3.5 stars - Sedate Tchaikovsky with a few enticements
Hexameron | 03/29/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Tchaikovsky wrote solo piano music? Don't feel bad if you ask yourself this. I never thought he did until I came across Leslie Howard's Tchaikovsky: Piano Sonatas recording. My reaction to these sonatas was overwhelmingly positive. Tchaikovsky's two piano sonatas and the unfinished first are meritorious contributions to the genre, and quite a showcase for Tchaikovsky's above-average piano writing. Eager to discover his other piano works, I decided to try his miniatures on this disc. Unfortunately, most of these pieces are inferior to his great piano sonatas. Nevertheless, Tchaikovsky's own transcription of the Marche Slave, his Dumka, Romance, and a couple other miniatures here give the recording some backbone. In fact, these pieces are substantial enough that I think the disc deserves a generous 4 stars, even though I wish it could be given 3.5.
Tchaikovsky's popular Marche Slave Op. 31 has endured in the hearts of many classical fans. While it does not have the prestige of his greater works like the "Pathetique" or Romeo and Juliet overture, it's ten minutes of pure melodic pleasure. I've only heard a few orchestral recordings, but upon hearing the piano transcription, I feel inclined to give it approbation. Does it measure up to the orchestral timbres? No. Does it emulate orchestral sonorities? Not exactly. But it's not a wholly bad transcription. Yablonskaya's meticulous attention to lyrical expression and her muscular thrusts in the March theme create an august and stimulating effect in the tones of the piano. Tchaikovsky's one true successful original piano composition is the passionate Dumka Op. 59. Employing virtuosity and lilting melody, Tchaikovsky generates a serious but wonderful piece of music, brimming with melancholy and fiery impulses.
The other works chosen for this recording are homogenous, quiet and at times boring. The strangely schizophrenic Romance Op. 5 is slightly above average, though. I just found the severe melancholy and frivolous (but tuneful) march a disagreeable pair. Of the Deux Morceaux Op. 10, the Nocturne in F major is the most effective. There are moments in the Nocturne theme that sound sweetly beautiful in Yablonskaya's hands. However, the Six Morceaux Op. 19 do not fair as well. I mean, one can certainly find enjoyable sections of the Theme and Variations in F major, but the Scherzo humoristique, the Album leaf in D major and the Capriccioso in B flat major are generic and uninspired. I will concede, though, that the Nocturne in C sharp minor definitely sustains the weight of this set of miniatures; the Nocturne is a gem. Lastly, we get Tchaikovsky's own transcriptions of three Romances, or the "Three Song Transcriptions." With the exception of the haunting Cradle Song, these tend to remain sedate, even bordering on being unremarkable.
Bottom line: There are some decent gems here like the Dumka, Romance, and the Nocturne in C sharp minor. The Marche Slave is also an engaging work for piano. But the rest falter, or at least cannot stand up to Tchaikovsky's excellent sonatas. I don't fault Yablonskaya's pianism for the mediocre pieces here and she is indeed a fine interpreter. But ultimately, I must advise any newcomer to Tchaikovsky's piano music to get Leslie Howard's triumphant Tchaikovsky: Piano Sonatas recording instead."
A small dissent
M. Yarus | Boulder, CO United States | 07/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Without being able to disagree with the 4 star review close by, I'll recommend this disk, especially at its price. It is excellent when you just want to read the Times to music - it will float behind any activity, or alternatively, justifies listening closely to hear the minor work of a master. Yablonskaya plays well and with impressive energy, the recording is good, and most of these pieces are outside anyone's direct experience in concert or recital."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1