2025 marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Georges Bizet, the composer of the famous opera Carmen. Italian pianist Roberto Prosseda has now recorded Bizet's lesser-known piano repertoire. His new album features all of Bizet's solo piano pieces, including Chants du Rhin — songs without words in the tradition of Mendelssohn — as well as preludes, nocturnes, and waltzes that evoke the romantic piano style of Chopin. The liner notes were written by Hugh Macdonald, the world's leading Bizet expert.Born in Latina, Lazio, in 1975, Roberto Prosseda is one of the most active and versatile Italian musicians on the current international scene. He gained worldwide fame with his recording of Mendelssohn's complete piano works. Over the past 20 years, he has performed with some of the world's leading orchestras and conductors. He regularly performs at major Italian concert halls, including the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and the Teatro alla Scala.

Tracklisting:

Bizet: Variations chromatiques, WD 54
1. Theme. Moderato maestoso
2. Var. 1. Un pochissimo più allegretto
3. Var. 2. A tempo rubato
4. Var. 3. A tempo risoluto
5. Var. 4. Con fuoco
6. Var. 5
7. Var. 6. Agitato
8. Var. 7
9. Var. 8. Con espressione
10. Var. 9. Un peu plus vite
11. Var. 10. Alla polacca
12. Var. 11. Andante
13. Var. 12. Plus animé
14. Var. 13. Mouvement des premières variations
15. Var. 14. Appassionato, espressivo assai
16. Coda. Semplice – Un peu plus lent, malinconico

Bizet: Chants du Rhin, WD 52
17. I. L'aurore
18. II. Le depart
19. III. Les rêves
20. IV. La bohémienne
21. V. Les confidences
22. VI. Le retour

23. 1er Nocturne in D Major, WD 55
24. Marine, WD 53
25. Grande valse de concert, WD 48
26. 1er Nocturne in F Major, WD 49
27. Chasse fantastique, WD 51
28. Romance sans paroles, WD 46
29. Caprice original No. 1 in C Sharp Minor, WD 45
30. Caprice original No. 2 in C Major, WD 47
31. Valse in C Major, WD 43

Bizet: 4 Preludes, WD 42
32. No. 1 in C Major. Allegretto
33. No. 2 in A Minor. Andante espressivo
34. No. 3 in G Major. Andantino
35. No. 4 in E Minor. Allegretto

36. Thème brillant in C Major, WD 44