Search - Rudolf Firkusny :: Plays Works By Czech Composers

Firkusny at His Best

Corn Soup | 04/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set of CDs is a real hidden gem, and it contains some of Firkusny's greatest playing. My favorite part of the CD is his Dussek sonata, especially the first movement. Firkusny does an incredible job of contrasting the different types of piano writing that Dussek utilized in this, his last and greatest piano sonata. When a singing style is called for, Firkusny generates some absolutely beautiful singing tones from the piano with a great deal of nuanced inflection. When a bravura touch is called for, Firkusny shows off a technique that encompasses the greatest demands of the sonata with ease. Dussek also wrote many interesting bits into the left hand part, and Firkusny pushes these to the surface for the listener with upmost deftness and seamlessness. Interesting, in a sonata that calls for many moments in which a less talented or attuned pianist might bang or try to produce a huge sound, Firkusny is restrained. He relies on a narrower range of dynamics, but creates contrast through incredibly subtle dynamic gradations and alterations of color. This is a gorgeous sonata, and Firkusny shows it off in its best light.
Also of interest to me were Dvorak's mazurkas which seem to lie somewhere between the mature Romanticism of Chopin's late mazurkas and the more modern approach of Szymanowski. Some of them are quite rustic, such as op. 56 no. 6, and Firkusny does not gloss over this, but I think the impressionistic Op. 56 no. 5 is the most impressive of the recording, played hauntingly with great color.
The only problem that I have with the recording is that sound quality varies quite a bit, as the pieces were recorded over a span of three years at different recording sessions. Thus you have a nice close and full sound with the Smetana, the Dussek, and the Dvorak Humoresques; an average sound with a little hiss with the Benda, the Vorisek, the Tomasek, and the Dvorak mazurkas; and an awful sound with the Dvorak A-flat variations."

A fabulous bargain!

Mark F. Mccarty | San Diego | 02/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I probably own over 5,000 classical CDs - and this inexpensive collection is among a handful of the very best. It offers the most stunning performance I have heard of Dussek's greatest sonata - in which a composer born 4 years after Mozart virtually invents the entire Romantic piano era - as well as what are surely the definitive performances of Smetana's wonderful Czech Dances - plus fine performances of Dvorak, and a smorgasbord of fascinating works by lesser Czech composers. This would be a bargain at five times the price. My only regret is that Firkusny didn't record the whole corpus of Dussek sonatas."

The Wonder of Czech Classic Music

Luving it | Seaside, CA USA | 05/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mr. Firkusny showed me the beauty and wonder of the Czech classic music! After listening to his play on this CD set, I looked up and down for the scores for a long time till I located them on a Czech online music store. Hope there'll be more great players like Mr. Firkusny to bring out more real music for the world to enjoy!"