Janáček: Piano Music
Lisa Moore breathes fresh life into these Czech piano masterpieces. Less familiar on the concert platform than his operas, Janáček's keyboard writing ranges from darkly brooding to cheerful dancing, with all the drama of one of the twentieth century's most-loved opera composers.
The programme brings together the two-movement Sonata 1.x.1905 'From the Street', the four pieces of In the Mist, and both series of On an Overgrown Path, including the Paralipomena.
Moore recorded the music in January 1995 on a Steinway in Studio 200 at ABC Sydney, with Belinda Webster producing and engineering.
Reviews
Janacek made a very important comment about the notes on a printed page being steeped in life and blood – 'otherwise,' he said, 'they are like playthings: useless'. If only more musicians took heed of that comment in general. And if only more pianists demonstrated Janacek's wish in their performances of his music. The record catalogues are riddled with bland performances, and thankfully, Lisa Moore is an exception to this unfortunate rule. The sheer physical awkwardness of Janacek's writing holds no fear for her and her dynamic gradations and pedalling are near-perfect.
Among my favourite recordings [of Janacek] are Firkusny and Postnikova. Moore's disc sits very easily in their company. Indeed, it combines the best of both their approaches. Firkusny's is characterised by a mellowness, and an almost yearning sense of the lyricism of Janacek; Postnikova, equally validly, emphasises the perky rhythms and the often terse manner in which the phrases chop and change. Moore occasionally employs a touch more rubato than Firkusny, and yet there also is greater rhythmic tension to her performances than Postnikova's. So if the Sonata benefits from an added degree of melodic expressivity, In the Mist contains a touch more backbone than in some performances. The piano sound throughout is rich and natural, even by Tall Poppies high standards in this area.
Lisa Moore performs the wonderful piano music of a not-often-performed composer. Great insight is apparent through her performance. She masters the awkward passage work, rhythm, and spirit of these works with considerable ease. Worth the wait to be shipped from Australia!!!!!!
Artists
Lisa Moore
Lisa Moore brings colour, stamina and sharp rhythmic sense to piano music that runs from Janáček’s brooding paths to the percussive glitter of new Australian scores and the charged partnership of Russian and American cello sonatas.
Leoš Janáček
Leoš Janáček forged a modern musical language from Moravian folk song and the contours of spoken Czech. His piano music ranges from darkly brooding to cheerful dancing, with terse motifs and speech-like phrasing that mark his mature style.
Tracks
- i. Presentiment (Con moto) 5:26
- ii. Death (Adagio) 7:27
- i. Andante 3:01
- ii. Molto adagio 4:58
- iii. Andantino 2:03
- iv. Presto 4:33
- i. Our evenings 2:56
- ii. A blown-away leaf 3:07
- iii. Come with us! 1:23
- iv. The Madonna of Frýdek 3:03
- v. They chattered like swallows 2:09
- vi. Words fail! 1:41
- vii. Good night! 2:10
- viii. Unutterable anguish 3:29
- ix. In tears 2:05
- x. The barn owl has not flown away 3:32
- i. Andante 3:02
- ii. Allegretto 3:14
- i. Più mosso 2:27
- ii. Allegro 4:47
- iii. Vivo 1:38
Sonata 1.x.1905 'From the Street' Leoš Janáček
In the Mist Leoš Janáček
On an Overgrown Path: First Series Leoš Janáček
On an Overgrown Path: Second Series Leoš Janáček
On an Overgrown Path: Paralipomena Leoš Janáček
Performers
- Lisa Moore · piano
Contributors
Annotations
Graeme Skinner
Graeme Skinner writes the annotations that turn Tall Poppies recordings into fully armed listening: texts, contexts and sharp musical argument for everything from Mozart’s rude canons to Sculthorpe’s complete string quartets.
Where to listen
Janáček: Piano Music is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Janáček: Piano Music is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- TP066
- Total playing time
- 68 minutes 11 seconds
- Contributor
- David Kinney
- Producer
- Belinda Webster
- Recording Engineer
- Belinda Webster
- Venue
- ABC Studios, Sydney
- Thanks to
- Barbara Leser
Dr Martin Wesley-Smith
Felicity St John Moore - Credit
- Graeme Skinner
- Release date
- 31 May 1995
- Label
- Tall Poppies
- Musical work
copyright - © 1995 Tall Poppies Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 1995 Tall Poppies Records
- Categories
- Great Classics, Modern Masterpieces
- Genre
- Modernist Classical
- Barcode
- EAN 9399000006626
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