Wiktor Łabuński (1895-1974): Complete Piano Works
Wiktor Łabuński: Władco serc; Mazurek; Impromptu no. 2; Toccata; Impromptu; Rigaudon; Menuet; Reminiscence; Patterns; Six Piano Pieces; Łatwe Utwory [Four Easy Pieces]; Children at Play; Humoresque; Etude in A minor; Four Variations on a Theme by Paganini; Rustic Dance (revised version); Poem for two pianos; Nocturne for two pianos; Krakowiak from Orchestral Suite op. 47 by Władysław Żeleński (arranged for 2 pianos by Wiktor Łabuński)
Sławomir Dobrzański, piano and Magdalena Prejsnar, piano
AP0474 (May 2020)
The world premiere recording of the complete piano works by Wiktor Łabuński for the Acte Prealable label was organized and performed by pianist and musicologist Sławomir Dobrzański (author of Polish Music History Series Vol. 9), with guest pianist Magdalena Prejsnar. The album also includes an informational booklet in both Polish and English, authored by Dobrzański.
Born in Russian-occupied Poland in 1895, Wiktor Łabuński was a Polish-American pianist, composer and educator. According to Bogusław Schäffer in his entry on Łabuński for the Grove Dictionary of Music: “[Łabuński] studied piano and theory at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and conducting in Poland. After directing the piano department of the Kraków Conservatory (1919–28) he came to the United States, where he made his debut as a pianist at Carnegie Hall in 1928. He taught at the Nashville Conservatory (1928–31) and was professor and director at the Memphis College of Music (1931–7). In 1937 he joined the piano faculty of the Kansas City Conservatory, of which he was director from 1941 until his retirement 30 years later.”
[Sources: press release, acteprealable.com, oxfordmusiconline.com]