Encores - Nosbaum
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- Johann Sebastian Bach: Preludes and Fugues (24), BWV 855a in E minor
- Luciano Berio: Encores (6) (1965-90) Wasserklavier
- Sergei Bortkiewicz: Etude, Op. 15 No. 9
- Claude Debussy: Nocturne, L 82
- Claude Debussy: Préludes II (12), L 123 No. 1
- Claude Debussy: Préludes II (12), L 123 No. 12
- Claude Debussy: Préludes II (12), L 123 No. 2
- Claude Debussy: Préludes II (12), L 123 No. 8
- Claude Debussy: Rêverie, L 68
- Philip Glass: Etude No. 16
- Philip Glass: Etude No. 9
- Albena Petrovic-Vratchanska: Surviving bridges of love
- Francis Poulenc: Improvisation No. 13, FP 170.1
- Sergei Rachmaninoff: Romances (14), Op. 34 No. 14 Vocalise
- Toru Takemitsu: Rain Tree Sketch II (1982)
- Toru Takemitsu: Romance (1948-49)
Review by Adrian Quanjer - September 4, 2017
There are moments that one doesn't want to listen to a lengthy and complicated sonata. This disc looks like the perfect answer to such a wish though it is, at the same time, thought-provoking: The title 'Encores' suggests the kind of short glamour pieces one often gets after a concert is over. Not so here. With a possible exception of Debussy's ‘Feu d’artifice’, most are of a more contemplating and at first sight randomly assembled nature. Besides, not all are as short as one usually associates with an encore (‘Vocalise’ and the closing ‘Surviving Bridges of Love’).
Romain Nosbaum makes it all clear in his liner notes, explaining that the common denominator is ‘freedom’. The freedom of choice; whether it be an encore or the compilation for a recital. Freud would probably say that this young pianist’s preferred dress is clearly not a straitjacket. In other words: A pianist ‘hors du commun’, already most appreciated at his home turf, Luxembourg.
This is his first recording for the ARS-Produktion label. Well-chosen, I’d say, as it unmistakably lifts his playing at the best available level of high definition. And although he may not tick all the boxes at the global scale, he demonstrates with this recital to be an intelligent and devoted keyboard wizard.
The programme leads from B to V (Bach to Vratchanska), thus nearly covering the whole of the musical alphabet through the ages and many will find something of interest from well-known to well worth exploring. In the latter category one discovers the Bulgarian composer Albena Petrovich née Vratchanska, now living in Luxembourg, with an amazing piece of work.
Surely an inspirational disc for the local market, though at the same time of such a musically engaging value that its being sampled wider afield by those blessed with a generous amount of curiosity is largely justified.
Blangy-le-Château,
Normandy, France.
Copyright © 2017 Adrian Quanjer and HRAudio.net
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