Martin Roscoe’s Szymanowski series is
finally complete after a decade - the
first volume was issued in 1995 (8.533016),
the second in 1996 (8.553300) and the
third in 2000 (8.553867). Szymanowski’s
piano output consisted of three sonatas,
mazurkas, preludes, studies and some
miscellaneous works; there are no prizes
for guessing the role model. Indeed,
at the beginning of this disc one might
be fooled into thinking this is some
undiscovered Chopin. The Preludes were
written when Szymanowski was in his
mid-teens. They are tuneful, very well-crafted
works that are mostly reflective although
the fifth is full of drama. The Variations
in B flat minor are based on a simple,
tranquil theme which I presume was original.
Twelve short variations follow and though
there are no major innovations, glimpses
of Szymanowski’s later, post-romantic
style are offered. In this respect,
notable variations are the ninth – a
waltz and the twelfth, marked Allegro
con fuoco.
Six Mazurkas follow
– the last four of the Op.50 set and
the two which form Op.62 – his last
completed work. If Chopin was the ultimate
master of this form, Szymanowski was
surely not far behind. The Valse romantique
was composed as a tribute to the publisher
Emil Hertzka but somehow it doesn’t
seem to have been published and was
"rediscovered" only in 1967. There are
complex harmonies here and little that
Chopin would have recognised.
The third and final
piano sonata concludes the disc and
the series. Conventionally structured
in four movements, it is more concise
than either of its predecessors but
arguably Szymanowski’s most original
and compelling work for the piano. The
sound world here is reminiscent of Debussy
and Scriabin whilst retaining something
indefinable from Szymanowski’s Polish
homeland.
Martin Roscoe made
his name in rather different repertoire
but has proved a convincing exponent
of Szymanowski’s music. I have not heard
the competition but there is a bargain
price complete set by Martin Jones on
Nimbus. All four of Roscoe’s discs are
recommendable and hopefully Naxos will
bring his series together. Meanwhile,
volume 4 would be the obvious sampler
with music spanning Szymanowski’s entire
career and illustrating his development.
The recording and documentation are
particularly good here too. The sound
on the previous discs (recorded in East
Woodhay church) was closer and slightly
less natural but I have no sonic reservations
at all about volume 4.
Patrick C Waller
Martin Roscoe (piano) 
