Xaver Scharwenka is a great composer

Then you'll enjoy his 4th Concerto as well. I highly recommend the recording (Hyperion) of this work with Stephen Hough as soloist, coupled with another enjoyable piano concerto by Emil Von Sauer.

Henry Maurer, Cherry Hill, NJ, USA

I remember 'discovering' the Scharwenka 1st at a concert of the Boston Sym/Leinsdorf in Carnegie Hall. The soloist was Earl Wild. I wrote a letter to the BSO urging them to record this unjustly neglected work. I believe they already had plans to do so (so I can't claim credit for the recording.) There has been only 1 other recording thatI'm aware of (Seta Tanyel) buth the Wild is superior. In his review of that concert, Harold Schonberg of the NYTimes described the 2nd movement as a 'wing ding of a romp'. Not a musical term to be sure, but accurate. The piece contains bits of Grieg, ST. Saens and perhaps Rachmaninoff. It should appear more often. The 4th concerto has been recorded by Stephen Hough. Its pretty good, too.The 2nd Concerto has a delightful 3rd movement which was recorded by Raymond Lewenthal.

Actually, there's now a new recording of the Scharwenka 1st on Centaur. (With the 2nd concerto, according to July MDT.) Don't know how good it is- haven't heard it. I think the Tanyel on Collins has been deleted, though. -Eric Schissel

Collins was deleted several years ago.