Antonin Dvorak Radoslav Kvapil - Dvork Piano Works Vol 2 (22 tracks) +Album Reviews

Search - Antonin Dvorak, Radoslav Kvapil :: Dvorák: Piano Works, Vol. 2

Antonin Dvorak, Radoslav Kvapil
Dvorák: Piano Works, Vol. 2
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (22) - Disc #1
1. Waltzes (8) for piano, B. 101 (Op. 54): 1. Moderato
2. Waltzes (8) for piano, B. 101 (Op. 54): 2. Allegro con fuoco
3. Waltzes (8) for piano, B. 101 (Op. 54): 3. Poco allegro
4. Waltzes (8) for piano, B. 101 (Op. 54): 4. Allegro vivace
5. Waltzes (8) for piano, B. 101 (Op. 54): 5. Allegro
6. Waltzes (8) for piano, B. 101 (Op. 54): 6. Allegro
7. Waltzes (8) for piano, B. 101 (Op. 54): 7. Allegro
8. Waltzes (8) for piano, B. 101 (Op. 54): 8. Allegro vivace
9. Eclogues (4), for piano, B. 103 (Op. 56): 1. Allegro non tanto (Quasi polka)
10. Eclogues (4), for piano, B. 103 (Op. 56): 2. Quasi allegretto
11. Eclogues (4), for piano, B. 103 (Op. 56): 3. Moderato
12. Eclogues (4), for piano, B. 103 (Op. 56): 4. Allegretto
13. Moderato for piano in A major, B. 116
14. Album Leaf No. 2 for piano in F sharp minor, B. 109/2
15. Album Leaf No. 3 for piano in F major, B. 109/3
16. Album Leaf No. 4 for piano in G major, B. 109/4
17. Pieces (6) for piano, 4 hands (arr. from Pieces for piano B. 110 [Op. 52]), B. 513: 1. Impromptu. Presto
18. Pieces (6) for piano, 4 hands (arr. from Pieces for piano B. 110 [Op. 52]), B. 513: 2. Intermezzo. Larghetto
19. Pieces (6) for piano, 4 hands (arr. from Pieces for piano B. 110 [Op. 52]), B. 513: 3. Gigue
20. Pieces (6) for piano, 4 hands (arr. from Pieces for piano B. 110 [Op. 52]), B. 513: 4. Eclogue. Poco allegro
21. Pieces (6) for piano, 4 hands (arr. from Pieces for piano B. 110 [Op. 52]), B. 513: 5. Allegro molto
22. Pieces (6) for piano, 4 hands (arr. from Pieces for piano B. 110 [Op. 52]), B. 513: 6. Tempo di marcia

CD Details

All Artists: Antonin Dvorak, Radoslav Kvapil
Title: Dvorák: Piano Works, Vol. 2
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Supraphon
Release Date: 12/2/1998
Genre: Classical
Styles: Chamber Music, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 789368829422, 099925337629

CD Reviews

Variable music (the waltzes are superb), but the performance

G.D. | Norway | 07/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Dvorak's piano music occupies a rather marginal place in his output. Apart from some of the later sets, it consists mostly of trifles and salon pieces - often charming and pleasant but rarely anywhere close to profound. Some of the best of is furthermore better known and better appreciated in orchestral guise. Yet by recording the complete output, Kvapil has certainly done us a service - especially since his performances are generally very fine.

The eight waltzes in tripartite form are superb, however. Written in 1879, they are full of life and memorable tunes, charm and atmosphere. Generally lively, they are still full of subtle shifts in moods and textures; in style they very much resemble the Slavonic dances, and aren't much inferior to these in terms of quality. And Kvapil's playing is exemplary, accomplished and insightful and with energy and finesse.

The Eclogues aren't in the same league, something Dvorak himself apparently realized - the pieces weren't published until 1921, and they were pilfered for anything decent by Dvorak for use in other works. In general, they are foursquare and thematically undistinguished. The pieces op. 52 are better, however. Written on popular demand after the success of the first set of Slavonic Dances, they are nowhere near these works in terms of invention or quality, but there are some nice and finely developed themes, and the pieces are rhythmically alive and pleasant. The disc is filled out with a couple of miniatures, included strictly for the sake of completeness.

But everything is sympathetically played, always with charm, elegance, sufficient energy and color, and - most importantly - Kvapil never attempts to overplay these pieces. The recording is a little tense, but good enough, and the disc can overall be very much recommended - while most of it is, perhaps, of specialist interest, the waltzes are splendid."