This CD is part of a series entitled the ‘Freiburger Edition’.
The edition evidently sets out to document the best of the Freiburg PO’s
broadcast concerts as featured on Sudwestfunk in the Landesstudio Freiburg.
Two classic Russian works are offered on a reasonably well filled CD. First
of all let me applaud the choice of the second Tchaikovsky piano concerto.
The first would have been a more ‘obvious’ but more hackneyed option.
As it is the second concerto is a determinedly independent work which refuses
to ape the first concerto except occasionally in the first movement. On the
debit side it does not have the world-conquering melodies of the first concerto.
This version plays for just over 45 minutes and while in no way effacing
the Gilels version from some years ago or indeed Peter Donohoe’s (both
EMI - not sure if they are currently available) is a vivid document gaining
from the immediacy and risk-taking of a live concert situation with an audience
(largely silent) present. Certainly, Andreas Boyde gives every sign of revelling
in the work - both its showy splendour and its inwardness (very much to the
fore in the chamber music interplay between piano, violin and cello). The
first movement Allegro Brillante is stormy and turbulent aspiring
to the heights of the romantic ideal in a sort of parallel to Manfred.
While without the shocking overwhelming gusto and great tunes of No 1 is
still has its moments and more especially in first movement with its celebratory
theme like some grandiose coronation hymn. The second movement has extensive
work for solo violin and cello played with Brahmsian passion, occasional
introspection and chamber music texture. The finale glitters like Christmas
and is clearly a progenitor of the five Saint-Saens piano concertos and
especially the second.
I have less to say about the Shostakovich Ninth. After the first movement
which begins with the most sprightly woodwind gloriously recorded with excellent
stabbing attack I found that the tension occasionally sagged. This is a pity
because Johannes Fritzsch (the conductor) clearly took to the work with a
Rozhdestvensky-like pleasure in the more energetic movements. The sardonic
humour of the solo violin’s squeaking serenade is brilliantly caught
suggesting a zany serenade of the mice. The Moderato is much more
serious but a lot less concentrated and wayward. It wanders by some desolate
place like Warlock’s Curlew. The Presto is vintage
Shostakovich startlingly like a bellicose Malcolm Arnold with the orchestra
skating and skittering like maddened squirrels. The black Largo reminded
me of Bernard Herrmann’s fantasy film music. The final allegretto
is knockabout fun.
The notes are in English and German. The recording quality is excellent.
Two concert performance recordings which never less than enjoyable and which
in the case of the Concerto bid fair to be anyone’s library version.
Let me commend the concerto to any collectors who, with me, rejoice in live
concert recordings. Recommended in these terms.
Reviewer
Rob Barnett
(Tchaikovsky)
(Shostakovich)
and a further review from David Wright
Tchaikovsky has often been described as the composer of grand light music.
When I first heard this concerto forty years ago I was taken by the slow
movement, where there are extended passages for a piano trio, and it reminded
me of the Palm Court Orchestra and Max Jaffa. To my mind, Tchaikovsky's finest
works are not the ballets or the works with 'good tunes' but the operas,
chamber music and particularly his exquisite songs. He did not write well
for the piano (see my interview
with Peter Katin) and it is a curious thing that his most popular works are
not his best works. He was, however, very fluent resulting in his music sounding
very 'natural'; but he was also a superb technician particularly in remote
keys e.g. the Piano Concerto No 1 is in Bb minor and the mellow Quartet no
3 is in Eb minor.
The First Piano Concerto is structurally an enigma. It begins with four minutes
of that 'big tune' which is never heard again. The Second Piano Concerto
is more coherent and logical and demands a pianist of exceptional skill,
virtuosity and warmth. But it is not just the right notes and tempo but an
understanding of this unfolding drama. Boyde makes detail come to life; he
has an amazing capacity to build up long piano solos thereby making them
full of interest. His cadenzas are breathtaking and the clarity of his finger
work is stunning. And, thankfully, he is not a barnstorming, glamorous, athletic
performer, although he generates tremendous excitement. He has enviable lyrical
gifts and I have to say that, bearing in mind that this is a public performance
(where one does not get a 'second chance'), it is very impressive indeed.
The orchestra and conductor must also be congratulated.
The slow movement can wallow into cheap sentimentality if a strict tempo
is not observed. I once read a review that stated that Tchaikovsky was inspired
to write this movement after hearing the slow movement of Brahms' cherished
Double Concerto. Tchaikovsky wrote his work in 1880, Brahms in 1887! In this
movement Boyde and Fritzch combine effectively to prevent the music deteriorating
into cheap Johann Strauss confectionary. While the performers avoid these
pitfalls they also capture the warm mellowness. We have music, not an indulgence
in mawkishness. There are, however, moments of tender beauty and the pianists
clever timing of his entries enhances the music's expectations.
The finale Allegro con fuoco is a brilliant tour de force. Many pianists
who refuse to play this concerto stating that they do not like it, are hiding
the truth that they cannot play it. And this is one reason why the work stayed
on the shelf for a long time. I would have preferred a stronger attack in
this movement but this is more than adequately compensated for by the sparkling
clearness. Then, all of a sudden, the performance explodes - a marvellous
moment - and the work rushes on to an exhilarating and ruthless conclusion.
I hope Boyde may consider performing Tchaikovsky's other fine piano and orchestra
work, the Concert Fantasy of 1884 also in G major. Peter Katin's unrivalled
performance with Boult is still available, fortunately.
Shostakovich Symphony No 9 is sometimes maligned for being 'lightweight'
but as with the unsurpassed finale of his Symphony No 6, of which Fritz Reiner's
version is, by far, still the best, Shostakovich introduces a burlesque sense
of humour probably to counteract the repressive Stalin regime.
I was brought up on Mravinsky's performance and so, rightly or wrongly, I
judge all performances by that. Perhaps Fritzch's performance may occasionally
lack some finesse but when one considers the amazing detail he reveals and
his excellent control and balance this seems insignificant. There are some
superlative woodwind solos and the intonation throughout is remarkably secure
but I found the tempi rather cautious.
The exemplary recording greatly aids the clarity of detail.
Reviewer
David Wright
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Athene
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Andreas Boyde
(piano) Freiburg PO/Johannes Fritzsch Live broadcast recording on 13/14 January
1997 at Sudwestfunk Landestudio, Freiburg - Konzerthaus Freiburg
(concerto)