Search - Scharwenka, Tanyel, Chilingirian :: Piano Quartet / Piano Trio 2

Review (from Gramophone)

Slobberer | Astoria, NY United States | 01/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Franz Xaver Scharwenka polish 1850-1924



Scharwenka Piano Quartet in F major. Op. 37. Piano Trio in A minor. Op. 45. Levon Chilingirian(vn); Ivo-Jan van der Werff (va); Garbis Atmacayan (vc); Seta Tanyel (pf). Collins Classics © 1419-2 (76 minutes: DDD: 3/95). Recorded 1994.



These are world premiere recordings of two sadly neglected works (one is inclined to say masterpieces, even on a first hearing), superbly performed and recorded. Those who only know Scharwenka from his piano concertos and the odd solo piece will be astonished and deeply gratified, for even when the shadows of both Mendelssohn and Brahms flit across the surface, his music is full of surprises and often real breadth and vibrancy. The Quartet's Adagio is notably rich, and who can resist the trio's second movement, its solace shadowed by a near-Franckian chromaticism and malaise? The final pages, too, have a beguiling intimacy, particularly when spun off -by all three players with such enviable ease and tonal radiance. Then there is the Molto allegro, as lightly tripping (a memory of Mendelssohn's fairy world?) as the work's very opening is questioning and rhythmically ambiguous.



Seta Tanyel is beautifully balanced with her colleagues and, as always, she makes light of every difficulty, bringing all of her tonal translucency and charm to even the most awkward and strenuous moments. All lovers of worthwhile byways of music of both depth and novelty will surely snap this up.

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