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Martinu: Piano Concertos No 3 & 5, Concertino / Koukl, Fagen
Naxos

Martinu: Piano Concertos No 3 & 5, Concertino / Koukl, Fagen

$19.99

Details

Composer
MARTINU, BOHUSLAV
Artist
Koukl, Fagen
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Jan 26, 2010
Catalog #
8572206
UPC
747313220670

About

Arthur Fagen already demonstrated his credentials as a Martinu conductor with his generally excellent complete symphony cycle for Naxos, and this first installment of the piano concertos also is very fine. The Third concerto, Martinu's largest, is a magnificent work that Rudolf Firkusny made his own. Giorgio Koukl's performance is quite different. Whereas Firkusny is more "romantic", shaping phrases expressively and adjusting dynamics to create a more lyrical emphasis, Koukl, at slightly slower tempos, emphasizes the music's neo-classicism, with punchy rhythms and a drier overall sonority. Both approaches are perfectly legitimate when the playing is this good, and Koukl's interpretations give all three works a certain consistency of style, from the relatively early Concertino (not in fact all that small-scale) to the late Concerto No. 5--a sadly underrated piece that hardly deserves its neglect.

The Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic, like many second-tier Eastern European ensembles, won't win any awards for seductive tonal allure, particularly compared to the support that the Czech Philharmonic offers Firkusny. But these players know the music, project it well, and have the composer's perpetually syncopated rhythms in their bones. The slightly dry but very clear sonics complement the rhythmic clarity of the conducting and the solo playing, and earn this disc an easy recommendation.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 9 tracks

  1. 1 I. Allegro 09:13
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    09:13
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Giorgio Koukl
    Ensemble
    Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Arthur Fagen
  2. 2 II. Andante poco moderato 11:23
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Andante poco moderato
    Duration
    11:23
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Giorgio Koukl
    Ensemble
    Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Arthur Fagen
  3. 3 III. Moderato - Allegro 09:57
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Moderato - Allegro
    Duration
    09:57
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Giorgio Koukl
    Ensemble
    Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Arthur Fagen
  4. 4 I. Poco allegro risoluto 08:12
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. Poco allegro risoluto
    Duration
    08:12
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Giorgio Koukl
    Ensemble
    Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Arthur Fagen
  5. 5 II. Poco andante 09:59
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Poco andante
    Duration
    09:59
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Giorgio Koukl
    Ensemble
    Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Arthur Fagen
  6. 6 III. Poco allegro 07:04
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Poco allegro
    Duration
    07:04
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Giorgio Koukl
    Ensemble
    Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Arthur Fagen
  7. 7 I. Allegro moderato (Comodo) 06:13
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Allegro moderato (Comodo)
    Duration
    06:13
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Giorgio Koukl
    Ensemble
    Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Arthur Fagen
  8. 8 II. Lento 08:45
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Lento
    Duration
    08:45
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Giorgio Koukl
    Ensemble
    Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Arthur Fagen
  9. 9 III. Allegro 06:26
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    06:26
    Composer
    Bohuslav Martinů
    Performer
    Giorgio Koukl
    Ensemble
    Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Arthur Fagen