Search - Handel, Gekic, Liszt :: Suite for Piano 5 Hwv 430

MAGESTIC PERFECTION

CARLOS JAQUEZ | FLORIDA | 09/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"GEKIC PLAYS IN A WAY UNSURPASED THIS REPERTOIRE.HIS VIRTUOSISTIC RESOURCES ARE AT THE MUSIC SERVICE.PURE MAGIC,ICE FIRE."

The Croat Pianist, Kemal Gekic

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 01/01/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Until I ran across this CD on the Canadian pianophile label, Palexa, I'd never heard of the Croat pianist, Kemal Gekic. My first impression on hearing the 'Harmonious Blacksmith' Suite (No. 5) by Handel was that he was acceptable in the first three movements and hell-bent-for-leather in the very familiar 'Air and Variations' movement. And it turns out Gekic's tendency to play things as fast as humanly possible when the tempo indication is anything like vivace or presto is a predictable characteristic of his playing. There's no question that he has quite a set of chops. But where is his sense of proportion? In the 'Harmonious Blacksmith' variations he plays so fast that the music is simply unable to breathe. The first time through I was amazed, any time after that I was simply exhausted and more than a little irritated.



However, when we get to the Scriabin and the six Consolations, S. 172 of Liszt, we get poetry, perhaps a bit on the dreamy side, but poetry nonetheless. It's as if Gekic has three styles of playing: faceless 'correct' playing (as in most of the Handel movements), in-your-face speedy brashness, or languorous poetry. As for inflection within movements, there is either idiosyncratic waywardness or very little at all.



I most enjoyed the Consolations. I'm not very fond of the two Saint Francis Legends by Liszt - too much bombast for my taste - and Gekic plays that aspect up.



The bottom line: it is worth hearing this pianist play, if only to hear a virtuoso, but there isn't much to recommend this CD overall except for the slower Liszt pieces and most of the Scriabin.



Scott Morrison"