CCMusic.com

"I have long imagined a recital program dedicated to the opposing themes of heaven and hell, spiritual and corporal, saints and sinners," writes pianist Andrew von Oeyen of his album Angels and Demons. Combining works conceived for solo keyboard with transcriptions of music from the orchestral, operatic and choral repertoires, he takes the 'angelic' route with Bach (transcribed in one instance by Busoni), Debussy, Fauré and Messiaen, and the 'demonic' route with Liszt, Saint-Saëns and Edward MacDowell. As he leads the listener on a journey into the darkest corners of human emotion, but also towards rapture and catharsis," the American-born pianist proves an assured and inspiring guide. After all, in the words of the Chicago Tribune, "He leaves you convinced that he can do absolutely anything he likes with a keyboard." AvO