Search - Maria Yudina, Bach, Beethoven :: Great Pianists 99

A Profound Humanism

Richard Townsend | Southern United States | 06/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Maria Yudina (1899-1970, one of the greatest pianists of her generation, dared to become a "legend in her own lifetime". She was born in Nevel, Russia and died in Moscow. She began her formal studies at age 7 and went on to become a star pupil at the St. Petersburg Conservatory (studying with the great Anna Essipova). Possessing "fingers of steel", a poetic temperament, and a masculine creative intellect, Yudina made music like no other of her generation. She was truly a profound humanist: an interpreter of genius. She dared to be true to her own beliefs at a time of repressing conformity. She was labeled as Stalin's favorite pianist, and because of this fact, she got away with sending him nasty notes about his policies without being sent to the Gulag like so many great intellectuals. An interesting story has it that she once played a Mozart concerto for Soviet radio and on hearing this, Stalin ordered a copy of the performance to be sent to him immediately. Since no one dared to tell Stalin that it was a live broadcast, the pianist and the entire orchestra found themselves brought back to the recording studio at four in the morning. She was a great eccentric as well, often reading banned literature at her concerts. Her repetoire was staggering, including everything from Rameau to Boulez and STockhausen. However, on this cd is in my opinion, one of hers and history's greatest recordings: that of BAch's Goldberg Variations. It's without doubt the most fascinating and colorful Goldberg I've ever heard, and it was recorded just two years before her death at age 71. She did not get round to playing the Goldberg in public until such a late age because of the maturity and intellectual strength needed to really "interpret" such a monument of music.Her embellishments are torrential. The sound is like a full orchestra. But as the booklet says, this is a Bach very much in keeping with our time, showing that humanism and the creative ethic can still shine in the modern mess of the Twentieth Century. The way in which she brings out the subtleties of the piece is in fact quite amazing. She accentuates the polyphonic richness of the work with a majesty I've rarely heard. Full of fantasy and an amazing drive (even surpassing Gould, Jambor, and other great Bach keyboard artists). Intense, intellectual, and most of all spiritual playing. One of the great talents of the past century. I recommend this recently released recording for any music connoisseur."

Not as Good as Some Seem to Think

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 03/07/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I strongly suspect the previous reviewer has been to some degree swayed by the reputation of Mariya Yudina as some sort of sainted personage during the Stalin regime. In her personal behavior that may have been the case, but if one listens to her playing of these three giant sets of variations, surely among the greatest ever written, one comes to the conclusion that these are fine but not great readings. And there are some worrisome aspects to them as well. For instance, in the 'Diabelli' Variations she plays some passages in the wrong octave; granted others have done that with Bach (Feltsman, for instance) and one supposes that could be an artistic choice rather than simply wrongheaded. But she also leaves out some measures along the way. I personally will want to stick with other Diabellis (Brendel, say, or Serkin). I do find her 'Eroica' Variations a bit more solemn than they generally are and that is probably a valid take on them.



As to the 'Goldbergs' I have to say that there is nothing here that makes me want to hear them too often. It is said that she conceived each variation as an illustration of some passage or other from the Bible--she was an outspoken believer in a time of state-prescribed atheism--but I can't see how this translates into anything audible. It might be interesting to know what each variation illustrates--I've never seen that anywhere, although I imagine it might exist in some source I haven't run across--but otherwise, again, one must listen to this performance as music qua music, without the extra-musical trappings. And in the Goldbergs she is a middle of the road interpreter, using a minimum of pedal. Certainly the most overtly spiritual of the variations, No. 25 'the Black Pearl' with its ultrachromaticism, is rather stolid, to be honest.



I had been hearing about Yudina for years before I ever heard these two discs, and have not heard any other recordings since this one. I haven't really felt the need to pursue getting to know her playing all that urgently.



The sound here is rather primitive for its time. The Diabelli and Eroica sets are from 1961, the Goldbergs from 1968. In the older recordings particularly the instrument is out of tune and somewhat tinny, with distortion at high dynamics. But even in the Goldbergs the sound is barely acceptable with distortion and cracked notes abounding; it sounds more like a Western recording from the early 1950s.



Not my cup of tea, but it is the only widely available record of Yudina's playing, so you might want it out of curiosity.



Scott Morrison"

The best of them all

Robert Wightman | Santa Barbara, CA | 01/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I disagree to the utmost with Mr. Morrison's comments, that Maria Yudina's Goldberg performance isn't that spectacular. This is a profound interpretation of Bach's 32 variations. This is better than anything I've ever heard. It is hard to really compare with Gould or Perahia or anyone else, as they all are unique interpretations. But this one, this is extra amazing. I was a music major in piano and continue to perform professionally so my opinion does have some weight. Does Mr. Morrison also believe that Thelonious Monk was a basically "bad" pianist? Music has a soul, out of which shines life and creativity. This performance is so full of life, who cares about the recording quality. Don't let yourself be distracted by that. I hope these few words help a bit to remind everyone of the true gift given to Maria Yudina."