Karl WEIGL (1881-1949)
Six Fantasies (1942) [25.30] (Spring Evening (Andante) [2.23]; Burlesque
(Allegro) [5.43]; Remembrance (Adagio mesto) [3.25];Capriccio
(Allegretto) [6.53]; Longing (Adagio) [3.34]; Halloween (Allegro)
[3.28])
Toteninsel (Isle of the Dead) (1903) [13.12]
Bilder und Geschichten (Pictures and Tales), Op. 2 (1909) [13:03] ( Es war
einmal (Once upon a Time) [2:34]; Schneewittchen (Snow-white) [1:56];
Storch, Storch, Steiner (Stork, lanky Long-legs) [1:05]; Schlaf,
Kindlein, schlaf (Sleep, child, Sleep) [3:23]; Dornroschens Grab (Sleeping
Beauty's Grave) [1:33]; Im Mondschein (By Moonlight) [2:31])
Tanz der Erinnyen (Dance of the Furies) (1937-38) [5:21]
Nachtphantasien (Night Fantasies), Op. 13 (1911) [21:35] (Langsam [5:19];
Heftig [2:35]; Langsam, innig [4:56]; Unruhig, drangend
[2:37]; Zart bewegt [6:08])
Joseph Banowetz (piano)
rec. Skywalker Sound, Marin County, California, 9-10 November and 18 December
2009. DDD
NAXOS 8.572423 [78.49]
An interesting disc of piano works composed between 1903 and 1942 by the Austrian
composer, Karl Weigl, here performed by American pianist Joseph Banowetz.
It commences with Six Fantasies, in which I felt the pieces were slightly
let down by the performance: the third movement Remembrance calls for
more depth of sound in the melodic line - particularly in the ‘alto’
register - this would then contrast better with the higher registration. The
following Capriccio was rather staid, with its central section requiring
much more colour contrast. The ends of some of the phrases seem a little half-hearted,
especially when two phrases are separated by a sudden harmonic change. I also
found the recorded sound somewhat odd - lacking in warmth, with a dry acoustic
background and a failure to capture the resonance of the higher register of
the piano.
Toteninsel (Isle of the Dead) follows. With such an evocative and
descriptive title, I would have hoped for more fervent and imaginative playing,
yet the performance doesn’t really express the pictorial element with
enough conviction. It lacks colour and spirit, particularly in the opening
section, which needs a far greater sense of menace.
Bilder und Geschichten (Pictures and Tales) features some really
rather wonderful music, with its fantasy-like opening Es war einmal,
and rather Grimm-flavoured final movement Im Mondschein (By
Moonlight). The character of this movement belies the expectations set
up by its title - far from being tranquil and reflective it is redolent of
sinister mischief; but again, this should really be brought out more by the
pianist.
After a rather too gentle Tanz der Erinnyen (Dance of the Furies),
Nachtphantasien (Night Fantasies) concludes the disc, and again
the performances don’t really do the music justice: Heftig needs
a much greater sense of fierceness and focus, whilst Langsam, innig
feels too superficial - more could be made of the falling semitones, for example.
Disappointing: some colourful and really lovely piano works let down by performances
that lack conviction, imagination and passion.
Em Marshall-Luck
Disappointing: some colourful and really lovely piano works let down by performances
that lack conviction, imagination and passion.
see also review by Paul Corfield Godfrey