Antonín Dvořák

Legends Op. 59

> 10 spirited, melodious pieces following on from the 'Slavonic Dances'
> Fingerings by Andreas Groethuysen from the renowned duo Tal/Groethuysen

Following the great success of the 'Slavonic Dances' op. 46, the publisher Simrock was extremely happy when Dvorák presented him with the prospect of a new cycle for piano four hands, the 'Legends', in October 1880.

Barely a year was to pass before the new work was published. Shortly before this, Dvorák and Simrock had travelled to Karlsbad with the proofs, where the Viennese music critic Eduard Hanslick was taking the waters. They played through the work together and proofread it.

Hanslick was delighted and even became the dedicatee of these ten charming pieces. Later he wrote in a review of the Legends that one felt a 'sense of pleasure' that 'feels doubly good in our pessimistic times'.