The acclaimed pianist David Greilsammer performs three pieces that celebrate the strong musical ties between Europe and America during the early part of the 20th century. The disc includes Polish-born composer Alexandre Tansman’s Piano Concerto No.2, receiving its world premiere recording, Gershwin’s ever popular Rhapsody in Blue, and Nadia Boulanger’s rarely played Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra.

Alexandre Tansman started his career as a pianist and composer in Paris in the 1920s. In 1927 he embarked on a tour of the USA with Ravel, and his Second Piano concerto was performed for the first time by him in Boston on 28 December. The work, full of colours and built on several major musical influences (including jazz) was very well received. Despite this, however, the music has never been recorded, and consequently this is a world premiere.

During the same period, George Gershwin, an American who was the son of Jewish Russian immigrants, experienced worldwide success with his “Jazz Concerto” Rhapsody in Blue. To complete this selection, David Greilsammer chose to record a work recently discovered, Nadia Boulanger’s Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra. An internationally renowned teacher as well as conductor and composer, her pupils included many of the most influential American composers of the time including Copland, Piston, and Carter.