Jorge Bolet (piano) - Volume 3: Berlin 1961-74
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra/Moshe Atzmon
rec. 1961-74, Haus des Rundfunks, Saal 3, Berlin and ORTF, Paris (Beethoven)
AUDITE 21.459 [3 CDs: 224:28]
This 3-CD set is the third and final volume in the
sequence of Berlin radio recordings made by Jorge Bolet. Recorded between
1961 and 1974 all the pieces are new to disc with the single exception
of Leopold Godowsky’s Fledermaus ‘symphonic metamorphosis’
and were made available to Audite by Donald Manildi of the International
Piano Archives, University of Maryland. What’s especially valuable
is the amount of material new to Bolet’s discography – Beethoven’s
Fifth Piano Concerto in a Paris concert recording, Debussy’s Masques
and Images (Book II), Norman Dello Joio’s Second Sonata, Schumann’s
Third Sonata, Chopin’s Polonaises 3, 4 and 6 and the complete
Chopin Op.25 Etudes.
The Etudes were recorded in 1968 in splendid sound with Bolet on powerfully
communicative form, bringing a rich coloristic palette to the Aeolian
Harp, drollery to No.4, plangency to No.7 and true con fuoco
to No.10. If No.9 tends to float less like a butterfly and sting rather
more like a bee, the Winter Wind has an irradiating ferocity
to it. His 1974 Beethoven Concerto performance in Paris with the Berlin
Radio Symphony and Moshe Atzman – a decided asset throughout –
offers robust and commanding power in similarly fine stereo sound. Some
of the wind harmonies sound rather jarring, but the horns are on impressive
form and Bolet proves expressive and technically accomplished. It’s
a reading that marries majesty with sensitivity.
Both Schumann’s Third Sonata and Grieg’s Ballade in G minor
are heard in mono. The former receives a particularly attractive reading,
notably in the third movement variations, whilst the Grieg is at its
very best when Bolet explores the music’s flightier variations,
notably an ingeniously witty Allegro capriccioso and the burlesque
frivolity of No.10. Was it for reasons of radio timing that Bolet cut
the music – for example he excises the whole of No.12? Altogether
around three minutes (or so) of music is lost. Franck’s Prélude,
Aria et Final is another example of his way with a work that is
also available on a Marston release.
The final disc is quite wide ranging, and includes a bullish Chopin
Andante spianato and Polonaise, those three characterful Polonaises,
heard in excellent 1966 stereo, and a richly contoured Images
Book II. Of particular interest in the light of Bolet’s promotion
of new music is Dello Joio’s Second Sonata of 1943 (January 1966,
stereo). Full of rhythmic vivacity and astringent sonorities its harmonically
drifting slow movement is equally well surveyed by Bolet. Just what
would his Bartók have sounded like? His Godowsky offers a suitably ebullient
and virtuoso envoi.
The remastering does as much justice to Bolet’s tonal qualities
as it can - which is a significant amount - and Wolfgang Rathert’s
bi-lingual notes are succinct and helpful.
Jonathan Woolf
Disc contents
Fryderyk CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Etudes, Op.25 [33:26]
Fantaisie-impromptu in C sharp minor, Op.66 [4:55]
Andante spianato and Grand Polonaise in E flat major, Op.22 [13:21]
Polonaise No.3 in A major, Op.40 No.1 Military [4:54]
Polonaise No.4 in C minor, Op.40 No.2 [6:18]
Polonaise No.6 in A flat major, Op.53 Heroic [7:06]
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No.5
in E flat major, Op.73 [42:12]
Robert SCHUMANN (1810-1856)
Piano Sonata No.3 in F minor, Op.14 [26:50]
Frühlingsnacht, S568 (Liederkreis, Op.39 No.12 arr.
Franz Liszt) [2:42]
Edvard GRIEG (1843-1907)
Ballade in G minor, Op.24 [15:29]
César FRANCK (1822-1890)
Prélude, Aria et Final, FWV23 [24:00]
Claude DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Images Book II Nos i-iii [14:13]
Masques [5:33]
Norman Dello JOIO (1913-2008)
Piano Sonata No.2 [12:16]
Leopold GODOWSKY (1870-1938)
Symphonic Metamorphosis of themes by Johann Strauss; No.2 Die Fledermaus
[10:47]
