Nicodé: An Introduction
The Piano Music of Jean Louis Nicodé
Jean Louis Nicodé (1853-1919) was a Prussian composer of Huguenot descent (hence the surname) who spent the majority of his life in Dresden, teaching at the Royal Conservatory and becoming well-respected as a composer, pianist and conductor. His works follow the tradition of Brahms, Schumann and later Richard Strauss and Wagner and span the solo piano, vocal, orchestral and chamber genres.
Having read several disparaging articles and heard several far from positive comments from fellow pianists about this lost composer, I approached his music with some scepticism, but since reading through his Phantasiestücke Op. 6 last year I have been hooked! Dedicated to Clara Schumann and subtitled ‘A Souvenir of Robert Schumann’ the six pieces making up this set are undoubtedly influenced by the great German composer but are innovative, inspired and a joy to play.
Last week at Potton Hall in Suffolk, it was my pleasure to make the first ever recording of Nicodé’s piano music for Hyperion, coupling the Phantasiestücke with the Variations & Fugue for Op. 18 and A Life of Love: 10 Poems for piano Op. 22. The CD will be released in May 2019 and more information will be posted here nearer the time. I can’t wait to present this fine music to you all!
Visit the Nicodé page on Hyperion Records >
Photo (c) Simon Perry / Hyperion 2018
