These are very interesting, very moving pieces played with expression and precision by the young Israel-born pianist Avner Arad. Janacek lived in turbulent times and experienced the heartbreak of losing two of his children. "On an Overgrown Path," written after his daughter, Olga, died at age 20, is very poignant, expressing tenderness, remembered times, anguish, and solitude. The two-movement sonata (a third movement was torn to shreds by Janacek before the first public performance) commemorates the death of a young Czech student during a demonstration in 1905.
Incidently, Mr. Arad studied in New York with the late master pianist Rudolf Firkusny who previously had studied… Read more
First of all, the recorded sound (Decca vintage 1987 DDD) of this disc is amazing!--vivid, detailed, full, and atmospheric. Inner details are clear and stand out as they were written. The Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal under Charles Dutoit do themselves proud--especially the percussion section in both works and the pianist in the second work. String playing and ensemble is also excellent. In fact, the overall orchestral precision and agility are of a high order. Always important with Bartok, the rhythms are nicely caught. All in all, a very fine disc of two important 20th Century works. Total playing time is around 69 minutes. -szc
. I have no quibbles with the performance of the interesting and rewarding work recorded on this disc. I applaud everyone involved in the initial undertaking of bringing this rediscovered work to public attention. As my tastes lean toward "historically informed" performance practice, I believe that the period instruments (or copies of period instruments), especially the brass, used here add something special to the occasion.
What I do not like about this live recording is that, in an attempt to be so correct in re-creating this music in an "appropriate venue" (i.e. a huge cathedral, in this case Westminster Cathedral) as it might have been performed in the time… Read more
