| Site review by Polly Nomial December 20, 2006
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Performance: Sonics (MC): |
A truly delightful disc.
Whilst this will not be the most satisfying musical fare on offer for those sampling chamber music, it is certainly a very enjoyable collection of pieces from some composers who managed to write gorgeous melodies albeit with a slightly fragmentary sense of structure.
Sandwiched between the Chopin and Greig sonatas, comes Chopin's Introduction and Polonaise Brillante which is perhaps most reminiscent of his (solo) piano writing. In common with the sonatas, Michal Kanka and Jaromír Klepác;, play with brilliance and eloquence as called for by Chopin. One can immediately sense the rapport that they have established between each other and one relishes the tender but playful interaction between these two fine artists.
The Chopin sonata is the longest work presented here and opens the disc. The long first movement (which lasts longer than the other three put together) is not Chopin's most inspired composition but the dedicated performance honestly portrays the notes - warts and all - preventing it from being transfigured into a composition that it is not. The Scherzo is dispatched with a pleasing lilt from the cello and brilliant piano figurations before a beautiful and deceptively simple Adagio allows our protagonists to display their wonderful lyrical playing tones. The Finale is a tricky work for the cello as it is required to match a great deal of the piano figuration and Kanka rises admirably to the challenge. This account does not complete efface memories of Rostropovich's towering account with Argerich but many will like (and quite possibly prefer) the simple and natural of Praga's artists.
When listening (with pleasure) to the Greig sonata, one will be frequently surprised by the familiarity of some melodies, even if this is the first hearing of this work. Like the more famous violin sonatas, it was written in three movements and they contain re-casting of theme's that have gained fame elsewhere. The first movement utilises "the" transformed melody of his Piano Concerto (and in a gesture of the heritage, the cello is provided with a mini-cadenza), the second is almost a direct lift from the march in Sigurd Jorsalfar. The third movement sounds like a medley of the Lyric Pieces (although there are fragments that could be matched up, there are no extended phrases) and is hugely enjoyable in such a lively and sensitive performance
The sound balance is wonderfully natural and has a real chamber hall feel to it; the piano tone is full and rounded accompanying a warm (with hints of rosin) cello sound.
Glorious stuff & highly recommended.
(Purchased)
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Copyright © 2006 John Broggio and SA-CD.net
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| Review by JJ June 5, 2007 (4 of 7 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics (S/MC): / |
Les deux années, 1846, 1847, qui virent respectivement la composition et la création de la Sonate pour violoncelle et piano de Frédéric Chopin, furent également le théâtre d'autres créations capitales comme, notamment, La Damnation de Faust de Berlioz, Elias de Mendelssohn, le Concerto pour piano de Schumann, la Sonate "Les 4 âges de la vie" d'Alkan et Macbeth de Verdi. Au cœur de ce florilège créatif, l'oeuvre de Chopin est essentielle et se situe d'emblée aux côtés de celles de Beethoven et de Brahms. Partition de la maturité, la Sonate Op. 65 du compositeur polonais eut une gestation difficile, pour un résultat d'une grande richesse harmonique. La Sonate pour violoncelle et piano Op. 36 d'Edvard Grieg fut, quant à elle, créée en 1883. Malheureusement peu connue, elle n'en demeure pas moins d'une force expressive évidente, se rapprochant de la musique de scène, Sigurd Jorsalfar. Avec une prise de son en stéréo ou multicanal en pur DSD, ce Super Audio CD nous offre un duo d'artistes d'une homogénéité parfaite. Le violoncelle de Michal Kanka et le piano de Jaromir Klepac sont à l'écoute l'un de l'autre, laissant la musique s'épanouir au gré de phrasés idoines. L'expressivité du discours fait également preuve d'une belle sérénité où chaque inflexions semblent naturelles. Grâce à la technologie Direct Stream Digital, les timbres des instruments possèdent une vérité chaleureuse retrouvée. Un grand disque de musique de chambre.
Jean-Jacques Millo
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| Review by JW June 15, 2007 (6 of 8 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics (S/MC): / |
Translation from original review by Jean-Jacques Millo.
Two years, 1846 and 1847, spawned the composition of the Sonata for Cello and Piano by Frederic Chopin and the following series of important works: the Damnnation of Faust by Berlioz, Mendelssohn's Elias, Schumann's Piano Concerto, the Sonata "The Four Stages of Life" by Alkan and Verdi's Macbeth. At the heart of this creative explosion lies Chopin's essential oeuvre, flanked by Beethoven and Brahms. The Sonata Op. 65 from the Polish composer is a difficult work with an enormous harmonic richness. The Sonata for cello and piano Op. 36 by Edvard Grieg was created in 1883. Unfortunately this piece is not very well known, but is has no less of an expressive force reminiscent of the threatrical music by Sigurd Jorsalfar.
This Super Audio CD contains both stereo and multichannel recordings. It offers us two artists in perfect harmony. Michel Kanka (cello) and Jaromir Klepac (piano) are equally gifted and with their excellent phrasing provide us with an open window onto the music. The way they express themselves on their instruments creates a natural reading in which each inflection seems in its proper place. Thanks to Direct Stream Digital recording technology both instrument's timbre is truthfully rendered. One of the great chamber music discs.
Translated by JW (this one a little more difficult than I first thought :-).
Original review: Jean-Jacques Millo
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| Review by madisonears June 24, 2012 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics (S): |
This disc hasn't been reviewed in five years, and it definitely deserves more attention and your consideration.
I was not familiar with these works before hearing them here, so I have no comparisons to make. I can't imagine anyone playing them with more character or more emotional intensity than this. I would be willing to bet that there is not a better recording of it. Every nuance and tone of the instruments is perfectly captured in an ideal acoustic, with the perfect balance between detail and resonating space that we all seek. This music is thoroughly enjoyable and should be part of your collection if you enjoy tuneful classical chamber music, and would serve as a superb introduction for the uninitiated. There is zero risk of dissatisfaction for anyone purchasing this disc.
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