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Site review by Polly Nomial December 22, 2006
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Performance: Sonics (MC): |
This is a marvellous disc from the same cellist that bought us Chopin, Grieg: Cello Sonatas - Kanka, Klepac but with Ivan Klánský providing the "accompaniment" instead. Mr Klánský is also to be found on Brahms: String Quartet No. 3, Piano Quintet - Prazak Quartet where he is equally at home with the Pražák Quartet, which given his musical partnership evidenced here with their cellist should perhaps not be a surprise.
The overriding impression conveyed by this disc is that we are eavesdropping on a private late-night recital from two very dear friends playing music they adore and who wish to play it as truthfully as possible. Opening with the first sonata, the expansive first movement is transformed into almost symphonic stature; the second movement is treated almost whimsically and brings a wry smile to the listener; the fugal finale has more brusque motives which are treated as such but this is not to suggest a lack of care or musicianship. Far from it but compared to the almost throwaway delicacy ending to the second movement, this is much rougher fare until the more tender second subject.
The second sonata is a far more impassioned work and Klánský is fully capable of the virtuostic demands placed by Brahms in the piano part. In amongst this turbulence, Kanka's brooding cello is menacing - until the joyous second subject where eloquence abounds. Whilst Kanka may not have the outsize "persona" of, say, Rostropovich this is all to Brahms' (and our) gain - this is honest playing through and through. Whilst sometimes "great artists" can make wonderful chamber music, there is often a certain humility missing - occasionally, the exhilaration that can result might overcome this lack but unfortunately this a rare occurrence. This comes to mind most particularly in the slow movement where Kanka has to take a back seat for much of the time but the response he gives such seemingly innocent and throwaway phrases are a thing of wonder. A mischievous energy grips the Scherzo which displays Brahms' penchant of all things with a cross-rhythm to great effect. The build-up of energy and joy in the finale is marvellously handled and makes one want to leap out of ones seat and applaud vigorously. We are then treated to a modest encore of the FAE scherzo transcribed for cello, which I suspect was included to make the recording time up to an hour; it wasn't needed but with playing of this quality no-one will grumble, even though I prefer it in the original version for violin & piano.
The recording is arguably Praga's finest to date - the timbre of Kanka's cello is most realistically caught as is the piano that Klánský plays; the balance is equally well judged with the piano allowed to rise in volume and tone without ever risking drowning out his partner. Also very fine is the focus of each instrument - one can almost "see" how the artists are moving along with this passionate music!
Excellent - if you've never owned a Praga disc before now, this is a great place to choose to start! Anyone who thinks that the golden age of recording (at least for chamber music) is not now might care to reconsider their position after exposure to a few discs like this one...
(Purchased)
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Copyright © 2006 John Broggio and SA-CD.net
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