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Evelina Puzaite - Moments
Musicaux
Zoltán KODÁLY (1882-1967)
Dances of Marosszek (1930) [12:41] Mikalojus Konstantinas ČIURLIONIS (1875-1911)
Prelude Op. 12 No. 1 [1:51]; Prelude VL 241 [1:02]; Prelude VL 187 [1:81]; Prelude
VL 298 (Impromptu) [0:45]; Mazurka Op. 3 No. 3 [1:33] Franz LISZT (1811-1866) Trois Études de Concert S.144 [23:31] Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873-1943)
Moments Musicaux Op. 16 [31:52]
Evelina Puzaite (piano)
rec. Potton Hall, Suffolk, 22-24 January 2007 LANDOR RECORDS LAN281 [75:14]
Evelina Puzaite was born in 1982 in
Vilnius, Lithuania and has been the recipient of many prizes.
Most recently she won the Abstract Securities Landor Competition
in 2006. I assume that the present recording, the first of
her long term contract with Landor Records, is one result of
that competition. If so, it does credit to both Ms Puzaite
and Landor. The choice of music is interesting and well suited
to her abilities and style. The presentation of the disc, with
extensive and helpful notes by Jeremy Hayes is a model of its
kind - although it would have helped if the tracks had been
numbered.
The Kodály is well
known in its orchestral guise, but I had not heard it in its
original piano version before, and am very glad to have done
so now, especially in such a convincing performance. Ms Puzaite
has a very considerable technique and obvious views on the
character of the music she plays. This applies even more to
the Rachmaninov and Liszt where each piece is distinctly characterized.
At times the freedom which she applies to the text might perhaps
be thought excessive, but overall I found these fresh and convincing
performances.
Although they fill
only a small part of the disc, it was the Preludes by Čiurlionis
that I enjoyed most. Brief pieces that do not outstay their
welcome, each has its own character and interest. The reproductions
of two of his paintings in the booklet are too small to draw
any serious conclusions about the relationship between his
music and painting but they do whet the appetite to see more.
It is good not only that Ms Puzaite should want to record music
by her compatriot but that Landor have allowed her to do so.
I hope that she is allowed to continue this in her future recordings
with them.
I have purposely
not compared this disc with others in the case of the better
known works. At this stage in her career what matters is that
Ms Puzaite shows obvious abilities and promise, and that she
has produced a debut album which is thoroughly enjoyable in
itself. I look forward to future recordings with considerable
interest.
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