An autumnal, surprisingly low-key Schumann concerto from Mic
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 11/16/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For various technical reasons, I doubt that anyone listening blind would identify this live Schumann concerto as coming from Michelangeli. He was 64 at the time (1984),not at all old, but there's a loss of edge here; we aren't given the crystalline, precise tone of the younger, commanding musician. The piano sound, though full, is a bit blurry, even stodgy, and Barenboim is in his mode of channeling Furtwangler, giving rise to a rather unfocused setting for the soloist. However, I must say that Michelangeli adapts well to the conductor's neoromantic swoons. The engineers have caught the Orchestra de Paris well; only the distant piano sound reveals that this isn't a studio recording. Tempos are fluid, but I wish there was more dynamism -- a lot of the playing seems to hover around mezzo forte. Michelangeli was never one to pursue the mystical implications of music, yet he was a great exponent of Schumann, so this new recording is more than an afterthought. Unrushed, magisterial, and grand, it infringes a bit into Claudio Arrau territory without that pianist's plodding self-importance.
As the product description mentions, the four Images of Debussy are one-offs, and some might consider them little more than air checks in front of the microphone. The first one, Reflets dans l'eau, tells the story. Michelangeli is considerably less chilly than was his wont in Debussy, and despite his fetish for total control of timbre and voicing, there's a certain welcome relaxation. There's no attempt at ultra-refinement, which I find appealing. The Images will never compete with the Preludes in popularity. For those who love them, this 20-minute sampling reminds us of the ease that made Michelangeli's amazing technique so entrancing. At around 56 min., the timing isn't too stingy, and as a recollection of an impeccable artist, this CD speaks for itself."
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1