Bernhard Stavenhagen (1862-1914): Chopin-Liszt - My Joys

Stavenhagen was something of a child prodigy, whose final teacher was Liszt, who thought very highly of his playing. He began learning withLiszt in 1885 and accompanied him on his tours for the last two years of his life, acting as personal secretary when Friedheim was unable to do so. Thus in 1886 he accompanied Liszt on his own last concert tour to England, and Liszt helped to launch his career as concert pianist. Stavenhagen went on to a highly successful international concert career both as pianist and, later, conductor.

The lack of any suriving recordings by him is a great loss. One recording known to have been made is now assumed lost (Chopin's Nocturne in D-flat op. 27 no.2). He did leave a few piano rolls for the Welte system though, made in 1904 or 1905.

This recording of a Liszt transcription of a Chopin Polish Song has come into my possession though, and it purports to be Stavenhagen playing. My initial explanation is that somehow this is a very early disc transfer of the piano roll made by Stavenhagen of this work (this roll was made for Welte, but I have not heard it). Either that, or it is not Stavenhagen, or it is a newly found recording by him. So please, if anyone knows who is playing this please do say.