Search - Pancho Vladigerov, Alexander Vladigerov, Krassimira Jordan :: The Legacy of Pantcho Vladigerov

Definitive recording of an unfortunately neglected composer

John Wilson | Texas, USA | 06/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The music of Bulgarian composer Pantcho Vladigerov (1899-1978) is a veritable treasure trove of all that is great in Eastern European music. Its influences, like that of Bulgaria's musical heritage in general, range from the exoticism of Greek modes and exuberant irregular meters of Eastern European folk dances to the austerity of Byzantine and Orthodox chant. Vladigerov's urbane eclectic musical pallete also included influences as far-flung as East Asian and Middle Eastern music. His music is composed with a technical command and coloristic inventiveness surpassing that of many composers who are more blessed with attention on recital programs and recordings. And not the least of considerations, he was a master pianist, the teacher of Alexis Weissenberg, and added to the piano repertoire a great catalogue of music that flatters the instrument's possibilities in ways that (hopefully) should in the long run secure for this music a place among that of the greatest of piano composers: Chopin, Liszt, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff. Make no mistake, the fact that this music is virtually unknown has nothing to do with the music's quality, but is rather due to the fact that his scores are now next-to-impossible to obtain. The Vladigerov family, whichs holds the copyright to this music, refuses to let it be printed in the West. Their sensibilities have been so provincialized by the communist regime that they fear exploitation by Western publishers, who have in the past decades repeatedly and fruitlessly begged them for the opportunity.



The stellar poetic and virtuosic performances on this CD, by Bulgarian pianist Krassimira Jordan, are informed by a personal knowledge of the composer and can be considered definitive. Her artistry seamlessly takes into account all of the music's beautiful and exotic colors, as well as the volcanic passion that this music inspires and requires. The selections on this CD mostly emphasize the lyrical and exotic side of the composer, but certain tracks, such as the Prelude in f-minor and the "Vardar" Rhapsody, offer up highly charged performances of the highest virtuosity without ever losing a sense of the music's noble and poetic qualities.



As a side note, many fans of Marc-Andre Hamelin will be interested to know that he has recently taken a passionate interest in Vladigerov's music, which he considers essential. He has been programming this music on many of his recent programmes, and intends to record a disc in the near future. Hopefully this attention will renew worldwide interest in this unfortunately neglected composer."