Howard Karp? Who he? That was my first response when offered this
set for review. Given my total ignorance I hope Kenneth Woods –
known to me as a conductor and blogger of singular passion and insight
- will forgive me for plundering his excellent liner-notes for more
details. Born in Chicago in 1929 Karp studied at both the Oberlin
Conservatory of Music and the Juilliard School of Music. As a Fulbright
scholar he went on to Vienna, and thence to Casa Orfeo in Positano,
Italy, for Beethoven studies with the great Wilhelm Kempff. Thereafter
he combined a 45-year teaching career at US and Asian universities
with solo and chamber performances. He died in June 2014.
It never ceases to amaze me that so many performers – the hugely
talented Mr Karp included - barely get a mention in the burgeoning
annals of cyberspace. Thanks to the advocacy of Kenneth Woods and
Albany Records that’s about to change. This 6-CD set, which
ranges far and wide, strikes me as a handsome tribute to a pianist/pedagogue
who really ought to be better known. That’s rather bold, I hear
you cry. Well, having just sampled the first disc in the box I see
no reason to recant. What’s more, the sound quality seems pretty
decent, despite the number of years and venues spanned. With one exception
- the Liszt Ballade No. 2 - these are live performances,
taped at campus concerts/recitals; however, the venue for the Kirchner
is given as 'Berlin, 1973'. Some applause has been retained.
CD 1 starts with a gregarious, open-hearted account
of Schumann’s Op. 17 that pretty much sums up Karp’s strengths
as a performer; he doesn’t shrink from grand gestures, yet he’s
silkily sensitive when required. I’ve seldom heard the wellspring
of Schumann’s talent bubble so freely, not least in the effervescent
central movement. Superbly shaped and projected this is a far cry
from the prissily precise pianism one hears all too much these days.
It’s all about confidence, although in Karp’s case it’s
seldom overweening. After all this pant and ardour the bell-like tones
and burnished weight of the Fantasie’s final movement
are simply glorious.
After all that glow the somewhat limited dynamics, narrow soundstage
and peaky treble of Schumann’s Piano Sonata No. 3 -
his ’Concerto without Orchestra’ - are mildly disappointing.
That said, Karp’s magisterial mien is unmistakable - as are
his powers of articulation – especially when the music is at
its most fulsome. It’s not just about separating the notes and
maintaining rhythmic edges, for Karp can be soft and variegated when
he needs to be; that’s amply demonstrated in his subtly shaded
account of Liszt’s Ballade No. 2. The work’s
repeated ‘rolling boil’ theme is darkly turbid and its
gentle currents have a wonderful serenity about them. Some may prefer
a more patrician playing style – Jorge Bolet and Claudio Arrau
come to mind - but Karp’s ease and intimacy make this a treasurable
alternative. This was Karp's final recording (2007).
Such felicities of rhythm, touch and phrase ought to stand Karp in
good stead when it come to Schubert’s late, great Piano
Sonata No. 19, which opens CD 2. He certainly
captures the score’s carefree elements, which aresubtly offset
by those solemn, hymn-like passages. This really is playing of rare
grace and intuition; indeed, Karp’s many insights remind us
of the incredible fecundity of Schubert’s musical imagination.
His discreet shifts of mood and colour – not to mention the
poise of the Adagio - are a source of lasting pleasure; by
the way, there are moments in the latter movement when the background
noise is a little more intrusive than I’d like. Still, this
is a keeper, as they say.
The heavenly lengths and cadences of Schubert’s Piano Sonata
No. 21 are no less appealing; the recording is somewhat warmer
than in the previous sonata and the piano’s upper registers
aren’t so brightly lit. The result is a performance of uncommon
blush and beauty, its clear countenance unblemished by crudely applied
dynamic shifts. After all this spontaneity and charm - not to mention
the fine fretwork of the Allegro non troppo - I have no hesitation
in declaring this a keeper too. Disconcertingly the Impromptu
that ends this disc is weighted towards the left channel. In spite
of that - it's also the oldest recording here - the piano sounds quite
clean and full; indeed, the pinpoints of light that illuminate the
score are beautifully caught. Another keeper? Absolutely.
CD 3 is devoted to works by Chopin and Liszt, both
of whom should suit Karp’s ebullient brand of pianism. Well,
yes and no; although Chopin’s Sonata in B minor is
strongly drawn, its bold peaks nicely contrasted with gentler inclines,
there’s a hint of rhythmic inflexibility and a hardened tone.
Still, there’s much to enjoy both here and in the Mazurka
that follows. I must confess I don’t warm to Karp’s Chopin
as readily as I do to his Liszt. These excerpts from Années
de Pèlerinage have exceptional body and warmth, as well
as thrilling amplitude. There’s a profound nobility to La
chapelle de Guillaume Tell, a delicious sparkle in Au bord
d'une source, and Vallée d'Obermann
has seldom seemed so broad and painterly.
Indeed, I’d say that Liszt plays to all Karp’s
strengths as a performer; I particularly relish the dark sonorities
here, which make Jorge Bolet and Jenö Jandó – both
seasoned Lisztians - seem almost insubstantial by comparison. True,
Karp isn’t as pellucid as some, but he’s unerringly evocative
and dramatic, and that’s what really counts. Just listen to
Au lac de Wallenstadt – what ravishing timbres –
and the bright animation of Les cloches de Genève.
Karp’s clear bells don’t quite match up to Bolet’s
more magical ones, but goodness they come close. Ditto in the plash
and play of Les jeux d'eau à la Villa d'Este.
There’s some audience noise in quieter moments; otherwise this
is a rich and resonant recording. The enthusiastic applause, soon
faded, is well deserved.
Given that Karp studied Beethoven with Kempff I was intrigued to hear
how much of his mentor’s playing style he might have imbibed.
His Hammerklavier, which opens CD 4, certainly
has the clarity and intimacy of scale that one associates with Kempff.
Indeed, there’s a wonderful stroboscope of light and shade pulsing
through the first movement that makes for a most refreshing and varied
performance. Those reared on the likes of Emil Gilels may feel the
sheer rigour of this late work is underplayed; perhaps, but it would
be foolish to dismiss Karp’s jewelled narrative as somehow undemanding
or lightweight. True, it’s not the only Hammerklavier
I’d want on my shelves, but it’s well worth hearing nonetheless.
A word of warning though; there are a few small dropouts and a bit
of hum, neither of which is distracting enough to spoil the performance.
On the same disc Karp’s reading of Beethoven’s Op. 111
- recorded three years earlier - is a much cleaner and more sharply
focused affair. It has many of the characteristics that define his
Hammerklavier; there’s a mercurial touch that some
may dismiss as superficial or self-serving, yet there’s also
a hushed loveliness to the second movement that I find most rewarding.
As so often, Karp’s phrasing is unfailingly musical, adding
new contours to a work worn smooth by overfamiliarity. The disc concludes
with a warmly expressive rendition of the fourth movement of Beethoven’s
Op. 2 No. 2. Clean of limb and clear of eye it’s very much in
keeping with what we’ve heard thus far. The sound on this CD
does vary from piece to piece; it’s perfectly acceptable, though.
Most of CD 5 is devoted to Bach’s Goldberg
Variations, presented in somewhat ‘tunnelled’ sound
(it was recorded at the same time as that Schubert Impromptu).
Predictably this isn’t one of the cool – dare one say,
rather sanitized – performances of BWV988 that seem to predominate
these days; that said, Karp’s extrovert reading of this masterpiece
is not without its quirks and quiddities. For instance he takes some
of the variations at breakneck speed, and others aren’t as agile
as they might be. This Goldberg isn’t for everyone,
but listeners used to Glenn Gould’s various traversals won’t
mind Karp’s highly individual way with this score.
You’d think after all that declamatory power Mozart’s
K576 would come as something of a relief. Not a bit of it, for Karp
is just as emphatic here. It’s a bright, upfront performance
that's apt to wander a little. Karp’s dexterity is never in
doubt, but anyone seeking more light and shade – a little more
room to rest and recover between volleys – may find him a tad
relentless at times. In spite of so much boldness the Adagio
sings to itself most beautifully. Those who prefer the more elegant
and finely nuanced readings of Mitsuko Uchida et al may feel
Karp’s Mozart is too ‘old school’ for their tastes.
The same could be said of the third movement from Schubert’s
Piano Sonata No. 18, although Karp makes amends with playing
of astonishing fluidity.
CD 6 offers an eclectic mix, ranging from Bach to
Copland. The latter’s Piano Variations – a work
championed by Karp - is a 10-minute piece whose incipient austerity
never succumbs to dull catechism. No, Karp is much too lively an artist
and intellect to allow that; indeed, his penchant for maximum contrast
really pays off here, whether it’s peremptory single notes or
bittersweet chords. I haven’t heard the Piano Variations
in ages, and those who normally recoil at the merest whiff of serialism
would do well to give it a whirl. The recording is full and weighty,
which suits the music, although I sense an occasional shift of focus
that suggests knob twiddling somewhere along the line. The applause
is very appreciative, though.
The other 20th-century piece on this disc, Leon Kirchner’s Piano
Sonata No. 1, is compromised to some extent by a cave-like acoustic.
As before the quality of Karp’s playing is such that any sonic
shortfalls are quickly forgotten. It’s a piece of some sinew,
twisted with tendons of near lyricism, and I suspect this is as good
a performance of the sonata as you’re likely to hear. It certainly
reinforces my admiration for the Copland, which strikes me as a far
more inventive and durable work.
The melodic outpourings of Bach’s Partita No. 4 offer
some respite after that brief flirtation with pared-down modernity.
As with Karp’s Goldberg Variations this is a commendably
crisp and dynamic performance whose contrapuntal cascades are handled
with aplomb. The music-box delicacy and twirl of Schubert’s
Piano Sonata No. 17 (fourth movement) which concludes the
set, is similarly well done. It’s that rare thing, an alchemical
fusion of inspiration and insight that makes it all the more tragic
that we don’t get to hear Karp in the complete work.
I can’t possibly end this review on a note of regret, for there
is far too much here for which we should be truly grateful. After
hours of careful listening I can see why Howard Karp has such a devoted
following. I wouldn’t want everything here – I respect
rather then love his Bach, Mozart and Beethoven - but his Liszt and
Schubert are in another league entirely. Kenneth Woods’ detailed
and lively liner-notes round off a most attractive package.
A hidden talent revealed at last; a must for all pianophiles.
Dan Morgan
twitter.com/mahlerei
Masterwork Index: Goldberg
variations ~~ Beethoven
sonatas ~~ Schubert
sonatas
Contents list
CD 1 [77:21]
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Fantasie in C major, Op. 17 (1836) [30:07]
Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 14 ‘Concerto without Orchestra’
(1835) [28:53]
Franz LISZT (1811-1886)
Ballade No. 2 in B minor. S171 (1853) [18:20]
rec. 13 February 1972, Great Hall of the Krannert Center, University
of Illinois (Fantasie); 23 April 1967, Smith Hall, U. Illinois (Sonata);
Spring 2007, Mills Hall, University of Wisconsin-Madison (Ballade)
CD 2 [75:55]
Franz SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor, D958 (1828) [31:43]
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat major, D960 (1828) [37:47]
Impromptu No. 4, Op. posth. 142, D935 [6:23]
rec. November 1972, 25 February 1977, Mills Hall, UW-M (D958, 960);
2 October 1962, Smith Hall, U. Illinois (D935)
CD 3 [77:55]
Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58 (1844) [27:23]
Mazurka, Op. 56, No. 3 (1843) [7:24]
Franz LISZT
Années de Pèlerinage, Première année:
Suisse, S160 (1848-1855)
No. 1 La chapelle de Guillaume Tell [6:47]
No. 4 Au bord d'une source [3:56]
No. 6 Vallée d'Obermann [14:05]
No. 2 Au lac de Wallenstadt [3:51]
No. 9 Les cloches de Genève [6:10]
Troisième année: Suisse, S163 (1867-1877)
No. 4 Les jeux d'eau à la Villa d'Este [8:17]
rec 18 May 1976, Warner Concert Hall, Oberlin Conservatory of Music
(Sonata); September 1980, U. Colorado (Mazurka); 1972-1980 (Années
de Pèlerinage)
CD 4 [74:39]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Sonata in B flat major, Op. 106 ‘Hammerklavier’
(1819) [41:58]
Piano Sonata in C minor, Op. 111 (1822) [26:30]
Piano Sonata in A major, Op. 2, No. 2 (fourth movement) (1795) [6:090
rec. 6 January 1970, Festival Theater, Krannert Center, U. Illinois
(Hammerklavier, Op. 2 No. 2); 23 April 1967, Smith Hall, U. Illinois
(Op. 111)
CD 5 [67:29]
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Goldberg Variations, BWV988 (1742) [46:56]
Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART (1756-1791)
Piano Sonata No. 18 in D major, K576 (1789) [15:51]
Franz SCHUBERT
Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major, Op. 78, D894 (third movement) (1826)
[4:44]
rec. 2 October 1962, Smith Hall, U. Illinois (Goldbergs); 13 February
1972, Great Hall, Krannert Center, U. Illinois (K576); 3 December
1974, Smith Hall, UW-M (D894)
CD 6 [64:38]
Aaron COPLAND (1900=1990)
Piano Variations (1930) [10:26]
Leon KIRCHNER (1919-2009)
Piano Sonata No. 1 (1948) [16:40]
Johann Sebastian BACH
Partita No. 4 in D major, BWV828 (1726-1731) [30:01]
Franz SCHUBERT
Piano Sonata No. 17 in D major, Op. 53, D850 (fourth movement) (1825)
[7:31]
rec. 13 February 1972, Great Hall, Krannert Center, U. Illinois (Copland);
Berlin, 1973 (Kirchner); November 1972, 12 February 1971, Smith Hall,
UW-M (Bach, Schubert)
