Clara Haskil: The Salzburg Recital

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Painfully shy and plagued by ill health, Clara Haskil nevertheless established herself as one of the eminent concert artists of her time, and this 1957 Salzburg Festival recital offers ample evidence of her patrician elegance and exemplary musicianship. These composers were at the heart of her repertory, and she plays each of the three great sonatas with beautiful tone and complete understanding. The singing line of Mozart's Andante Cantabile and the ebb and flow of the Beethoven are captured with energetic grace, but the real highlight may be Schubert's last sonata, played with an aristocratic refinement that allows the tragic depths of the piece to shine through. Maggie Payne's excellent transfers yield sound quality comparable to good studio recordings of the time. Highly recommended. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

Piano Sonata K330: Allegro moderato
Piano Sonata K330: Andante Cantabile
Piano Sonata K330: Allegretto
Op. 31 No. 3: Allegro
Op. 31 No. 3: Scherzo. Allegretto vivace
Op. 31 No. 3: Menuetto - Trio. Moderato e grazioso
Op. 31 No. 3: Presto con fuoco
Sonata In B Flat, D.960: Molto moderato
Sonata In B Flat, D.960: Andante sostenuto
Sonata In B Flat, D.960: Scherzo - Trio. Allegro vivace con delicatezza
Sonata In B Flat, D.960: Allegro ma non troppo

Amazon.com

Painfully shy and plagued by ill health, Clara Haskil nevertheless established herself as one of the eminent concert artists of her time, and this 1957 Salzburg Festival recital offers ample evidence of her patrician elegance and exemplary musicianship. These composers were at the heart of her repertory, and she plays each of the three great sonatas with beautiful tone and complete understanding. The singing line of Mozart's Andante Cantabile and the ebb and flow of the Beethoven are captured with energetic grace, but the real highlight may be Schubert's last sonata, played with an aristocratic refinement that allows the tragic depths of the piece to shine through. Maggie Payne's excellent transfers yield sound quality comparable to good studio recordings of the time. Highly recommended. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

A Recital to Cherish.......2006-07-08

The legendary Romanian pianist Clara Haskil gave a recital at the Salzburg Festival on 8 August 1957 with a programme consisting of Mozart's C major Sonata K330, Beethoven's Sonata in E flat Op. 31 No. 3, and Schubert's B flat Sonata D960. The event was broadcast and recorded live by the Austrian Radio and is issued here unofficially on Music & Arts. The sound is often a bit compressed, but it is clear enough for one to enjoy Haskil's round, singing tone and delicate, subtle touches.

Haskil made famous recordings of the said works in the studio for Philips. Yet I agree entirely with the previous reviewer that the presence of an audience seems to inject an extra shot of adrenalin into her playing, so that her performances gain immeasurably in spontaneity. There may be wrong or missed notes along the way, but these mishaps hardly detract one from Haskil's splendid artistry and sublime music-making. The highlight of the entire recital is Schubert's last piano sonata, here receiving a wondrously luminous reading of great beauty and depth from Haskil. A thunderous applause erupted from the audience at the end of the performance.

This is a recital to cherish. It demonstrates why Haskil has been a legend. Despite her ill health and physical frailty, she radiates warmths and exuberance that are life-enhancing.

Splendid Haskil Recital.......2001-06-03

This a splendid recital and a splendid recording. After her recitals Haskil was rarely satisfied but the ovations from the audience were usually impressive. Knowing of her enormous capacity (she was once a child prodigy and like Mozart she could memorise a piece she had only heard once - at least a not too long one) she was extremely self-critical.

In reality her playing was always good and usually excellent or perhaps even magical. This recital definitely represents Haskil at her very best and the sound quality is excellent. I compared this recital with another one in Edinburg, which has also been re-issued on CD. The sound in Edinburgh considerably poorer and also the first movement of the Schubert sonata is missing (otherwise the program is the same).

In fact the sound quality in Salzburg is almost as good as fine mono recording of the time. Mono is no disadvantage in my opinion. I often listen with headphones and then the exaggerated stereo-effect of many recordings is often a bit disturbing. The Mozart and Beethoven are pieces that puts you into a good mood, the Schubert is a more touching piece with many strong emotional under-currents. Although I have heard Haskil's legendary studio recording of the Schubert B Major sonata many times on LP this CD-recital version felt like a revelation. Not that the interpretations are very much different but the contact with the audience seems to add an extra quality to Haskil's playing. Maybe studio recordings are sometimes a bit too perfect...

Track Listings:

Track Listings

Dr John Plays Mac Rebennack

Way Out West [Hybrid SACD]

The Spirituality

Blowin' Up The Midwest

Collection on a Wonderful Day

Callas Sings Opera Arias

Emotion

Break'n Da Rulz!

Dirk Wears White Sox [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [Box set] [Live]

Dark Science Ep [CD-single] [Import]

Stuart MacRae; Violin Concerto; Two Scenes from the Death of Ugolino; Motus etc.

Hidden Pathways