CD Review
Medtner / Tchaikovsky: Piano Concertos, Yevgeny Sudbin, piano
- Composer
- Medtner / Tchaikovsky
- Artist
- Yevgeny Sudbin, piano; São Paulo Symphony Orchestra / John Neschling
- Label
- BIS
- Catalogue
- BIS-SACD-1588
- Reviewed by
- Anne McAlister
One of the highlights of this release is the booklet essay, by Sudbin himself. His English writing style is relaxed (colloquial even) yet elegant, the content informative and thought provoking without being dry. While he communicates his enthusiasm for Medtner, he understands that the music of this neglected composer may not be to everyone’s taste, especially on the first hearing. Of course, by pairing one of the least-recorded concertos with one of the most popular ever written, he’s at least giving Medtner a good chance of being heard, and it’s certainly a work worth hearing.
Medtner was a younger contemporary of Rachmaninov and Scriabin. Early on he developed his own very personal style of composition, romantically full-blooded and virtuosic, influenced by Russian folk music but rooted in the German masters such as Schumann and Brahms. His music is remarkable for its tightly-controlled structures and contrapuntal textures. His first concerto is in one movement, lasts as long as the Tchaikovsky and is very much a “symphonic concerto” with soloist and orchestra working together rather than being pitched against each other. It is dramatic and exciting, superficially most similar to Rachmaninov’s concertos, and I can confirm that it makes much more sense at the second and third hearings! The technical challenges that it presents the pianist are apparently extreme (although you wouldn’t guess from the performance); Sudbin likens the Tchaikovsky concerto to “an afternoon nap at midsummer” by comparison!
And the Tchaikovsky does sound as if it holds no technical difficulties whatsoever for Sudbin. It’s a sparkling performance that brings out the dance elements of the work, crisply articulated throughout. The solo part is never over-bearing, and the use of a slightly dry-toned piano makes for very clear textures. John Neschling and the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra prove sympathetic yet fiery partners throughout. This is refreshing, stimulating music-making.
A note on this page
Originally published by Anne McAlister, recovered from mmmusic's own archive and reproduced here as the critic wrote it.
Questions about this recording
Why pair Medtner's Piano Concerto with Tchaikovsky's?
The review notes it lets one of the least-recorded Romantic piano concertos share a disc with one of the most popular ever written, giving Medtner's music a better chance of being heard by pairing it with a familiar work rather than another rarity.
Who wrote the booklet essay for this disc?
Yevgeny Sudbin himself, in a relaxed, informative writing style the original review singled out as one of the release's highlights.
How is Medtner's Piano Concerto No.1 structured?
It's cast in a single movement, roughly as long as the Tchaikovsky concerto that shares the disc, and is described as a 'symphonic concerto' in which soloist and orchestra work together rather than being pitched against each other.
Is this recording still available to buy?
Yes, BIS's catalogue number BIS-SACD-1588 remains findable through classical retailers. We don't run an in-house shop, so we link out to Amazon and Discogs below.
