Antonin Dvorak Franz Schubert Carlos conductor Kleiber - Dvorak Piano Concerto Schubert Wanderer Fantasy Richter Kleiber (7 tracks) +Album Reviews

THIS TIME THE HYPE HAS A POINT

DAVID BRYSON | Glossop Derbyshire England | 03/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The rather undiscriminating enthusiasm that greets everything Richter did actually does him a disservice I believe. He was a complex personality and a complex artist. His active repertory was large, for which I am as grateful as other folk because whether he was at his best or at his most perverse we can always rely on Richter for a thinking artist's approach to whatever he chose to record. In the last resort there are not all that many pieces I would rather hear played by him than by anybody else, and when I would it's sometimes because I have hardly ever heard them done by anybody else, like this Dvorak concerto. Anyway this has to be a fine performance by any rational assessment. I have heard it said that the piano part seems to be written for a player with two right hands. These days my own piano technique is more suggestive of two left feet, so I have not tried to verify the claim. It's not a work I return to very often, but there is no mistaking the care and affection that has gone into the way Richter handles it, and he certainly persuades me that it deserves better than the critical superciliousness that it is often treated to. The Wanderer Fantasy is another proposition entirely, a truly great and profoundly original piece of music. Here I am happy to agree that we find Richter at his best and that in a work of major stature. This is a big-toned Richter, although you will hear the familiar self-communing pianissimo in the variations. His approach is basically straightforward, like Pollini's, only with far greater warmth and humanity about it. This time there is nobody I would actually prefer to Richter, but the performance that seems to me fully the equal of his is from the 20-year-old Kissin, who also has the benefit of more up-to-date sound. Kissin gives a more romantic account of the first section with more give and take in the tempo. After that it's all a matter of details when one tries to compare them. To appreciate Richter at his true greatest, as in say Schumann's C major Fantasy or the Britten concerto or some of his Chopin and much of his Debussy or on this disc I suggest that we need to think more critically about things like his travesty, albeit a thoughtful one, of the Appassionata and ask ourselves whether there are not really a number of different Richters. I think that his final greatness really lies in his profound humanity not in some supposed demigod status. Anyway I am only too happy to join in recommending this disc."

Lyrical Side to Richter in Dvorak and a fine Schubert too

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 08/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The legendary pianist Sviatoslav Richter offers one of the most compelling, lyrical performances of Dvorak's piano concerto in this excellent recording with Carlos Kleiber leading the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. This concerto is a precursor to the great "symphonic" concertos composed by Brahms for the piano. Both the orchestra and Richter give warm, vibrant performances of the score. But here Richter also emphasizes the lyrical qualities of Dvorak's music, playing with much passion and empathy. Richter's performance of Schubert's "Wanderer" fantasy may not please everyone, since this is among the most dramatic, indeed fiery, performances I've heard. But it is such a compelling performance, that it deserves to be heard by those interested in a more poetic interpretation. The sound quality for the Dvorak piano concerto is fine; but less so for the Schubert fantasy. Still this is a CD I strongly recommend to those interested in the careers of Richter and Kleiber."

Excellent music and excellent performance

caspi | Israel | 04/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD offers you a brilliant performance of Dvorak's Piano Concerto, which is rarely played and recorded. You will not find here some virtuoso material, and generally the orchestra does not just support the soloist, but plays the equal role with him. The music is great, it's very close to Dvorak's symphonies (e.g. I find a parallel between the opening theme of the 1-st movement and the opening theme of the 7-th symphony), it's easily memorable and touching. Richter and Kleiber give an outstanding interpretation, very deep and reach, full of warmth and emotion.Concerning "Wanderer" - Who can say he does not love Schubert ? :-) In Richter's interpretation the second movement is the best and it's something magical, all the other parts are a little bit aggressive to my point of view and you hear very well the legs work in the pedalling. Still the performance is excellent and besides that it is flawless.The sound of the disk could be better, but considering the recording date it's ok."

The wrong performers for this concerto

Neil Ford | Sydney, Australia | 03/27/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Dvorak's piano concerto has had a rough deal from the very beginning - it was immediately dubbed "unpianistic" (more specifically, it provided little opportunity for virtuosic display) and quickly revised by pianist Vilem Kurz. His version was the most performed of this little-played work until the authenticity movement saw renewed interest in the original score, which is played here.

The concerto has, like Dvorak himself, been largely misunderstood. It is usually described as inferior to his violin concerto, although it is melodically much stronger. It is also commonly assumed to be an inferior copy of the Brahms piano concertos, which is slightly odd, as it was written before Brahms's 2nd. Brahms's influence on Dvorak has been much overstated - of his symphonies, only the 7th bears direct comparison, though the 6th also has Brahmsian elements. The rest display his distinctive musical personality and abilities - the reasons, in fact, that Brahms patronised him and brought him to wider attention.

The chief resemblence of Dvorak's concerto to Brahms's 1st is in its scale, inspired by Brahms's revelation that a concerto could be a serious symphonic work of some length, rather than chiefly a display piece for a piano virtuoso. Other than this, one should look further into the past for influences, particularly to the concertos of Schumann and Mendelssohn, but also to Mozart's ground-breaking works in the form.

The error in attributing Dvorak's concerto to the influence of Brahms leads to the ignoring of the prime characteristics of Dvorak's music, which are colourful orchestration, endless melodic invention, and a lyrical sensibility. (The ideal Dvorak conductor is probably also a great Schubertian.) In contrast, Brahms's orchestration is more purposeful and less delightful, his melodies less abundant, and his expression more stoic. Obviously, a musician should bring qualities to Dvorak different to those brought to Brahms.

Richter is noted for his forceful interpretations, his directness of expression, and his avoidance of sentimentality. (Magisterial is a word often applied.) In Beethoven these qualities are a boon, but in Dvorak they are a disadvantage to the music. (Brahms probably falls somewhere in between.) As for Kleiber, this is another mannered, dull performance that belies the esteem he generally receives.

Unfortunately, the ultimate result of this famous but misguided recording is a diminishment of Dvorak's reputation. Look elsewhere for a performance that does full justice to this beautiful, misunderstood concerto."

A great finding!

Julio Castro Karg | Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico | 12/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had seen this CD over and over at different music stores, but I was always unsure about buying it. However, after reading some positive reviews about it I decided to give it a try! I've listened it four or five times already (in less than three days) and I must confess that I'm quite happy that I decided to buy it.

The Dvorak piano concerto is quite beautiful; actually more than what I expected it to be! It is filled with lovely melodies (just as a review that I read said!). The second movement in particular is quite enchanting! I'm really delighted!

Schubert's Wanderer Fantasy is fantastic! I bought this CD without knowing what a great work this is! Richter's playing is awesome, absolutely stunning!

This is yet another fabulous CD from the amazingly affordable "Great Recordings of the Century" series from EMI! A must for all Richter fans!!!"

Search - Antonin Dvorak, Franz Schubert, Carlos [conductor] Kleiber :: Dvorak: Piano Concerto; Schubert: 'Wanderer' Fantasy / Richter, Kleiber

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