Search - Maurice Ravel, Kaikhosru Sorabji, Michael Habermann :: Kaikhosru Sorabji: Piano Music and Transcriptions

Disappointed for the most part

Kenneth Derus | 05/20/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I recently bought Habermann's 3CD set (from BMS) of his previous recordings (from 1980-1995). While there are some gems on those discs, for the most part the playing is very dry and at times WAY TOO FAST (he seems to never let anything breathe!). Habermann does a wonderful job with the music's polyphony and dynamic shading - I'll give him that - but for people intrigued with Sorabji, buy the Jonathan Powell recordings on Altarus Records.
Take 'Passegiata Veneziana', recorded by Habermann on this disc as well as by Jonathan Powell for Altarus. If you compare the last measure in the piece, Habermann rushes through and leaves the listener with a wash of sound, while Powell builds things up and eventually plays a very quiet (PPPP in the score) Db major. Even in the beginning there are times when Habermann just rushes through beautiful passages which Powell really brings out in his recording.
As for the rest of the disc, "Rhapsodie Espagnole" is nice, however I don't really see the other pieces ever doing anything for me. If you are interested in Sorabji, I recommend these cds:
1)Marc-Andre Hamelin playing Sonata #1 (EXCELLENT!! Highly recommended!!)
2)Jonathan Powell playing Passegiata Veneziana and Toccata No.1
3)Charles Hopkins playing Gulistan"

Simply the best Sorabji recordings

L. Carole Johnson | Maryland, USA | 09/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am delighted with my new CD, Transcriptions, featuring Michael Habermann performing the music of Sorabji. Habermann's interpretations reflect a mature, ripened understanding of Sorabji's works without petitioning the listener for gratuitous efforts in understanding the complexities of them. This recording truly brings to life the beauty and mystery of Sorabji's most sumptuous piano pieces. I love Habermann's playing for his natural sounding mastery of what other pianists make sound contrived and strained. His performance has depth, brilliance, and is always meaningful. Also recommended is Habermann's musi-have 3-CD set of previous recordings re-issued by British Music Society."

A fascinating side of Sorabji

Seth H. Perlman | 09/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Michael Habermann has outdone himself again. No Sorabji library should be

without this pianist's recordings which represent a life's work of

passion, scholasticism and advocacy for Sorabji's music.



The BIS transcription disk shows that he has absorbed Sorabji's musical

intent and conveys it through every nuance of rhythmic, dynamic, and

textural shading - an accomplishment that has eluded many other recording

artists. His playing conveys a sensitive feeling for the seductive

qualities and breadth of Sorabji's musical expression, such as it is. Mr.

Habermann provides a level of performer-involvement and

listener-appreciation missing from so many currently available Sorabji

recordings, many of which sound like lifeless score-reading. He performs

the works he has recorded from memory and with fidelity to the score

(unlike the older, highly-touted renditions by Ogdon and Madge).



Another high point of Habermann's CD: the pieces are masterworks, not

inferior works of marathon length. A perfect successor to his earlier,

equally masterful recordings recently re-issued on the British Music

Society label."