Beethoven Symphonies (arr FX Scharwenka), Vol 5 - No 4 in B flat, Op 55; No 8 in F, Op 93 Mozart-Busoni Die Zauberflote - Overture.

The article reviews several recent classical piano recordings, focusing primarily on Aurélien Pontier's album *Vienna: Joyful Apocalypse*, which traces the cultural and musical transition in Central Europe from the late 19th century to the onset of World War I through 15 piano transcriptions of works by composers such as Schubert, Mahler, Schoenberg, and Ravel. It also highlights Tessa Uys and Ben Schoeman's piano duet recordings of Scharwenka's transcriptions of Beethoven's Fourth and Eighth Symphonies, noted for their orchestral richness and historical significance. Additionally, Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy's intimate performances of Schubert piano duets and Leonid Desyatnikov's contemporary *Trompe-l'œil* are praised for their nuanced interplay and fresh perspectives. Finally, the review covers Anna Gourari's interpretations of Hindemith's *The Four Temperaments* and *Mathis der Maler* Symphony alongside Schnittke's expressive Piano Concerto, emphasizing the challenges and successes in navigating these stylistically diverse works.