making-of video is exciting, too!

Johanna Summer: „Resonanzen“

On her album Resonanzen, released on the ACT label, pianist Johanna Summer proved that the C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano at the Ölbergkirche can also be used to play exceptionally beautiful jazz. Renowned jazz writer Werner Stiefele wrote on Rondo.de: "Anyone who adapts classical works takes a big risk because the new versions must have enough character that they don't come across as pale imitations. Pianist Johanna Summer takes this risk by using pieces by Bach, Schubert, Ligeti, Mompou, Beethoven, Ravel, Grieg, Scriabin, and Tchaikovsky as source material for improvisations. The result is nine independent, new piano pieces in which echoes of the originals can be heard, but never take over." The album is officially available on ACT's YouTube page.

Han-Lin Yun: „Kaleidoskop der Tonarten“

The very young pianist Han-Lin Yun has made her successful CD debut for the Kamprad publishing group “in beautiful Seifhennersdorf” (according to the pianist) with works by Scarlatti, Schumann, Schubert, Grieg, Rachmaninoff, Bach, Chopin, and many others under the title “Kaleidoscope of Keys.” The video of the pianist is especially enjoyable, providing many insights into the C. Bechstein factory. We are especially pleased that Yun points out that "the best grand pianos in the world" are made in Seifhennersdorf.

Izabella Simon und Dénes Várjon: SCHUMANN - Album for Little and Big Children

Pianists Izabella Simon and Dénes Várjon demonstrated the suitability of a C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano for four-handed playing on their new Hungaroton CD, recorded at the Rottenbiller Studio in Budapest from September 21 to 23, 2024. The program includes Schumann's “Pictures from the East,” Op. 66; the twelve “Piano Pieces for Small and Large Children,” Op. 85; and “Children's Ball,” Op. 130. The accompanying video provides interesting insights into the studio work.

Andrei Gologan: Brahms - Piano Sonata 3 & Song

Finally, we should mention the new CD by Andrei Gologan, which will be released in September 2025 by Evidence Classics. In December 2024, Gologan recorded an exciting program of Brahms pieces on a C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano at Deutschlandfunk in Cologne. In addition to the Third Piano Sonata, he performed ten Brahms songs, transcribed by Max Reger, and concluded with Brahms's "Meine Lieder" Op. 106/4, in his own transcription. Gologan will present excerpts from the CD program on October 16 at the Ehrbar Hall in Vienna and on November 28, 2025, at the Konzerthaus Berlin.