Search - Barta, Lapsansky :: Cello Recital

Endowed With Ravishing Temperament And Expression!

Raymond Vacchino | Toronto, ON. Canada | 06/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cellist Jiri Barta has several impressive accomplishments under his belt considering his young years. Following studies with Josef Chuchro in Prague, he pursued his schooling under Boris Pergamenschikov in Cologne, then went on to work with Heinrich Schiff and Andre Navarra. Apart from numerous victories in competitions at home, Barta added international achievements namely, the European Music Prize and the Rostropovich-Hammer Prize.

When a young interpreter endowed with ravishing temperament and as suggestive expression as are characteristic of Barta, picks for his first recording three works that were written at the final stages of their composer's lives, the question inevitably arises: What underlines this young artist's affinity for the late output of Franck, Debussy and Janacek? In his estimation there is nothing emotionally burnt out about these pieces, and most impressively proves just that in his playing. Barta is an artist filled with passion, vitality and desire, and there is rhythmic excitement and beauty that is conveyed with immense inspiration. The duo interpreters that got together on this recording, amount to an exceptionally fortunate partnership. Each of them embodies an ideal combination of technical mastery and supreme musicality. It is indeed exceptional for an up-and-coming young Czech cellist to acquire the collaboration of the renowned Slovak pianist 'Marian Lapsansky', guest of the most prestigious festivals in Vienna, Berlin, Salzburg and Lockenhaus to name a few.

The Sonata in A by Franck, is presented with considerable understanding of the style. Barta conveys formidable atmospheric drama in the opening theme. His quality and depth of tone in the performance is passionate and the long lines are beautifully shaped. As the movement progresses, Barta is enthusiastically appreciative of the score's quick-shifts in tempo and texture. At times he becomes even more atmospheric and generates a level of visceral excitement that intensifies the mood, especially when the movement culminates to its finale. The 'recitativo' is heart-warming, and conveyed with refined fluency and affection. The yearning sense of character is exemplified with alternating radiance and despair. In the 'Allegretto', there is a strong feeling for the rhythm and sense of harmony. Barta truly shows his virtuosity as the movement gains in every difficulty, imaginative freedom and relentless character.

In the Debussy Sonata for cello and piano, the performance is both incisive and refined. The inter-play between pianist and cellist is eclectic and conveys its sharply motoric rhythms, each of them marked by remarkably clear textures. Every note is distilled through fertile imagination and dramatically extreme dynamic contrasts. The finale is compelling and filled with infuriating temperament and remarkable for its intrepid emotional scope. The athletic agility is indeed miraculously true to form. Janacek's 'The Fairy-tale for Cello and Piano, reflects his russophilia. In using a tender idiom whose lyricism is unmistakably Slavonic, draws on the tale of the Czar Berendei written by the Russian author V.A. Zhukovsky. The Andante offers brilliant and warmly expressed playing. The plucking of the cello strings adds a unique acoustic quality to the character and, playing that is filled with dramatic imagination and urgency. This element presses hard and keeps this rhythmic writing vividly within the frame: accents slam home without harming the textures. Overall, this sonata is filled to capacity with harmonic flavor, layer-upon-layer building of thrilling effects and persuasive musical beauty.

Jiri Barta demonstrates high powered playing, flawless in its technical accomplishment, and brimful of big-boned vigor and assertiveness. He is capable of creating tonally sweet musical lines along with a performance notable for its passion and finesse.

"This recording is indeed worth exploring and adding to your music library."



Author: Raymond Vacchino M.Mus. A.Mus. L.R.S.M. Licentiate (hon.)"