Medtner, Nikolay - Complete Skazki, The (2 CD) - Milne, Hamish (piano)

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BETYG: *****
LJUDKVALITET: *****
(Opus)

Notwithstanding the current revival of interest in Medtner (in which Hyperion has played no small part) the complete Skazki have never been recorded together, and some of the pieces here are receiving their long overdue first recordings. The Skazki (‘Märchen’ in German; ‘Contes’ in French; the incorrect ‘Fairy Tales’ in English) were the most personal of Medtner’s idioms and contain his most immediately appealing music: they are miniature tone poems full of atmosphere and colour and are arguably the most neglected ‘great’ piano music in the repertoire.

Medtner has been central to Hamish Milne’s repertoire since the 1970s—he has already recorded eight CDs of the composer’s music—and no one has a finer grasp of the subtle sound world of these works. Hamish has here surpassed himself in a recording which is also graced with superlative piano sound. These CDs are sure to be regarded as definitive for many years to come.
Hamish Milne, piano
CD 1

Nikolay Madtner

Skazki Op 8

1. Andantino

2. Allegro



Skazki Op 9

3. Allegro inquieto

4. Allegro alla serenata, con alcuna licenza

5. Allegretto vivo, odoroso



Skazki Op 14

6. Ophelia’s Song: Andantino con moto

7. March of the Paladin: Allegro marciale



Skazki Op 20

8. Allegro con espressione

9. Campanella: Pesante. Minaccioso



Skazki Op 26

10. Allegretto frescamente

11. Molto vivace

12. Narrante a piacere

13. Sostenuto



Skazka Op 31 No 3

14. Allegretto capriccioso, con molto tenerezza



Skazki Op 34

15. The Magic Violin: Tempo cangiando, abbandonamente

16. Allegro cantabile e leggiero

17. Allegretto tenebroso

18. Molto sostenuto e semplice



Skazki Op 35

19. Andante maestoso

20. Capriccioso, con grazia

21. Cantabile, narrante

22. Allegro appassionato e tempestoso



CD 2

Skazki Op 42

1. Russian Tale: Allegro sostenuto

2. Phrygian Mode: Con moto disinvolto e grazioso

3. Moderato, narrante



Skazki Op 48

4. Dance Tale: Allegro risoluto

5. Tale of the Elves: Con moto flessibile



Skazki Op 51

6. Allegro molto vivace … e sempre leggierissimo

7. Cantabile, tranquillo

8. Allegretto tranquillo e grazioso

9. Allegretto con moto flessibile

10. Presto

11. Allegro vivace sempre al rigore di tempo



Romantic Sketches for the Young Op 54

12. Pastoral (Prelude): Allegretto con moto abbandonamente

13. Bird’s Tale: Allegretto con moto capriccioso e sempre leggiero

14. Tempo di Sarabanda (Prelude): Andantino mobile

15. Scherzo (Tale): Allegro vivace

16. Tender Reproach (Prelude): Allegretto, molto tranquillo e commodo

17. The Organ Grinder (Tale): Allegro assai

18. Hymn (Prelude): Allegretto tranquillo

19. The Beggar (Tale): Narrante



20. Skazka - Allegretto abbandonamente