Emil von Sauer - Etudes de Concert Nos. 21-30; Valses (Oleg Marshev)

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Composer: Emil von Sauer

1. Etudes de Concert: No. 21 in F sharp major "Etude Chromatique"
2. Etudes de Concert: No. 22 in C minor "Le Vertige" (Im Taumel)
3. Etudes de Concert: No. 23 in C minor "Toccata"
4. Etudes de Concert: No. 24 in B flat major "Les Pins de la Villa Médicis" (Die Pinen der Villa Medici)
5. Etudes de Concert: No. 25 in D flat major "Gebirgsbächlein" (Les ruisselet de la montagne))
6. Etudes de Concert: No. 26 in B flat major "Preghiera" (Gebet)
7. Etudes de Concert: No. 27 in G flat major "Waldszauber"
8. Etudes de Concert: No. 28 in A flat major "Waldnacht" (for the left hand alone)
9. Etudes de Concert: No. 29 in G flat major "Staccato-Etüde"
10. Etudes de Concert: No. 30 in F major "Dialogo" (Impromptu)
11. Les Délices de Vienne
12. Le Retour (Caprice) in E major
13. Couplet sans Paroles (Style francais)
14. Scherzo Valse in E flat major
15. Boîte a musique (Spieluhr) in E flat major
16. Echo de Vienne (Valse de Concert)

Oleg Marshev, piano
Date: 1998
Label: Danacord
http://www.danacord.dk/frmsets/records/488-r.html

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Review

Hard on the heels of Vol.1 (DACOCD 487 W/99) comes the second disc of Marshev’s enterprising survey of the piano music of Emil von Sauer, containing the remaining Etudes de concert and a selection of Waltzes for good measure. More so than in the first volume, the studies on this disc tend towards a finger-crunching toccata style (whether Mendelssohnian or Ravelian in character) rather than Chopinesque poetry, although there are notable exceptions (No. 26, “Preghiera”, for example, or the extended No. 28, “Waldandacht”, for the left hand alone). The nostalgic Viennese charm of the earlier waltzes offers a happy and delicious contrast, evoking a bygone era much as Godowsky and Ignaz Friedman were later to do.

The apparent ease with which Oleg Marshev encompasses such a range of demanding piano writing is impressive, especially when, as here, there is no significant performance tradition to speak of and therefore limited inherited parameters of interpretation. True, these works don’t require deep insights or a special spiritual affinity, they do, however, require tremendous clarity and dexterity and an insouciant grace and charm, and in this Marshev is largely successful. He tackles works such as the “Etude chromatique” (No. 21) shimmers with menacing agitation and the “Staccato Etude” (No. 29) reveals wrists of steel.

In some of the more lyrical pieces, however, I miss the delicacy and tonal beauty found in Sauer’s own recordings. In “Preghiera” for example, after a beautifully moulded pianissimo opening, Marshev’s tone hardens palpably at louder dynamics: something of Sauer’s fragrant sound world and sensuous tonal palette – or, if you like, a stronger erotic charge – would be more seductive. In the waltzes, too, Marshev’s playing is most attractive at softer dynamic levels. But this is not a major quibble: if anything, this disc is more varied and attractive than it’s predecessor. Indeed, try Marshev’s delightfully evocative music box (track 15) and you’ll hear exquisitely graded and superbly cristalline passagework, surely accompanying the most elegant and pristine ballerina.

The recordings are quite close, which may accentuate the hardness of tone at forte level, and Farhan Malik’s accompanying notes are illuminating and supply a broader context for the music. Volume 3 of this enjoyable survey, containing Sauer’s two piano sonatas, should follow soon and given the success of the first two discs I am looking forward to it impatiently.

-- Tim Parry, International Piano Quarterly, Spring 1999

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2001/Dec01/Sauer_Piano_Works.htm

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Emil von Sauer (October 8, 1862 – April 27, 1942) was a notable German composer, pianist, score editor, and music (piano) teacher. He studied with Nikolai Rubinstein at the Moscow Conservatory between 1879 and 1881. He was also a pupil of Franz Liszt and one of the most distinguished pianists of his generation. Sauer was considered as emphasizing the original Liszt approach to pianism.  Along with editing the complete piano works of Johannes Brahms, Sauer wrote piano concertos, piano sonatas, concert études, piano pieces and lieder.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_von_Sauer

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Oleg Marshev (born 1961 in Baku, Azerbaijan) is a Soviet and Russian pianist. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Mikhail Voskresensky. Now he is a resident of Italy. He has recorded over 30 CDs for Danacord label,  featuring works by Schubert, Brahms, Strauss, Rubinstein, Rachmaninov and others. He has made the world premier recording of Emil von Sauer’s piano music in 6 volumes. Another result of the artist’s abiding interest in little-known or forgotten music is a recording of Danish romantic piano concertos in 4 CDs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oleg_Marshev
http://olegmarshev.com/

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