Search - Jean Sibelius, Olli Mustonen :: Mustonen Plays Sibelius

Good playing, rare repertoire

J. Huang | Chicago, IL United States | 12/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sibelius' compositions are deceptively simple. There are few notes on the page, very little in the way of textural effects, yet they cannot be breezed through. To play these pieces well, a pianist must be able to fill out a melodic line consisting entirely of quarter notes. When Sibelius does provide more text, there is usually something quirky about it. This music does not play itself, the way that a lot of Chopin or Liszt or Beethoven does.



Mustonen does a very good job of handling Sibelius' Scandivian temperement and his idiosyncrasies. His playing is elastic yet muscular. He matches the whimsical nature of these short sketches (Sibelius wrote most of his solo piano music to pay off his debts) with a range of colorful effects. He is best when playing the faster-tempoed staccato sections, but he can be lyrical too. He likes to shrink himself to play certain passages, something that he pulls off quite well. He can also play with a great deal of space and patience. But most of all, he has a way of playing with a sharp, bony rhythm that is absolutely irresistable.



The 13 pieces that comprise Op. 76 are particularly brilliant. The Humoresque (No.4) is jaunty and mysterious. The Arabesque (No. 9) and the Capriccietto (No. 12) put on display Mustonen's ability to play fast without sacrificing expressivity. The Etude (No. 2) is classic. For space and poetry, try the Rondino, Op. 68 No. 1; or the Reverie, Op. 34 No. 6. From Op. 58, go straight to The Shephard, track 4, and listen to how Mustonen plays the second melody--delicious.



Somebody should have really promoted this CD. The only other pianist I know who rivals Mustonen in this repertoire is the Japanese Scandinavian specialist Izumi Tateno, but I don't think all of these works were recorded by him or are currently available. If you like classical piano, you will not be disappointed by this CD; you might even find yourself playing it for weeks incessantly."