Xiayin Wang - Tchaikovsky & Khachaturian: Piano Concertos (2016)
Xiayin Wang - Tchaikovsky & Khachaturian: Piano Concertos (2016)
EAC Rip | Flac (Tracks + cue + log) | 289 MB | MP3 320Kbps CBR | 179 MB | 1 CD | Full Scans
Genre: Classical | Label: Chandos | Catalog Number: 5167
EAC Rip | Flac (Tracks + cue + log) | 289 MB | MP3 320Kbps CBR | 179 MB | 1 CD | Full Scans
Genre: Classical | Label: Chandos | Catalog Number: 5167
After a year off the concert platform, Xiayin Wang, a specialist in the romantic repertoire, presents a new recording of two relatively little-played piano concertos: No. 2 by Tchaikovsky, in its much lesser known yet extremely virtuosic original version, and Khachaturian’s. The disc also marks the 125th anniversary of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, here conducted by its Music Director, Peter Oundjian. Involving the same forces as Wang’s earlier recording of American concertos (Editor’s Choice in the magazine Pianist), the album follows a performance in Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, described by The Scotsman as ‘breathtakingly athletic’. Composed more than fifty years apart, these pieces have perhaps only one thing in common, namely an opening grandiosity or grandeur. Yet, while Tchaikovsky in 1879, in his heyday, undercut imperial splendour with a wealth of contrasting material that pointed the way ahead to more experimental, post imperial concertos such as Prokofiev’s Second, Khachaturian’s folk generalisations, vaguely Armenian or Georgian, remain the consistent thumbprints of a rather heavier style.
Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Aram Khachaturian
Performer: Xiayin Wang
Conductor: Peter Oundjian
Orchestra/Ensemble: Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Reviews: Tchaikovsky’s second piano concerto No. 2 has never been as popular as his first, and listening to Peter Donohoe, Rudolf Barshai and the Bournemouth Symphony in the former makes such neglect seem almost criminal.
To begin with, it’s worth pointing out that the version played by Xiayin Wang – and by Donohoe and Hough – is the original one. The pianist, composer and conductor Alexander Siloti altered the Andante: in fact the violin and cello solos were removed altogether. The score he published in 1897 also included cuts and changes elsewhere. The Khachaturian concerto is another piece that’s been sidelined in recent years; ArkivMusic list just 15 versions in the current catalog.
The pianist Xiayin Wang, who is new to me, has done well in the concert hall. She certainly makes a good impression at the start of the Tchaikovsky; as for Oundjian, his progress may seem a little sedate after Barshai’s cracking pace. The advantage of a more leisurely approach is that the Scottish band's playing is far more secure than that of their English counterparts. As if that weren't praise enough, the piano is much better balanced and the overall sound - engineered by Ralph Couzens and Jonathan Cooper - is first class.
One has to marvel at Wang's exemplary technique, especially in the concerto's bravura sections; however, she's at her thoughtful, eloquent best in the quieter, more lyrical ones. The lovely, clear piano sound is an added attraction.
Maya Iwabuchi on violin and Aleksei Kiseliov on cello don't eclipse Barshai's illustrious pair; that said, they’re still pure of line and ravishing of tone. Indeed, this RSNO performance has an inner glow that’s most beguiling. Any caveats? Well, the narrative thread is a little hard to discern at times. Then again, it almost snaps in Barshai and Donohoe's wild, coruscating finale. The RSNO aren’t pushed quite so much, and that makes for an orderly yet satisfyingly propulsive sign-off. Both Donohoe and Hough are wonderfully compelling musicians, and their accounts of Tchaikovsky's Op. 44 are indispensable. I'd say Wang's performance is just as desirable; indeed, it’s sure to win her a raft of new admirers.
How does she fare in the Khachaturian, written for and premiered by the great Russian virtuoso Lev Oborin? Well, the start of the Allegro has plenty of brio and bite, but as before this pianist is at her most pliant and persuasive in the concerto's quieter passages. Don't be fooled though, for there's a surprising edge – an unrepentant glitter – to her playing in the extrovert ones that’s just riveting. Her articulation is remarkable and those glorious runs are simply breathtaking. The central movement – what dark, moody woodwinds at the outset – is perfectly poised, shape and momentum assured.
Oundjian and the RSNO deliver a big-boned finale, to which the soloist responds with playing of equal force and weight. That she does so without hiatus or hyperbole is proof of her sound technique and good judgment. Katin is not usurped, but this young pretender almost topples him from his throne. Incidentally, Xiayin Wang's account of this concerto comfortably outclasses that of Constantine Orbelian and Neeme Järvi, also on Chandos.
Xiayin Wang astounds at every turn, as does the recording; a terrific coupling, too.
Tracklisting:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
01. Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 - I. Allegro brillante e molto vivace - [Cadenza] - L'istesso tempo - Tempo giusto -
02. Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 - Tempo I - [Cadenza.] Un poco capriccioso e a tempo rubato - Tempo giusto -
03. Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 - [Cadenza.] Meno mosso moderato assai - Vivacissimo - Tempo del Comincio - Andante - Prestissimo - Tempo di Comincio -
04. Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 - Tempo I - L'istesso tempo - Tempo giusto
05. Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 - II. Andante non troppo - Più mosso - Cadenza [Violin solo] - Tempo I - Cadenza [Piano solo] - [Tempo I]
06 Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 44 - III. Allegro con fuoco - L'istesso tempo - Poco più mosso
Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978)
07. Concerto in D flat major, Op. 38 - I. Allegro maestoso - [Cadenza.] Poco meno - Lento - Allegro - Poco più mosso e stretto in tempo - Tempo I - Tempo moderato - [Cadenza.] Vivo - Meno mosso - Moderato con sentimento - Tempo I - Allargando - Più maestoso
08. Concerto in D flat major, Op. 38 - II. Andante con anima - Poco più mosso - Poco meno mosso - Tempo I - [ ] - Tempo I - Lento - Tempo I - Lento
09. Concerto in D flat major, Op. 38 - III. Allegro brillante - L'istesso tempo - Più mosso - [Cadenza] - Tempo I - Più mosso - Moderato - Maestoso - Poco accelerando
Exact Audio Copy V1.0 beta 4 from 7. December 2014
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Xiayin Wang & RSNO / Piano Concertos (Tchaikovsky & Khachaturian)
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==== Log checksum 29D625DA5B2BD401C8180B5A2804390EF14916BE5D4EC2464BF5B24800BE8CB1 ====
EAC extraction logfile from 16. July 2016, 14:59
Xiayin Wang & RSNO / Piano Concertos (Tchaikovsky & Khachaturian)
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==== Log checksum 29D625DA5B2BD401C8180B5A2804390EF14916BE5D4EC2464BF5B24800BE8CB1 ====
Thanks to the original releaser