Adolf von Henselt - Etudes (Piers Lane)

Information

Composer: Adolf von Henselt

• (01) 12 Études caractéristiques de concert, Op. 2
• (13) Andante et étude concertante, Op. 3
• (14) 12 Études de salon, Op. 5

Piers Lane, piano
Date: 2004
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67495

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 9 / SOUND QUALITY: 9

Combine Chopin’s scinitllating virtuoso piano writing with the lush textural doublings and orchestrally inspired chord deployment Schumann favored, and you’ll get an inkling of what Adolf von Henselt’s 24 piano etudes sound like–and for that matter, what they feel like under the fingers. They cover all the major and minor keys while leaving few technical difficulties unaddressed. In fact, some of the composer’s broken chords and rolling bass-register figurations anticipate Brahms (the B-flat minor Etude from Op. 2, for example). Although Henselt’s etudes may not always be the most harmonically interesting works in this genre, their pianistic substance and seriousness of intent hold your attention. So do his best lyrical inspirations: the Mendelssohnian E-flat major from Op. 2, the B major “Liebeslied” (Op. 5 No. 11), or “Ave Maria” (Op. 5 No. 4), with its flowing accompaniment and surprising chromatic twists.

Michael Ponti’s energetic though choppy and brittle-toned Vox recordings of Op. 2 can be safely retired in light of Piers Lane’s impressive technical finish and near transcendent mastery. You may wish for greater color and delicacy at times, or more sustaining power in long-lined melodies (such as “Danklied nach Sturm” Op. 5 No. 6); and Lane also plays coy in the famous F-sharp major etude “Si oiseau j’etais” compared to the brusque pride with which Rachmaninov dispatched the double notes in his bygone acoustic recording. But these are tiny quibbles. If you’re attracted to forgotten Romantic piano music of a high order, this release recommends itself. [2/18/2005]

-- Jed Distler, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/henselt-piano-etudes
http://www.classical-music.com/review/henselt-0
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2005/June05/Henselt_CDA67495.htm
http://www.allmusic.com/album/henselt-%C3tudes-opus-2-opus-5-mw0001412626
http://www.amazon.com/Henselt-Etudes-Poeme-Damour-Douze/dp/B0006OR15W

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Adolf von Henselt (12 May 1814 – 10 October 1889) was a German composer and pianist. To some ears, Henselt's playing combined Franz Liszt's sonority with Hummel's smoothness. It was full of poetry, remarkable for his use of extended chords and technique. His Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 16 was once frequently played in Europe, and of his many valuable studies, Étude in F-sharp major Si oiseau j'étais was very popular. Despite his relatively long life, Henselt ceased nearly all composition by the age of thirty and withdraw from concert appearances by age thirty-three.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_von_Henselt

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Piers Lane (born 8 January 1958) is an Australian classical pianist. He graduated with a Medal of Excellence from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, where his teacher was Nancy Weir. Lane's performance career has taken him to more than 40 countries, including five times as a soloist at the BBC Proms. His concerto repertoire exceeds 75 works. Lane has an extensive discography on the Hyperion label and has also recorded for EMI, Decca, BMG, Lyrita and Unicorn-Kanchana. Lane is a well-known voice on BBC Radio 3, having written and presented more than 100 programs, including a 54-part series called The Piano.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piers_Lane

http://www.pierslane.com/

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