Leos Janácek: A Recollection

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It is pianist András Schiff's near total identification with Janácek's idiom that makes these performances so special. This affinity is felt immediately in his reading of In the Mists, in which Schiff is able to evoke the tranquility of the second movement as easily as he captures the folklike simplicity of the third. The date 1.X.1905 in the title of the Piano Sonata refers to the date of the shooting of a Czech worker by Hapsburg troops. The first movement, marked "Presentiment," is spookily atmospheric, while the chilling second movement, "The Death," leaves a powerful impression. Schiff demonstrates exemplary control, so that the effect is peaceful rather than meandering. On an Overgrown Pathis Janácek at his most concentrated: in particular, the very Czech lachrymose quality of "In Tears" is all the more powerful for its simplicity. Janácek's chosen range of keyboard sonorities is remarkably wide, and Schiff manages to use these to convey the full emotional spectrum. Although these performances do not displace Firkusny's for DG, they certainly offer an entirely convincing alternative viewpoint. ECM's exemplary recording sets the seal on this recommendation. --Colin Clarke

Tracks:

In The Mist: I. Andante
In The Mist: II. Molto Adagio
In The Mist: III. Andante
In The Mist: IV. Presto
Son 1.X.1905: The Presentiment/Die Ahnung - Con Moto
Son 1.X.1905: The Death/Der Tod - Adagio
On An Overgrown Path I: Our Evenings - Moderato
On An Overgrown Path I: A Blown Away Leaf - Andante
On An Overgrown Path I: Come With Us! - Andante
On An Overgrown Path I: The Madonna Of Frydek - Grave
On An Overgrown Path I: They Chattered Like Swallows - Con Moto
On An Overgrown Path I: Words Fail! - Andante
On An Overgrown Path I: Good Night! - Andante
On An Overgrown Path I: Unutterable Anguish - Andante
On An Overgrown Path I: In Tears - Larghetto
On An Overgrown Path I: The Barn Owl Has Not Flown Away! - Andante
On An Overgrown Path II: I. Andante
On An Overgrown Path II: II. Allegretto
On An Overgrown Path: I. Piu Mosso
On An Overgrown Path: II. Allegro
On An Overgrown Path: III. Vivo
A Recollection: Con Moto

Amazon.com

It is pianist András Schiff's near total identification with Janácek's idiom that makes these performances so special. This affinity is felt immediately in his reading of In the Mists, in which Schiff is able to evoke the tranquility of the second movement as easily as he captures the folklike simplicity of the third. The date 1.X.1905 in the title of the Piano Sonata refers to the date of the shooting of a Czech worker by Hapsburg troops. The first movement, marked "Presentiment," is spookily atmospheric, while the chilling second movement, "The Death," leaves a powerful impression. Schiff demonstrates exemplary control, so that the effect is peaceful rather than meandering. On an Overgrown Pathis Janácek at his most concentrated: in particular, the very Czech lachrymose quality of "In Tears" is all the more powerful for its simplicity. Janácek's chosen range of keyboard sonorities is remarkably wide, and Schiff manages to use these to convey the full emotional spectrum. Although these performances do not displace Firkusny's for DG, they certainly offer an entirely convincing alternative viewpoint. ECM's exemplary recording sets the seal on this recommendation. --Colin Clarke

Customer Reviews:

Heart over Head.......2005-04-11

Firkusny studied with Janacek...almost all reviewers agree that his interpretation is truest to Janacek's intent. Yet in head-to-head listenings, it's the Schiff performance that I prefer.

I find the Firkusny performance to be clinical and dry as compared to Schiff, who is more lyrical and poetic. Firkusny may be playing it how Janacek intended, but musicians are artists and are free to interpret a piece any way they like. For this piece, I choose Schiff's interpretation.

Lovely, Dark, and Deep.......2002-07-21

It's late November and you're walking out in the woods. There's a crisp coolness underfoot and in the air. And you've just lost a dear friend to time and circumstance....

That is the type of Recollection which this music evokes for me. The excellent liner notes by Imre Kertesz and Robert Cowan refer to how each one of these evocative pieces is like a short story; each contains its own inner world: the "world in a grain of sand." There is the same mystical element present that one encounters in Arvo Part's music, but there is an impressionistic element as well, more lyrical than Debussy, and more emotional.

The magnificent two-movement Sonate (1.X.1905) is easily the highlight of the album. It was written to commemorate a protesting Czech student executed on that date by German troops. The second movement (entitled simply, "Death") still has, as the liner notes aptly say, "the power to shock." There is an existential element to this music, that "poses the eternally unanswered and unanswerable question of the human condition" (Kertesz).

In response to another reviewer who has stated that the recording's sound quality is lacking: I have listened to this recording on my car's cd player, and there it does sound rather like too much of an echo is present. But on my home stereo system, with quality speakers and subwoofer, the slight echo actually enhances the haunting quality of this music. It is, for me, that echo, that silencio between the notes, that makes this music and this performance, unforgettable.

Janacek with no bite.......2002-01-27

Perhaps it's unfair to compare Schiff to Firkusny, who actually knew Janacek and kept his music always close to his heart. I'm not intimating that Schiff does not know these pieces, but to the contrary, he brings a carefully studied and balanced performance of the pieces. However, the centerpiece of this disc, Janacek's piano sonata, is a disappointment. The first movement, "Presentiment", does not have the anger that Janacek intends. Janacek was a very programatic composer, and Schiff somewhat stifles the edgy passion of this movement. The second movement, "Death", is quite good in contrast. Schiff's Schubertian touch adds fine eloquence to this intense and despondent movement. "In the Mists" pieces are played with fine sensibility and sensitiveness, and other miniatures come off with lyricism, but be it his approach or the acoustics or the Bosendorfer piano that Schiff used... there just is no sense of passion, an element of unmediated emotion. Still, the benchmark is my well-traveled double disc Firkusny on Deutsche Gramophone, with a fine, thrillingly jagged account of the first movement of the sonata.

Out of this world!.......2001-10-23

Andras Schiff has received great acclaim for his Bach and Schubert performances. I really can't understand why. However, I do like Schiff's interpretations of Scarlatti, Mozart and 20th century music. I am very fond of his contribution to the Carter disc that he made a couple of years ago. Thus, it came as no surprise when I found out that it was Schiff, whom I heard in some superb Janacek on NPR lately.

I got familiar with these works thanks to the folks at Naxos, but here we get playing at a whole different level. The works are performed with a sense of "bitter-sweetness", that is reminiscent of the late piano works of Brahms. Schiff performs Janacek as the Czech equivalent of Debussy to great effect. For me this works better than Firkushny's more Dvorak-based interpretation.

Schiff's tribute to Janacek is hauntingly beautiful and should make its way to the collection of anyone with a serious interest in the piano repertoire.

One small comment. Uncharacteristically for ECM, the piano sound is a bit disappointing. The timbre tends towards the nasal/metallic and is very much at odds with the sound that I heard Schiff produce in concert

Haunting and Timely.......2001-09-26

In this time of great tragedy in our nation, music helps ease the grief and anxiety we feel our souls. This phenomenal CD of piano music by the polish composer Leos Janacek, played by Andras Schiff, is hauntingly beautiful. The music plays to the heart.

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