Medtner's last sonata

[arielpiano]

... uncharacteristically calm and lyrical

[mjames]

No kidding. It's hard to wrap around the fact that this is the same guy that wrote stuff like the Nightwind and tragica sonata! A beautiful work of art, performed by a master!

*favorites*

[ahinton]

Oh, I don't know; it sounds as unmistakeably like Medtner as any of them, although I do agree that the contrasts between it and the others are considerable. One of the great masters of 20th century piano music.

Best,

Alistair

[visitor]

this is dope.  the radness of this cannot be described.  as above, yes the work is great. I love your playing, this performance is no different, top marks all around. Fantastic.

[rachfan]

Hi Ariel,

Wonderfully performed!  It's been a very long time since I've heard this sonata, so I was delighted to hear it again.  At the beginning there are some references to the Classical style, but the deeper we get into the piece, the style becomes more Late Romantic -- which I love. 

Thanks for posting your recording here!

David

[arielpiano]

I'm happy that Medtner resonates so well with the audience. He has been referred to as "the poor man's Rachmaninov." I rather think it's the other way around...

[rachfan]

Hi Ariel,

Indeed.  Rachmaninoff and other notable composers and musicians were at a salon event.  After Medtner finished playing one of his own character pieces, Rachmaninoff stood up and exclaimed "Nobody can tell a story like Nikolai!"

David

[outin]

I'm happy that Medtner resonates so well with the audience. He has been referred to as "the poor man's Rachmaninov." I rather think it's the other way around...

I agree, the more I listen to Medtner the more superficial Rach sounds to me...

Great playing!

[awesom_o]

Beautiful playing, Ariel. Thank you for posting this!

Medtner is my favourite 20th century piano composer.

Sadly, it tends not to resonate with audiences as well as it does with pianists!

The lack of 'big tunes', I suspect.

Hopefully, he will one day become a household name in the west, thanks to brave, industrious people like yourself.

Bravo!

[ahinton]

Medtner is my favourite 20th century piano composer.

Sadly, it tends not to resonate with audiences as well as it does with pianists!

The lack of 'big tunes', I suspect.

Hopefully, he will one day become a household name in the west

I think that comparing Medtner with Rachmaninoff does neither any favours; yes, they were each Russian and of the same generation, yes, they were each great pianists and composers and yes, each worked within traditional overtly tonal languages and they each had much admiration and respect for one another and dedicated piano concertos to one another, but there the commonalities end. The elder of the two became far better known and more widely appreciated than the younger, partly perhaps because of the "lack of big tunes" (although where are they in late Rachmaninoff?) and partly because Rachmaninoff wrote in many media whereas Medtner wrote mostly piano music, piano concertos, chamber music and songs for voice and piano.

Medtner has been greatly rehabilitated in recent times, with pretty much every one of his works recorded at least once, but to suggest that he was a greater or lesser composer than Rachmaninoff is a faux pas. Despite the far wider apprecaiton of his work that performance, broadcastas and recordings have enabled, I doubt that Medtner will ever become "fashionable" any more than will Busoni, a fact which, in each case, is in no sense any kind of value judgement. He always had his supporters and devotees, however, one of the earliest in UK being Sorabji.

Best,

Alistair

[awesom_o]

I think that comparing Medtner with Rachmaninoff does neither any favours......to suggest that he was a greater or lesser composer than Rachmaninoff is a faux pas.

I agree that 'comparisons' and 'rankings' do not do great musicians any favours.

Nevertheless, Medtner is my personal favourite. I do not wish to put him on a pedestal. There is, however, a peculiar mixture of whimsical, lightheartedness of spirit, combined with a depth of sorrow, tragedy, and gravitas, that reminds me of the incredible capabilities of J. S. Bach.

[arielpiano]

I also find Medtner closely related to Bach, especially in what I would call "thematic density." Similarly to Bach, there is no passagework in Medtner; everything is related to everything else, although it may take longer to find the connections, and it may not always be obvious to the ear.

[opus10no2]

Medtner is one of my very favourite composers and I have found this sonata rather elusive and possibly the last one I've began to appreciate.

Your imaginative and musical performance is really helping me appreciate it more - you are doing the composer proud!

[furtwaengler]

I had seen this was here, but didn't get to experience it until now. Its GORGEOUS! Beautiful beyond words. Medtner is a most special composer in my life, and you are a true musician. I hope you get all the fulfillment you desire from your brilliant and extraordinary gifts.