My One Man Chopin Write-Off, Part 4: Concertos
Written: Dec 06 '01 (Updated May 27 '05)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Prodigious talent. Beautiful compositional structure.
Cons: This kid is 5 days younger than me. I am such a slacker.
The Bottom Line: Child prodigy plays Chopin's concertos with mastery and skill.
|
|
|
| jay1051971's Full Review: The Legendary 1984 Moscow Concert - Chopin / Evgen... |
From www.dictionary.com
Concerto \Con*cer"to\ n.; pl. Concertos. [It. See Concert, n.] (Mus.) A composition (usually in symphonic form with three movements) in which one instrument (or two or three) stands out in bold relief against the orchestra, or accompaniment, so as to display its qualities or the performer's skill.
Almost all of Frederic Chopin’s works were character pieces for the piano. The exception to this are the two brilliant piano concertos composed in the earlier portion of his career. On this CD, these two works are presented here from a concert performed in 1984, by a then 12 year-old wunderkind, Evgeny Kissin.
Tracks:
Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 11
1. Allegro maestoso
2. Romance. Larghetto
3. Rondo. Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 21
4. Maestoso
5. Larghetto
6. Allegro vivace
7. Mazurka No. 40 in F minor (Op. 63, No. 2)
8. Mazurka No. 49 in F minor (Op. 68, No. 4)
9. Waltz No. 14 in E minor, Op. posth
Evgeny Kissin – Piano
Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Dmitri Kitaenko, Conductor
Recorded live in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, March 27, 1984
Breakdown:
Chopin’s composed his Piano Concertos early in his career as he was establishing himself as a virtuoso performer on the instrument. The piano had only recently achieved the status of virtuoso instrument par excellence on a level with the violin and the human voice of the Opera House. Although the highly ornamented styling of the opera singer had begun to work against its popular favor, it was precisely that influence that helped the piano develop as an instrument of wondrous expression. Although he later turned away from this genre of composition, in favor of the character pieces that made him great, these works are a marvel to hear.
Chopin’s first concerto begins the first movement with a lengthy symphonic intro. At times large and robust, at others soft and soothing, the orchestra plays for quite some time before the piano enters in a sudden fashion. The first, harshly struck chords lead into a lyrical aria. Many scholars have commented on the heavy influence of Italian opera on Chopin’s music, and listening to this it is easy to see why. The piano has a brilliant, heavily ornamented improvisational quality, with an amazing depth in both technical and expressive aspects. The orchestra for the most part is provides a backdrop, coming into the foreground to serve as a bridge between the sections where the piano is showcased. This 18 movement ends with a recurrence of the opening theme.
The second movement is softer in mood, with a slow, reflective melody played on the piano. The orchestra and piano are more entwined and complementary to one another in this movement. The orchestra ebbs and flows throughout the movement, as the piano floats along in a dreamlike manner. The movement resolves by simply fading away at the end. The third movement begins with a hard and ominous blast. The piano jumps in shortly thereafter with a playful and joyous spirit, which the orchestra follows suit. The piano runs in this movement are flighty and quick. Interestingly, there is no recurrence of the initial darkness, which makes one think that it was only put there to jolt the listener from the trance induced by the second movement.
The second concerto has much of the same format as the first concerto. The first movement is urgent and dramatic, with the piano playing powerful, almost improvisational solos throughout. The second is slower, with a song like melody. Of note is the way this movement gets forceful at times. The third is very rhythmic, incorporating many dance forms into its structure, and laced with more improvisational solos.
The music is both brilliant in its technical aspects, and emotionally complex. What makes this CD even more astounding to listen to is that it’s being played by a twelve year-old. Evgeny Kissin plays the music with a level of intuition and familiarity that is rare in performers two and three times his age. I think John Pfeiffer says it best, as the liner notes of the CD he writes:
“Although there is a hint of ambiguity in attributing legendary status to concerts performed by a mere youth, those represented by the recordings in this collection give validity to the paradox. And the proof is in the music. For a twelve year-old to tackle the formidable technical and stylistic complexities of Chopin’s two concertos and produce fully formed and compelling musical results is by itself evidence of the historic significance of Evgeny Kissin’s accomplishments.
The wonder of such prodigious evidence lies in the mystery of its source. Was it taught, inherited, cultivated, culturally absorbed? Is there some divine linkage with the masters of the past? Is it some remarkable arrangement of genes and chromosomes that forms the appropriate mental and physical attributes? Perhaps like all human characteristics, it is a combination of forces, strengths and even weaknesses. But Kissin has a unique alignment with the rhetoric and passion of Chopin. From his vocal structure and arching line delineated by pianistic invention, Chopin drew innovation with broad strokes and exotic tonal poetry. Our youthful pianist, using instinctive resources, seems to fulfill the ideal symmetry of composer and interpreter….”
What more can I say?
Note: This is the fourth of five in a series of reviews I am doing this week on the music of Frederic Chopin. I will post one new review a day until tomorrow.
Read My One Man Chopin Write-Off, Part 5: Horowitz
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Waking up
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
jay1051971
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Member: Jason
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Reviews written: 343
Trusted by: 216 members
About Me:
The 4 Essential Food Groups: Drugs, Guns, Booze, and Hookers.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.