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Karl WEIGL (1881-1949)
Six Fantasies (1942) [25.30] (Spring Evening (Andante) [2.23]; Burlesque
(Allegro) [5.43]; Remembrance (Adagio mesto) [3.25];Capriccio
(Allegretto) [6.53]; Longing (Adagio) [3.34]; Halloween
(Allegro) [3.28])
Toteninsel (Isle of the Dead) (1903) [13.12]
Bilder und Geschichten (Pictures and Tales), Op. 2 (1909) [13:03]
( Es war einmal (Once upon a Time) [2:34]; Schneewittchen (Snow-white)
[1:56]; Storch, Storch, Steiner (Stork, lanky Long-legs)
[1:05]; Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf (Sleep, child, Sleep) [3:23];
Dornroschens Grab (Sleeping Beauty's Grave) [1:33]; Im
Mondschein (By Moonlight) [2:31])
Tanz der Erinnyen (Dance of the Furies) (1937-38) [5:21]
Nachtphantasien (Night Fantasies), Op. 13 (1911) [21:35] (Langsam
[5:19]; Heftig [2:35]; Langsam, innig [4:56]; Unruhig,
drangend [2:37]; Zart bewegt [6:08])
Joseph Banowetz (piano)
rec. Skywalker Sound, Marin County, California, 9-10 November and
18 December 2009. DDD
NAXOS 8.572423 [78.49]
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An interesting disc of piano works composed between 1903 and
1942 by the Austrian composer, Karl Weigl, here performed by
American pianist Joseph Banowetz.
It commences with Six Fantasies, in which I felt the pieces
were slightly let down by the performance: the third movement
Remembrance calls for more depth of sound in the melodic
line - particularly in the ‘alto’ register - this
would then contrast better with the higher registration. The
following Capriccio was rather staid, with its central
section requiring much more colour contrast. The ends of some
of the phrases seem a little half-hearted, especially when two
phrases are separated by a sudden harmonic change. I also found
the recorded sound somewhat odd - lacking in warmth, with a
dry acoustic background and a failure to capture the resonance
of the higher register of the piano.
Toteninsel (Isle of the Dead) follows. With such
an evocative and descriptive title, I would have hoped for more
fervent and imaginative playing, yet the performance doesn’t
really express the pictorial element with enough conviction.
It lacks colour and spirit, particularly in the opening section,
which needs a far greater sense of menace.
Bilder und Geschichten (Pictures and Tales) features
some really rather wonderful music, with its fantasy-like opening
Es war einmal, and rather Grimm-flavoured final movement
Im Mondschein (By Moonlight). The character
of this movement belies the expectations set up by its title
- far from being tranquil and reflective it is redolent of sinister
mischief; but again, this should really be brought out more
by the pianist.
After a rather too gentle Tanz der Erinnyen (Dance
of the Furies), Nachtphantasien (Night Fantasies)
concludes the disc, and again the performances don’t really
do the music justice: Heftig needs a much greater sense
of fierceness and focus, whilst Langsam, innig feels
too superficial - more could be made of the falling semitones,
for example.
Disappointing: some colourful and really lovely piano works
let down by performances that lack conviction, imagination and
passion.
Em Marshall-Luck
see also review by Paul
Corfield Godfrey
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