Search - Gerald Robbins :: Dvorak: Poetic Tone Pictures, Op. 85

DELECTABLE DVORAK

Melvyn M. Sobel | Freeport (Long Island), New York | 07/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dvorak (1841-1904) was no virtuoso pianist, nor did he favor the instrument; his love was the violin and, of course, the orchestra. Simrock, his publisher, pushed Dvorak at every turn to churn out piano music suitable for amateur home use (where the money was). The Slavonic Dances," which Dvorak reduced to piano four hands, etc., proved to Simrock that this was what the public wanted, and what the public wanted brought instant visions of sugar plums dancing in Simrock's head. But as is obvious from the majority of Dvorak's piano output, this was not his forte.



Of all the major piano works Dvorak wrote--- including the Silhouettes, Op. 8, Theme & Variations, Op. 36, Waltzes, Op. 54, Mazurkas, Op. 56, Suite In A ("American"), Op. 98, and the Humoresques, Op. 101--- his Poetic Tone Pictures, Op. 85 stand out as being the most cohesive, consisently thematic and melodically satisfying.



The present Genesis CD (which I had originally owned and enjoyed as an LP for twenty-five years) is first-rate Dvorak. The fact that the majority of Dvorak's piano output is quite uninspired (with the exception of the few works listed above), makes his Poetic Tone Pictures that much more radiant. Had he written nothing but these pieces, they would still be able to hold their own easily amongst the piano music of his peers; they would still be just as appealing, just as glowing, just as communicative in their simplicity and enduring lyricism.



The Poetic Tone Pictures recall MacDowell's "Woodland Sketches," the wonderful "Loose Leaves," Op. 7 of Hermann Goetz, Peterson-Berger's "Frosoblomster," Schumann's "Kinderscenen," many of the Grieg "Lyric Pieces," and some of the folk elements evident in Smetana's more introspective polkas.



"Twilight Way," with its gorgeous opening theme, almost hymnlike, and a middle section that melts the heart, is only the opening work of Op. 85! Continuing pieces, such as "In the Old Castle," "Sorrowful Reverie," "Serenade" and "On the Holy Mount," show Dvorak at his most nostalgic and haunting. Melodies, here, will stay with you for days on end. Interspersed are delicious diversions such as "Toying," "Spring Song" and "Goblin's Dance" that "spice" the work inventively at key moments.



No complaints at all about the pianism of Gerald Robbins, nor the transfer of his efforts to CD. The sound is full and rich--- a most faithful piano image--- clear and bell-like. And Mr. Robbins, himself, plays a marvelous Dvorak; his is just the right touch, sentiment, wit, gravitas and charm. It's a shame that he never opted to continue with the other Dvorak works I've listed above; he would have, I'm sure, proven a substantial proponent. Oh, well.



[Running time: 56:13]"