<<  -- 7 --  Bill Newman    TRUE MUSICAL MEANING

Beethoven's Diabelli Variations Op 120, while comparing partly with Bach's style of approach, carry the argument into other advanced realms of thought and processes of development, near the end of the composer's life. While I admire Schnabel and Serkin tremendously in this work -- probably one of the greatest in terms of its wideness of emotional stimulae and creative development -- the choice of rubato to match its changes of state requires the most subtle, astute, joyful, sad, reflective (sometimes understated) ranges of treatment. Lauriala appears too pre-occupied with the work's form rather than with its natural, expressive qualities. Hence, although the clarity of this performance is admirable, the true meaning of the piece will have to wait until another day. [Alba ABCD133 61'31"]

Liszt's treatments of those beloved Schubert songs -- Gretchen am Spinnrade, Erlkönig, Sechs Lieder aus Die Winterreise, Die Forelle, Liebesbotschaft, Auf dem Wasser zu singen, Ständchen, Sechs Lieder aus Die schöne Müllerin -- never sounded finer than on this CD, almost a replica of the St Johns recital. Only Dmitri Bashkirov, at the Dulwich Music Festival a few years ago, had this same effervescent ebullience and longing sadness. Lauriala's way is to let the music 'speak' for itself -- a process of commitment which allows these incomparable selections to project their wondrous melodious content aloft for everyone to enjoy, or cry their hearts out. [Alba ABCD168 69']

One of the final CDs that Risto sent on to me (and I sincerely hope there will be others to enjoy and discuss!) is entitled Contemporary Piano Trios, where he and his colleagues -- mentioned in passing -- perform works by Englund (Piano Trio 1982), Shostakovich (the one movement Trio No 1, Op 8), Copland (Vitebsk, Study on a Jewish theme) and Kokkonen (Piano Trio 1948). The other two performers are Nachum Erlich, violin and Hannu Kiiski, cello, and they call themselves Trio Finnico. Here you will find chamber music playing at its very best, each work possessing its own real-life derivative, inspired by the changing world we live in to become linked with the emotional process of loves, trials and tribulations. An incredible balance between the players couples with a superfine projection of the music and its stark emotional message. [Finlandia FACD 364 70'43"]