Search - Beethoven, Bishop-Kovacevich :: Bagatelles/Bagatellen

BEETHOVEN'S BAGATELLEN SLIGHTLY UNDERESTIMATED TO PLAY

alaskadoggie | Boom (near Antwerp), BELGIUM | 11/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"At my house I have quite some Bagatellen played by Pletnev, Gould, Richter, Kovacevich, Jando... Let's stick to those five. As well the Variations as the Bagatellen of Beethoven are - certainly for Beethoven lovers - extraordinary, well-balanced classical stuff. BUT: on the contrary to what "bagatellen" means (as well as "variations") they are extremely difficult to play on the piano i.e. as required.



Specific for the Beethoven Bagatellen is the form, the concept of them: it concerns short but sharply contrasting movements. Yet the emphasis is on lyricism. They are built up in a way they want to tell something rethorical to the listener. Luxury for the ear ... if "well" played.

I had the Bagatellen Op. 33, 119 and 126 that are on this CD already before I acquired the Kovacevich-album. I was a bit disappointed by hearing this manner of playing. Every pianist has his/her own style, characteristics, touching the keyboard. BUT no one of them has the right to put his/her "vision, concept of playing" above what the composer meant, why he wrote this or that piece. I'm afraid the however reknown Stephen B. Kovacevich somehow underestimated these Bagatellen and put somewhat too much of his own 'philosophy' in his performance.



This is certainly not the case with f.e. Mikhail Pletnev, Glenn Gould or Svjatoslav Richter. Richter, to name one of those, well-known for his legato-playing, DOES play legato, but never forsakes to the demands of the composer (Beethoven as well as any other composer), nor as Pletnev and Gould do. A good album to start with. Once well-acquainted with the pieces you can still make the step to Pletnev, Gould or Richter..."

Best

Amir | 12/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just THE Best. Very good music of Beethoven played by the very good pianist who also is good in Brahms. Buy and enjoy !"