Medtner* - Nikolai Demidenko, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Jerzy Maksymiuk – Piano Concerto No 2 In C Minor / Piano Concerto No 3 In E Minor

Piano Concerto No 2 In C Minor Op 50 (38:27) 1 Toccata (Allegro Risoluto) 17:32 2 Romanza (Andante Con Moto) 9:51 3 Divertimento (Allegro Risoluto E Molto Vivace) 10:57 Piano Concerto No 3 In E Minor Op 60 (35:36) 4 Con Moto Largamente 15:20 5 Interludium (Allegro, Molto Sostenuto, Misterioso) 1:37 6 Finale (Allegro Molto, Svegliando, Eroico) 18:30

Upon first listening to this CD I was sold on Medtner's 2nd and 3rd concertos. The 2nd concerto is a fine piece of music, unparalleled in the concerto repertoire for its drive and structure. The ambitious solo cadenza in the first movement of the 2nd concerto is moody, powerful, and sizzling. Chords scream and left-handed flourishes roll. The solo cadenza rivals that of two other such cadenzas: Rachmaninoff's solo cadenza in the first movement of his 3rd concerto and Prokofieff's solo cadenza in the first movement of his 2nd concerto. Mednter's is the most mature of the three cadenzas, both musically and intellectually. Prokofieff's, although spine-tingling when played by capable hands, is probably the least mature of the three cadenzas. As with Medtner's music, it takes several listenings to get into the music and follow it. Upon repeated listenings to the 3rd concerto new things begin to emerge, and they are gems of composition. This piece is not only craftily structured and written, the music itself, the themes, harmonies, melodies, is simply good music. The performance by Demidenko is riveting and technically superior. Demidenko and Maksymiuk are really stupendous on this CD.

Hyperion

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