Search - Heribert Beissel :: PFITZNER: Piano Concerto / Das Christelflein Overture

Pfitzner deserves consideration

Stephen Baggaley | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | 08/13/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In his lifetime Hans Pfitzner enjoyed near equal status with Richard Strauss both as a composer and conductor. Largely unknown to many people these days except, perhaps, for his rarely performed opera "Palestrina", he deserves a revival, and the merit of the works on this recording support that view. Indeed, Wolf Harden's athletic and authoritative reading of the Op 31 Piano Concerto suggests that this work on its own is worth further consideration. Completed in 1922, its first performance was given in Dresden the following year by Walter Gieseking with Fritz Busch conducting. In 1924, Gieseking performed the work again, this time in Berlin with Wilhelm Furtwaengler conducting. He then retained it in his repertoire for the remainder of his life. The concerto successfully demonstrates Pfitzner's grasp of pianistic vocabulary along with a range of moods and textures from meditative reflection, to joyous celebration and robust triumphalism. Also on the recording are two attractive excerpts from longer stage works, "Das Herz" and "Das Christelflein"."