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Presto News - 12th December 2011Maurizio Pollini plays Chopin |
 “That boy plays better than any of us jurors”. These were the words of Arthur Rubinstein, chairman of the jury at the sixth International Chopin Competition in 1960, referring to the young pianist, Maurizio Pollini, who had just been awarded first prize. As a result of his success at the competition, Pollini was immediately signed up to a recording contract by EMI, and the initial disc resulting from this was a recording of the first Chopin concerto, still rightly regarded as a classic. As a follow-up, EMI planned for Pollini to record the two sets of Chopin Études (opp. 10 and 25). After the sessions, though, and without giving any specific reason, Pollini refused to give his approval for the recording to be issued, and so they languished unreleased in the EMI archive. However, although Pollini seems not to have actually changed his mind on his original decision, the copyright on recordings expires after fifty years, and so now we are able to hear this version courtesy of the Testament label. His later recording of the Études on Deutsche Grammophon is a sensational disc in its own right, and so you might think that if you already have that recording, there would be no need to get this disc as well, but this earlier account is a quite extraordinarily revelatory experience.  Maurizio Pollini Recorded when he was just eighteen years old, this exceptional recording has such a clarity and a feeling of freshness about it. Tempos between the two versions are on the whole pretty similar, although the 1960 opp. 25/7 and 10/3 are slightly more expansive than in 1972, and op. 10/6 is one whole minute longer, but it never drags or feels plodding. Pollini’s use of rubato is quite superb, particularly in the E major op.10/3, where there is a freedom of phrasing that makes the later recording seem strait-laced by comparison. Use of the pedal is relatively sparing throughout, which means that textures are transparent and never muddy (in this respect I was reminded of his tremendous recording from last year of Book One of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, where you could really hear every single fugal entry, even in the densest of textures). The acoustic also seems to me to be slightly drier, and less closely-miked, and as such may lack that immediately vibrant brilliance that the later DG version possesses, but for a recording that is fifty years old, one can’t really complain too much! Quite why Pollini didn’t want this recording to be released is a bit of a mystery, but I must say I’m very glad that Testament has issued it, and I would go as far as to say that in many ways I actually prefer it to the DG recording. After one more recording for EMI, Pollini was successfully poached by Deutsche Grammophon, with whom he has remained ever since. Next year will be his seventieth birthday, and to celebrate this, DG has released two boxes of previously-available recordings: a Chopin box, and a collection of music by twentieth-century composers. The Chopin collection includes all of the recordings he has made for DG, and while he has not quite covered the complete solo piano music of Chopin, most of the major works are present (the only considerable holes are perhaps the first sonata, and most of the mazurkas). Again, his deft touch and control of structure are evident throughout, whether it be the dazzlingly virtuosic performances of the Scherzi, or the beautifully expressive melodies in the Nocturnes. Pollini has always been an ardent advocate of contemporary music, and indeed his first recording for DG paired Stravinsky’s Three Movements from Petrushka with Prokofiev’s Seventh Piano Sonata. What a debut that was: I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more stunning display of masterly pianism at work than the opening movement of Petrushka, and he despatches the phenomenally difficult final Precipitato 7/8 movement of the Prokofiev with such consummate ease that one is left open-mouthed in astonishment! The box also contains, amongst other things, discs of music by Arnold Schoenberg and Luigi Nono, and while such music may not be at the top of everyone’s playlists, they are extremely persuasive interpretations, and may even convert a few listeners who previously found the music impenetrable! The thirty-minute piece by Nono for soprano, piano and orchestra, Como una ola de fuerza y luz, is especially tough listening, but is well worth the effort, and listened to alongside the Chopin recordings, shows Pollini’s incredible range and versatility. Happy seventieth birthday, Maurizio!
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 Chopin: Etudes Opp. 10 & 25Maurizio Pollini (piano) |
 Maurizio Pollini: ChopinMaurizio Pollini (piano) |
 Maurizio Pollini: 20th CenturyMaurizio Pollini (piano) |
James Longstaffe - james@prestoclassical.co.uk |
Listen - sound samples available for this itemNew Releases12th December 2011 |
This is just the pick of the recent releases. The New Releases and Future Releases pages are always available for browsing all the new and forthcoming releases. |
 Christine Schäfer: AriasChristine Schäfer (soprano), Deutsches Symphonieorchester Berlin, Julien SalemkourThe acclaimed soprano Christine Schäfer is making her label debut for Sony Classical with a highly unconventional aria album. The arias she has recorded range in time from Handel to Messiaen, and in style from virtuosic belcanto to the drama of Verdi and the serenity of Richard Strauss. |
 Mare NostrumMontserrat Figueras, Lior Elmaleh, Gursoy Dincer, Pierre Hamon, Driss Elmalouni, Pedro Estevan & Ferran Savall, HESPERION XXI, Jordi SavallMare Nostrum' (Latin for “Our Sea”) was a Roman name for the Mediterranean Sea, an area that may be regarded as the greatest place of exchange and dialogue in the history of human kind. Of course, music is no exception. In this new lavishly illustrated CD book, Jordi Savall invites us to explore the myth of the Mediterranean Sea as mother of people and cultures, from Morocco to Israel, from Spain to Lebanon. The antique Greek illustration on the front cover underlines how far-reaching – in space and time – this project is. |
 Zelenka: SepolcriHana Blažíková (soprano), David Erler (alto), Tobias Hunger (tenor) & Tomáš Král (bass) |
 Josef Suk: Early RecordingsJosef Suk (violin)On the morning on 7 July 2011 the agencies brought the sad news that one of the legends of 20th century music had passed away. Josef Suk ranks among the most accomplished violinists of the epoch. These carefully remastered recordings serve as a historical document and, above all, bear witness to the art of a superlative young musician whose name would later on be spoken of in the same breath as other legends. |
 Sergiu Celibidache EditionCelibidache was without question one of the most important and original conductors in recent memory. He was a perfectionist who disliked what he perceived to be the synthetic sounds created in the modern recording studio, preferring the immediacy of the concert platform and the interaction with a live audience. Brought together here in four special volumes, the Celibidache series celebrates the extraordinary legacy of his collaboration with the Müncher Philharmoniker portraying the excitement and atmosphere of their live performances. |
 Bach - Concertos for Several Instruments, Volumes 1-6Café ZimmermannThis complete set of instrumental works for large forces by J S Bach represents, for the ensemble Café Zimmermann and for Alpha, the fruit of ten years’ work and research. The great care taken over each volume – in the choice of musicians and instruments, of recording venue and acoustics, with the fullness and balance of sound perfectly controlled by Hughes Deschaux and Aline Blondiau so that each instrument can be heard clearly – has made this six-volume set into an absolute reference. |
 Arthur Rubinstein: The Complete Album CollectionArthur Rubinstein (piano)142-CD plus 2-DVD limited edition The complete studio and live recordings of solo, concerto and chamber music repertoire on RCA Red Seal in their best remastered versions. Includes all EMI recordings (originally released on RCA). |
 Australian Eloquence6 New re-issuesAnother six re-issues on Australian Eloquence. Jean Morel makes a first appearance on Decca CD with music by Bizet, Chabrier and Ravel as well as the Surinach and Arbós orchestrations of Albéniz’s Ibéria. An all-Mozart 2CD set from Friedrich Gulda brings together recordings of Mozart Piano Concertos with Anthony Collins and a selection of the composer’s solo pieces. Eduard van Beinum conducts Elgar and Tchaikovsky, and former LSO principals Barry Tuckwell and Gervase de Peyer play Mozart Concertos. The rare recording of the Clarinet Concerto with de Peyer and Collins will be especially welcomed by listeners, as will a set of the composer’s German Dances recorded by Peter Maag for Decca and never reissued beyond its original 10” LP incarnation. |
 BBC Radio 3 CD ReviewSaturday 10th December 2011 |
Building a Library - Handel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto (Julius Caesar) |
 First Choice (DVD)Andreas Scholl (Giulio Cesare), Inger Dam-Jensen (Cleopatra), Randi Steene (Cornelia), Tuva Semmingsen (Sesto), Christopher Robson (Tolomeo), Palle Knudsen (Achilla) & James Huw Jeffries (Nireno), Concerto Copenhagen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen |
 First Choice (CD)Dame Janet Baker (Julius Caesar), Valerie Masterson (Cleopatra), Della Jones (Sextus), Sarah Walker (Cornelia), James Bowman (Ptolemy), John Tomlinson (Achillas), Christopher Booth-Jones (Curio), David James (Nirenus), English National Opera Orchestra, English National Opera Chorus, Sir Charles Mackerras |
Disc of the Week |
 Schubert: Piano Sonatas D840, 850, 894 & Impromptus D899Paul Lewis (piano) |
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