Search - Kevin / Nichols, T. Ernest Oldham, Ferruccio Busoni, Franz Liszt :: The Art Of Piano Transcription

Interesting program

Michael Whincop | GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, QLD AUSTRALIA | 10/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The late Kevin Oldham's art is well captured in this interesting disk. The first half is made up of Bach transcriptions. They are lively performances well worth a listen. One curious point of differentiation in Oldham's disk is that he prefaces the Chorale Preludes he plays (Wachet auf, Ich ruf zu dir) with the Chorale itself. I doubt this really adds or detracts from the disk very much, but it's novel and different. One attractive feature is the addition of transcriptions by Ernest Nicholls and Oldham -- specifically of the sinfonia to the 29th Cantata (reminiscent very much of the Preludio for violin) and of the G major Gigue. They are all played with crisp detail and attention to voicing. The Bach performance I find least attractive is the Bach/Liszt A minor P&F. Oldham eschews the pedal, which adds to textural clarity, but tends to enervate what can be a thrilling performance. I would recommend Pizarro for this work. Following on from the Bach, we get a Schubert lied, Faith in Spring, which is nicely phrased and alert, although not really very special. Following that, we get a most enjoyable Strauss/ Schulz-Evler Blue Danube, which is not the finest available -- Lhevinne stands alone -- but captures both the spangle and waltz lilt very well. The final item on the disk is probably the single strongest reason to buy it -- a performance of Busoni's transcription of Liszt's Fantasy & Fugue on Meyerbeer's Ad nos, ad salutarem undam. Contemporary with the b minor sonata and the B-A-C-H F&F, the work can be a little episodic, but it represents a vital opportunity to extend the large scale Liszt repertoire and contains, especially in the Fugue, some wonderful and exciting music, brought to as fine a conclusion as one could hope for. Oldham captures the work very well, although he is not completely secure in the final pages. The recording is good, without being exceptional, and Oldham's clear playing is well caught. If the program appeals, I recommend it."