|
Site review by Polly Nomial July 28, 2008
|
Performance: Sonics (MC): |
An auspicious start to what could promise to be a very revealing series of Brahms' piano literature.
Playing a piano of 1851 (well tuned but far from the crystalline brilliance of a modern Steinway - think Bösendorfer crossed with a fortepiano) by Johann Baptist Streicher, Hardy Rittner draws powerful, dramatic yet eloquent musical sounds from this veteran instrument.
The sonata Op.2 brings reminiscences of Beethoven in both form and melodic development - thanks to Rittner and his choice of instrument, it actually sounds like a development of Beethoven too! Carefully holding back his power for the moments that really need it, this work is treated to a mature reading of an otherwise substandard Brahmsian composition. Compared to that of a modern piano, this reading might initially sound underplayed to those who have grown accustomed to the likes of Krystian Zimerman but Rittner is no second best here. It is hard to imagine a better case being made of the music.
In the variations from 2 years later (1854), Rittner again uses the Streicher to good effect and matches Brahms: Variations for piano solo - Schmitt-Leonardy for musicality - the more mellow tone of the piano and the better recording from MDG place this into a more recommendable version. Similarly, the Ballades Op.10 (again 1854) are given a very mature reading that recalls memories of Gilels' playing - and not unfavourably so either! As with the variations, the softer tone of the Streicher is at the service of the music and Rittner does not let us or Brahms down.
The recording from MDG is a 2+2+2 variant but thanks to the single instrument, there is less sonic confusion and the quality is of amongst the highest that the company has issued.
Highly recommended and I look forward to subsequent volumes of the series (hopefully, the subtitle will drop "Early"!)
|
Copyright © 2008 John Broggio and SA-CD.net
|
|
