Emil von Sauer - Piano Concerto No. 2 (Oleg Marshev)

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Composer: Emil von Sauer

1. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor: I. Moderato lamentoso - Tempo I -
2. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor: II. Vivacissimo -
3. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor: III. Adagio - Andante - Molto moderato -
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor: IV. Allegro deciso, assai moderato
5. 5 Morceaux de difficulté moyenne: 1. Marche in G major
6. 5 Morceaux de difficulté moyenne: 2. Petite Etude in E flat major
7. 5 Morceaux de difficulté moyenne: 3. Valse lente in G major
8. 5 Morceaux de difficulté moyenne: 4. Berceuse in C major
9. 5 Morceaux de difficulté moyenne: 5. Humoresque in B flat major
10. Petite Scène de Ballet in D major
11. Menuet (Vieux style) in B flat major
12. Polka de Concert in A major
13. Galop de Concert (Etude-Galop) in A flat major

Oleg Marshev, piano
Aarhus Symphony Orchestra
James Loughran, conductor (1-4)

Date: 2002
Label: Danacord
http://www.danacord.dk/records/596.html

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Review

Volume 6 of Oleg Marshev’s survey of Emil von Sauer’s keyboard music includes a first recording of the Second Piano Concerto, already a far cry from the the First Concerto’s beguiling if less ambitious world. Getting off to an exotic start (moderato lamentoso), the pianist quickly launches into a magisterial utterance worthy of Brahms. Wildly disparate elements are ingeniously knitted together and the Scherzo (part of a Lisztian, continuous argument) has a sufficiently grotesque undertow to lift it from salon vacuity into genuine character and piquancy (did Sauer know Pierné’s Piano Concerto of 1887 or was he haunted by Grieg’s trolls and northern lights?). The Adagio blossoms into a sumptuous, richly harmonised melody and if the concluding Allegro deciso is heavy-footed, its outsize flourish at 4'27" offers Marshev an ideal gift for his full-blooded, all-Russian technique and commitment. 

After such virtuosity the Cinq Morceaux de difficulté moyenne gently coax the less ambitious pianist. And whether in a Schumannesque March, nostalgic Waltz or in a Berceuse lost in its own elegant reverie, Marshev plays with ideal fluency and warmth.The final four pieces are dated charmers tailored to the taste of the day yet once again with enough surprises to rescue them from triviality. The recording is excellent and James Loughran and the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra are enthusiastic partners in their voyage of discovery.

-- Bryce Morrison, Gramophone

More reviews:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/may04/Sauer_pc2.htm

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/jun04/Sauer_pc2.htm

http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/d/dcd00596a.php

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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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