Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Joseph Haydn :: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4; Haydn: Symphony No. 92; Bach: Violin Concerto

Wand and Casadesus are superficial in the Beethoven -- the r

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 01/18/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Profil has an extensive Gunter Wand edition going, benefitted by very good recorded sound and the atmosphere of live concerts. I have never bought into Wand as an exalted interpreter, but for what he has to offer -- solid, respectful music-making with a firm technique -- I can be intrigued. He sets a lively tempo in the Beethoven Fourth Piano Concerto, which is all to the good (the first movement timing is 16 min., which dawdlers often stretch out to over 20 min.), and Robert Casadesus is a big name, but the pianist's elegance and light touch skip along a bit too superficially for me, and Wand's accompaniment is blnad. I know the Fourth is the most feminine of Beethoven's concertos, but it needs a spine. the squawky first oboe is a distraction, and the orchestra is no more than good.



The Haydn "Oxford" Sym. #92 is straightforward, but it doesn't sink into listlessness. Wad knows what he's doing, but the lack of sparkle and imaginaiton become too telling after a while, however nicely he shapes each movement. The strings of his NDR orchestra sound a bit scrawny at the beginning (the rest of the CD is done with the WDR orchestra of Cologne). As was the norm for Wand's generation, the Minuet is stately. The finale bustles along, but overall this is Haydn wth energy but not enough smiles.



Roland Greutter is shte soloist in the Bach A minro violin Concerto, done in a traditional style that still manages to be light and nimble. Purists will not like the romantic phrasing, but I did, and although I missed a virtuoso soloist, the result is pleasnat listening. I'm afriad that "pleasant" is all too applicable to this agreeable but not outstanding CD.



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