Search - Lera Auerbach :: Tolstoy's Waltz

DILETTANTES AND DABBLINGS

Melvyn M. Sobel | Freeport (Long Island), New York | 08/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ms. Auerbach, an artiste of incredible dimension, makes an entertainingly good case for these intriguing piano snippets and lieder--- and compositions that are sometimes much more than simply this--- by fascinating Russian authors, intellectuals, painters, politicians and dance masters, some familiar, but most, not. The CD is a head turner. Leo Tolstoy [1828-1910]--- a charming waltz? WAR AND PEACE in three-quarter time, perhaps. Sergei Diaghilev [1872-1929]--- an elegant, affecting vocal work (with text by poet Alexey Tolstoy!) composed at the age of fifteen? And the revelations keep coming. To wit: Who knew that Boris Pasternak [1890-1960] had a passion for music before writing DOCTOR ZHIVAGO; his three extant piano compositions, heartily indebted to role model, Scriabin, are exceptional, especially the one-movement Sonata (which could easily be thought of as a "lost" work by the maestro, himself). And what of George Balanchine [1904-1983], choreographer extraordinaire? His Valse Lente is a graceful, nostalgic delicacy. From the Russian intelligentsia, Ms. Auerbach has chosen Vladimir Odoevsky [1804-1869], and it seems as if this man could do anything he set his mind to: literature, law, physics, math, philosophy, et. al., and musical composition. All four pieces by Odoevsky are endearing, with nods to Chopin, Balakirev, Tchaikovsky and Bach. Alexandr Griboedov [1795-1829], politico and playwright, highly esteemed by Glinka, left behind two waltzes, both memorably Schubertian. Russian painter, Vasily Polenov [1844-1927], is represented by both solo piano and lieder; the former, Farewell Song, is a deeply-felt programmatic seven-minute "fantasia" hinting at Wagner, Rachmaninov, Schumann and Brahms. The latter, "My Heart Is Dark," and "To the Sea," as with the other three companion lieder by painter Pavel Fedotov [1815-1852] and Diaghilev, are rich in Slavic hues of sorrow and, again, seem to owe much to Schubert, as well as to Chopin. Throughout, baritone Chiyuki Urano is totally engaging, his voice full and plaintive; and, as always, Ms. Auerbach's artistry, whether in her solo work or as accompanist, is as sensitive and thoughtful as one could wish for. The sound afforded this notable BIS release consistently complements the warmth and realism of the performers.



[Running time: 61:53]

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