Editorial Board
MusicWeb International
Founding Editor Rob Barnett Editor in Chief
John Quinn Contributing Editor Ralph Moore Webmaster
David Barker Postmaster
Jonathan Woolf MusicWeb Founder Len Mullenger
Aria – Opera without Words Camille SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Fantasy on Two Themes from Samson et Dalila (arr. Jean-Yves Thibaudet
and Randy Kerber) [6:55] Richard STRAUSS (1864-1949)
Ramble on the Last Love Duetfrom Der Rosenkavalier (arr. Percy
Grainger) [7:27} Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) ‘O mio babbino caro’ from Gianni Schicchi (arr.
Yvar Mikhashoff) [2:53] Erich Wolfgang KORNGOLD (1897-1957) ‘Gluck, das mir verblieb’ from Die Tode
Stadt (arr. Giovanni Sgambati) [6:06] Johann STRAUSS II (1825-1899) Soirée de Vienne – concert paraphrase on
waltz themes by Johann Strauss (arr. Alfred Grunfeld) [5:40] Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) ‘Vissi d’arte’ from Tosca (arr.
Yvar Mikhashoff) [3:25] Vincenzo BELLINI (1801-1835) ‘Casta diva’ from Norma (arr. Yvar
Mikhashoff) [6:58] Christoph Willibald GLUCK (1714-1787) Mélodie from Dance of the Blessed Spirits
(Orphée et Eurydice) [3:25] Giacomo PUCCINI (1858-1924) Portrait of Madam Butterfly – An operatic sonata-fantasy
on themes of Puccini (arr. Yvar Mikhashoff) [12:18] Richard WAGNER (1813-1883) The Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walkure (arr.
Louis Brassin) [5:05]
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
(piano)
rec. 24-28 June 2006, Reitstadt, Neumarkt, Germany DECCA 475 7668 [60:53]
My review copy of this disc comes with a sticker praising Thibaudet’s
playing as ‘flat out dazzling’. Well, Thibaudet is
no stranger to virtuosity, having recorded Liszt opera transcriptions
for Decca in 1992 (inexplicably deleted) and much else besides.
He also professes a lifelong interest in the human voice and
has accompanied many fine singers in his time, Cecilia Bartoli
and Renée Fleming among them. He was even cast in the
non-singing role of the Russian pianist in a Met production of
Giordano’s Fedora in 1996.
Perhaps the most interesting arrangements here are those by
Ronald Mackay, better known as Yvar Emilian Mikhashoff (1942-1993).
The American piano virtuoso introduced Thibaudet to his Puccini
arrangements early on in his career and left the scores to
him after his death in 1993.
Oddly enough for a disc that errs on the side of the populist,
Mikhashoff’s flamboyant ‘Puccini favourites’ may
not appeal to everyone. He takes the operatic originals more
as springboards than templates, with the result that Lauretta’s
melting aria ‘O mio babbino caro’ is recognisable
enough, although without the long, flowing vocal line that one
might expect. The Madam Butterfly arrangement is one of the most
ambitious in terms of length and complexity – in four parts,
it lasts more than 12 minutes. Butterfly is an intimate opera,
a private tragedy, and only in the climax does the arrangement
become a trifle overpowering. The Humming Chorus is a tiny, perfectly
formed gem, though.
Mikhashoff is more circumspect in ‘Casta diva’,
and Thibaudet obliges with playing of great delicacy and restraint.
A more cantabile style is very much in evidence here, making
for a lovely rendition of this aria.
One of the more unusual arrangements is that by the Australian
composer, arranger and pianist Percy Grainger (1882-1961). His
delectable Ramble on the Last Love Duet from Der Rosenkavalier may evoke the mists and veils of Debussy and Ravel rather than
the overheated amours of Strauss’s opera, but it’s
no less enjoyable for that.
Not content with just being the pianist Thibaudet commissioned
American composer-arranger Randy Kelber (b. 1948) to arrange
the Saint-Saëns and Korngold pieces. To my mind - and ear
- they are both beautifully realised, and less quirky than Mikhashoff’s
efforts. Sample the introduction to Marietta’s Song, the
bell-like sonorities instantly suggesting that bitter-sweet orchestral
prelude to this most glorious of arias. An altogether splendid
piece and one of the most rewarding on this disc. The Saint-Saëns
is perhaps less distinctive but its more reflective moments do
show Thibaudet at his quiet best.
Nothing restrained about the work of Austrian salon pianist
and composer Alfred Grunfeld (1852-1924), best. known for his
waltz arrangements. He manages to pull off a glittering homage
to Johann Strauss II, with Thibaudet taking the Lisztian arpeggios
and ear-tingling runs in great style. A real showstopper, this.
By contrast the Gluck, arranged by Giovanni Sgambati (1841-1914),
a protégé of Liszt, is much more austere and elegant,
with a real sense of the terraced dynamics of the Baroque style.
An altogether plainer piece it comes as something of a relief
after the dazzling Strauss.
The disc ends with that old warhorse – and surely one
ready for the knacker’s yard – The Ride of the
Valkyries.
It is played here in a curious arrangement by the Belgian pianist-composer
Louis Brassin (1840-1884). It is curious because although it
is technically demanding it is played at quite a gallop. Indeed,
it is in danger of unseating the riders! To hear how Wagner transcriptions
should really be done try Craig Sheppard’s masterful ’Liebestod’ from
Tristan und Isolde on CfP (CDCFPSD4745 - nla). Now there’s
a real sense of operatic sweep and drama.
Documentation for the present disc is up to the usual standards
of the house – although my review copy has the tracks in
the wrong order on the back of the box. At just under 61 minutes
the disc is reasonably well filled. But in any case, collections
like this are not ideally auditioned all in one go. Like kids
in a sweet-shop one is tempted to taste everything at once but
restraint is amply rewarded.
In recording terms the piano - a Steinway - is well caught by
Decca engineer Philip Siney. It is warm and detailed although
perhaps a little airless. A small caveat, I know, and it seems
churlish to complain when presented with piano playing of this
calibre.
For a more spacious natural sound - albeit of different repertoire
- listen to what the Hyperion engineers achieve in Philip Martin’s
rewarding cycle of piano music by Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869).
Sample Volume 5 (Hyperion CDA67248) for a real aural treat.
Reviews
from previous months Join the mailing list and receive a hyperlinked weekly update on the
discs reviewed. details We welcome feedback on our reviews. Please use the Bulletin
Board
Please paste in the first line of your comments the URL of the review to
which you refer.