Dvorak: Piano Concerto, Op. 33 - The Water Goblin

Magnificent recording of a magnificent unjustly maligned concerto

     

Here's a little history for those interested. This concerto was written by Dvorak in c.1876. The "original piano part" was thought by some to be "insufficient virtuosic." This may be true in the aural sense, but not the practical one. This concerto (even in the original) is horrendously diffiicult and exhausting, and rivals any concerto by Rachmaninov or Tschaikovsky in difficulty. So let's get that issue off the table. The piano solo part was "re-arranged" by a pedagogue named: a Prof. Vilem Kurz. I have nothing against Kurz's arrangement. It is fine. But there is nothing wrong with the original Dvorak piano part...which is the one performed on this album. Richter loved this concerto, but complained that it took him over 2 years to learn it! (By comparison, he learned a Bartok Concerto in a couple of months). Richter plays in on Youtube, for those interested. If you are an amateur concert pianist, this score will cause your hands to curdle. It is utterly exhausting. I have heard almost every performance on DVD and Youtube. This performance I think is better than Firkusny, who actually plays it quite well, but is a little "muddier" and uses more pedal to help him along (I don't criticize him for that at all...it's just horrendously difficult to play). Richter is the cleanest, but his recordings are no longer available. Over all, Antoni Wit and Jeno Jando do it very, very well. Now, to the music itself. This concerto should be played as often as any Mozart, Brahms, Tschaikovsky, Chopin or Rachmaninoff piano concerto. I assume it is not because it is do very, very hard to play. It is a work of complete genius, is absolutely ravishingly beautiful and exciting. It is among Dvorak's very best works...and don't let anyone tell you otherwise...even if they are music critics. I urge you to buy this recording, which you will grow to love. I don't know how many people read classical music recording reviews. I hope somebody reads this, purchases this recording and responds. It is YOU who will be rewarded with a magnificent piano concerto, worthy of any of the greatest ever written. sanjosemike