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Toch: Piano Concerto, Piano Quintet - Andersen, Rotman

Toch: Piano Concerto, Piano Quintet - Andersen, Rotman

Talent Records  DOM 2929 70

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Orchestral


Ernst Toch: Symphony for Piano and Orchestra Op. 61, Piano Quintet Op. 64

Diane Andersen (piano)
Danel Quartet
Staatsphilharmonisches Orchester Halle
Hans Rotman (conductor)

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Review by Graham Williams - October 30, 2006

As far as I can ascertain this is the first recording of both of these fascinating works, and represents a worthwhile addition to the small Toch discography, particularly when performed and recorded as impressively as on this SACD.

The Viennese composer Ernst Toch was born in 1887, son of a Jewish merchant. His music met with great success in the 20s and 30s, but in 1933 he was forced to flee from Germany when the Nazis came to power, eventually settling in the USA, where he remained until his death in 1964. In America he composed a number of film scores, and, though disillusioned by the lack of interest in his concert works, he did write seven symphonies, the third of which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1956.

Toch’s life and career shows some striking parallels with another Viennese émigré composer, Erich Korngold, but their music could hardly be more different - Korngold the epitome of lush late-romanticism, Toch its antithesis.

The first work on this disc was composed in 1932-33 just before Toch’s forced emigration, while the second, a commission from the redoubtable Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, was written in California in 1938.

The Sinfonie für Klavier und Orchester Op.61 (1932) (also known as the 2nd Piano Concerto) is in four well- contrasted movements. The opening jaunty allegro immediately brings to mind the piano concertos of Bartok, Prokofiev and even at times Martinu, but with its clear neo-classical lines it most strongly recalls the ascetic style of Hindemith. It is a witty piece notable for the delicate but striking use of percussion.

The brief second movement marked ‘Lebhaft’ and introduced by the solo piano, is a lively Tarantella that features some exciting interplay between soloist and orchestra. The Adagio that follows is much more flowing and lyrical, with a long almost improvisatory piano solo in the middle; it ends with a mysterious tam-tam stroke, reproduced here with startling fidelity
.
The finale, entitled ‘Cyclus Variabilis’ is composed in a most unusual form consisting of eight sections varied in both mood and orchestration. As in the first movement percussion, especially bells and bass drum, is liberally used together with unusual orchestral effects such as the pizzicato and col legno passage (07.10 – 8.05). The movement builds to a terrifying march that gradually calms and the work ends with yet another quiet tam-tam stroke.

Diane Andersen and the Staatskapelle Halle give a committed performance of the piece and the 4.0 recording made in the Steintor Theater Hall, Halle is crisp and clear, matching the music.

Toch’s Piano Quintet Op.64 is also in four movements, the titles of which perfectly describe the character of each one.
The Lyrical Part
The Whimsical Part
The Contemplative Part
The Dramatic Part

The lively music, in the second and fourth movements, has a tough acerbic quality that is balanced by a deep melancholy in the other two. The clear, but close recording made in the Concertgebouw, Bruges, unfortunately emphasises the occasional sniffing of the string players of the Danel Quartet (why do they do this?). However this minor blemish does not detract from their impressive and deeply felt performance.

It should be mentioned that Talent’s presentation has some problems.
The disc label reads ‘ Concerto for Piano and Orchestra Op 38’, information that is repeated on the display when the disc is inserted into the player. The Op.38 is Toch’s 1st Piano Concerto, a work that does not appear on this SACD. The English version of the booklet notes also reads awkwardly in places.
Neither of these minor irritations should prevent investigation of this most interesting music by a neglected composer.

Copyright © 2006 Graham Williams and HRAudio.net

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