Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Freddy Kempf :: Freddy Kempf plays Rachmaninov

Another winner from the young English Pianist, Freddy Kempf

Neil Ford | London | 06/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Freddy Kempf made his CD debut on the BIS label with an all Schumann disc. For his second disc, he turns to Rachmaninov. Kempf has the all the right credentials required to play this music: prize-winner at the 1998 Tchaikovsky Competition, taught by Russians in Russia, and by Russian specialists at home in London (UK).The disk opens with a thoughtful and romantic account of the fiendish Second Sonata, here presented in its rarer original form. The pianist felt the raw inspiration of the composer's original thoughts was more interesting than the revision of 20 years later; and with a technique as free as his, we hear the music as the pianist intends it. Sometimes the 2nd sonata can sound either laboured or a collection of dramatic moments, but Kempf succeeds in welding a structure into the music which it all too often lacks.The remainder of the disc is filled with the op 39 Etudes Tableaux, arguably Rachmaninov's most alluring and personal piano works. Kempf reminds us of the tableaux (pictorial) inspiration of each piece and rewards us with subtly poetic and evokative performances imbued with an aching nostalgia that is should never be far absent in any of Rachmaninov's music. One might argue that the last ounce of daring virtuosity has been sacrificed to poetry in these readings, but they will stand the test of time and come as a great joy to people who don't know these rich and glorious works.All in all, a very impressive sequel to an acclaimed debut.Engineering and piano are splendid."

A Gem Waiting to be Discovered

Neil Ford | 01/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Freddy Kempf is a name that should, by now, be mentioned regularly in music circles around the world, but alas, it is not. Indeed, he won third place at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. How sad that he goes relatively unnoticed, when over-hyped, less-talented pianists such as Lang Lang are unfairly pushed on us by the big music labels. Kempf has proven himself here in these difficult and beautiful pieces by Rachmaninov. While his version of the dramatic Sonata #2 is not as metallic and lean as Horowitz's interpretation, it is most impressive and delightful. Kempf brings out the beauty of the work minus the melting romanticism found in other interpretations. Indeed, Kempf's rendition of the Sonata #2 is reminiscent of one on record by John Ogdon, another British pianist. I can only hope that Mr. Kempf will continue to record for those of us not yet able to hear him in a live performance. You can't go wrong with any of his recordings on the BIS label."