Louis Moreau Gottschalk(1829-1869) "Piano Music" Cecile Licad, piano Recorded October 2001 Naxos 8.559145 [75:08] This new disc of Gottschalk's piano music is a stunning display from Cecile Licad. Although Alan Marks on Nimbus and Philip Martin on Hyperion have given us fine interpretations of the music of America's first piano virtuoso, Licad goes to the top with vital and energy-charged readings conveying a young country salivating at the prospect of more discoveries and acquisitions. From my perspective, the U.S. has always been a country with the motto - "we want more", and Licad brings out this feature exceptionally. Licad is on the hunt, while Marks and Martin are consolidating their gains. Do consider the new Gottschalk disc, because Gottschalk is what the U.S. was all about in its first hundred years. His music transcends the typical categories and so do the Licad interpretations. Don Satz [log in to unmask]