Search - F. Mendelssohn, Benjamin Frith, Robert Stankovsky :: Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Capriccio Brilliant, Op.22 / Rondo Brilliant, Op.29

Splendidly performed Mendelssohn concertos.

Mike Powers | Woolwich, ME USA | 07/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These are splendid renditions of four Felix Mendelssohn masterpieces for piano and orchestra - Piano Concertos 1 and 2; "Capriccio Brilliant," Op. 22; and "Rondo Brilliant," Op. 29. Pianist Benjamin Frith teams with the Kosice Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Robert Stankovsky to imbue each piece with a wonderful romanticism that is, at the same time, tinged with the classical restraint intended by Mendelssohn. Frith demonstrates an excellent ability to capture the music's swift and sometimes subtle changes of mood. He plays faster movements with fiery passion, and slower ones with a sublimely poetic touch and an often ethereal quality. The musical dialog between Frith and the Kosice SSPO is first rate.This CD has excellent sound quality. The balance between the orchestra and soloist is nearly perfect, and the acoustics of the recording venue are warm and spacious. Awarded a three-star rating (signifying "an outstanding performance and recording in every way,") by the "Penguin Guide to Compact Discs," this CD is in every way a highly enjoyable listening experience!"

Lovely!

King Lemuel | Puyallup, WA | 02/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just heard these concertos for the first time, in fact, this is my first ever hearing of these concertos. I am by no means an expert, but I know what I like and when the music moves me and gets to me. These recordings are lovely. The slower softer movements are as pleasing as a Chopin nocturn and the the faster movements are played with gusto and pizzaz. The orchestra does a fine job and the recording engineers did it up right."

Naxos continues to up the stakes. Wonderful.

G. Stewart | Chesapeake, VA USA | 10/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I find it sad to know that something so wonderful as the work of Felix Mendelssohn would be ignored because of racial bias, but because dear Felix was born Jewish in Germany (and eventually the Nazis were so powerful) his music was largely ignored, even attacked, for a long time.

Fortunately for lovers of classical music and the better of mankind, racism is being faced and Mendelssohn now gets the attention and respect he deserved.

He was a prodigy, beginning piano by 6, performing in public by 9, and composing his first work by 13.

Piano Concerto No. 1, composed around the time of his 4th Symphony (known as the "Italian") is simply wonderful, an example of what restraint can do to beautify music. The piano and the orchestra move in harmony and with respect to each other; like a waltz, they merrily intertwine to create perfect harmony on a minimalistic scale. Nothing is overbearing and the piece is melancholy (first movement), sobering (second movement) and uplifting (third movement).

Piano Concerto No. 2, also composed around the time of his 4th Symphony, is darker and much more centered on the piano. The chords are low and the overall movement slower for the first minute, after which the strings come in and move the concerto in to a more dense and more brightly played piano melody. The mood of this entire piece is very soothing, but somewhat sad (I even feel like I hear hymmnals from the psalms in the music). The 1st movement opens with strings and quickly gives way to morose piano. The second movement is wonderful, opening with slow piano and building with strings shortly after. The final movement opens with the theme from the 1st movement, but it is louder, and more aggressively played and therefore sounds much more intense and exciting.

Capriccio Brilliant was composed during Mendelssohn's tour of Europe. It is a moving and creative piece that features the piano for the majority with minor orchestral support. This allowed for Mendelssohn to do what he enjoyed which was to improvise. The entire piece is impressive, exciting and beautiful, with references to baroque and classical period composers. Mendelssohn assisted with the transition from classical to romantic, even if he is just now being recognized for such.

Finally, you have Rondo Briiliant, a piece for piano and orchestra that is, again, heavily piano. This piece, not just in title, is reminiscent of the Baroque period. The music is more uplifting than that of the Baroque, but the repeating cadence of the piano is used well and without being too overbearing (which I understand is what most people who don't like baroque, say is their problem with baroque; that it is too repetitive and boring; I disagree, but I digress).



Suffice it to say that I am a huge fan of Mendelssohn, but credit must be given to Naxos for this quality recording, to the Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra who performed beautifully, to the pianist Benjamin Frith who shines, and to Robert Stankovsky, the conductor. This is a wonderful collection of piano works by Mendelssohn and can be bought without concern. Highly recommended."