When studying in Germany
the young MacDowell was apparently encouraged
to compose by Liszt and there is some
evidence of his influence in the Second
Piano Concerto. In 1888 MacDowell returned
permanently to the United States. He
premièred the work in New York
in 1889 alongside the first US performance
of Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony.
In three movements, a short central
scherzo is flanked by two larger structures
with slow tempo markings. This work
is perhaps even more romantic than Rachmaninov’s
Second Concerto but is not on the same
level of inspiration. Although only
25 minutes long it seems to comfortably
outlast the musical material.
Liszt, like Chopin,
left us only two piano concertos, both
date from relatively early in his career
and were a long time in gestation. Both
play continuously for around twenty
minutes, the first in four sections,
the second in six. Grand gestures abound
but there are also reflective moments.
These well known works have been recorded
many times and there is strong competition,
notably from Richter, Brendel and Zimmerman.
André Watts
came to prominence in the 1970s when
at short notice he deputised for Glenn
Gould in Liszt’s First Concerto. His
playing of both composers is idiomatic
and likeable. He is well supported by
Andrew Litton who had just been appointed
Music Director in Dallas when these
recordings were made. These are all
decent enough performances if rather
low key at times. Certainly the Liszt
concertos do not take your breath away
as Richter does with his combination
of power and finesse in a recording
made with Kondrashin and the LSO in
1961.
Telarc have a reputation
for refined sound and live up to it
here. The disc is rather thinly documented
(lacking for example any mention of
MacDowell’s First Concerto) and is now
offered at mid-price. If the combination
of works appeals then this would be
a reasonable choice but for many it
will fall between two stools. The Liszt
concertos are generally more logically
coupled with his solo piano works and,
for those interested in MacDowell, there
are promising looking discs containing
both his concertos available on Hyperion
and Naxos (see review
of both these discs).
In summary, the playing
is sympathetic and recorded sound excellent
but this does not eclipse stiff competition
in the Liszt concertos.
Patrick C Waller
André Watts (piano) 
