Topic: Nicholas Medtner

[Wanderer]

This is meant as a continuation of the old Medtner thread at the "retired" forum. There are many useful recommendations and insights in that topic and I hope discussion will continue here.

Firstly, let me remind everyone of this excellent and very informative site:www.medtner.org.uk.

I've been listening to Hamish Milne's new album of the complete Skazki (Tales) on Hyperion (also, one should not forget the marvelous op.25 no.1 Sonata-Skazka - not included here -  in effect a tripartite collection of interrelated Skazki). Some of these miniature tone poems receive their first performances on disc. Milne is impressive throughout, managing to convey the varied moods of these pieces with astonishing clarity, sensitivity, force and insight. Highlights include the dark menace of op.8 no.2 (a favourite of Prokofiev), the grim heroics of the heavily contrapuntal allegro marciale op.14 no.2 "March of the Paladin" (one of Rachmaninov's favourites), the dark and brooding op.20 no.2 "Campanella" (as far from Liszt and Paganini as one could imagine), op.26 no.1 vividly portraying a scene of utmost tranquility, the "exalted piety" of op.34 no.4 and many others. Let's hope more pianists will tackle these works in the future. The music gives the impression of monumentality and sincerity; these were some of Medtner's more personal utterances. Milne's excellent performances and liner notes can make Hyperion proud once again.

[Maciek]

Firstly, let me remind everyone of this excellent and very informative site:www.medtner.org.uk.

Thanks for the link! Very useful site!

Maciek

[Wanderer]

Thanks for the link! Very useful site!

One of the site's recent additions: Medtner's rarer than rare book "The Muse and the Fashion" is available as a pdf file. 

[12tone.]

I have this and wondered what else is out there that's good from Medtner.  I really like the late Romantics' thick works especially for piano and orchestral music.  Medtner's Sonata in F minor, Op 5 is big and hand-filling as it were.  I like that.  What else did he write?

[SonicMan46]

I saw Marc-Andre Hamelin in concert not too long ago - just fantastic & a poweful piano player; I have Geoffrey Tozer on 4-CD Chandos set in these compositions - these seem to be the two choices for these works, but would be interested to hear other comments! Also own the Violin Sonatas w/ Tozer on piano & Mordkovitch on violin (also on Chandos).

The Piano Concertos are another part of Medtner's output to explore - the Hyperion discs in their Romantic Piano Concerto series are worth a listening, esp. at a discount price - the two shown below include the Piano Concertos Nos. 1-3 & Piano Quintet - hope that others will respond w/ recommendations! 

   

[Ten thumbs]

The 1st Violin Sonata is one of my favourites but rather different from Op5. If you like lots of notes, try the Sonata Tragica or the Dithyramb Op10, esp No2. or the Sonata-Ballade.

[Mark]

Buy this:



... not for the Tchaikovsky, obviously.

The First Piano Concerto by Medtner is stunningly brilliant, a tour-de-force and almost overwhelming. Much better than his rather long, convoluted Second Piano Concerti, IMO.

[The new erato]

Much better than his rather long, convoluted Second Piano Concerti, IMO.

Does he have several?

[Mark]

Does he have several?

Three that I know of.

[The new erato]

Three seconds? Then I can certainly understand why you are using Concerti about his seconds.

[Mark]

Three seconds? Then I can certainly understand why you are using Concerti about his seconds.

Tut, tut - such unnecessary pendantry.

I meant he wrote three Piano Concerti. I didn't realise you'd have a problem with me writing things out in full.

[The new erato]

Tut, tut - such unnecessary pendantry.

I meant he wrote three Piano Concerti. I didn't realise you'd have a problem with me writing things out in full.

Just som gentle jesting. 

[Mark]

Just som gentle jesting. 

Oh, okay. I have a new baby, hence no sleep ... or sense of humour!

[Don]

The 1st Violin Sonata is one of my favourites but rather different from Op5. If you like lots of notes, try the Sonata Tragica or the Dithyramb Op10, esp No2. or the Sonata-Ballade.

The Sonata Tragica is a very long work.  Doesn't it need a lot of notes?

[Ten thumbs]

The Sonata Tragica is a very long work.  Doesn't it need a lot of notes?

On the contrary, it is quite short. It is one of the 'Vergessene Weisen'.

[Don]

On the contrary, it is quite short. It is one of the 'Vergessene Weisen'.

Yes, my mistake.  I was thinking of and listening to Medtner's Violin Sonata No. 3 "Epica".

[Wanderer]

Buy this:



... not for the Tchaikovsky, obviously.

I second this recommendation. A marvelous concerto in a recording and interpretation that makes it (almost) full justice. That the Tchaikovsky is a very worthwhile and thoughtful interpretation is an added bonus.

The Hyperion concerto discs mentioned above are also well worth exploring; Demidenko's interpretations especially are particularly good.

[71 dB]

So now I have listened to the Naxos CD with the 2nd Piano Concerto and Piano Quintet few times. I was unfamiliar with Medtner's music before this. I have to say this composer is a pleasant finding. The music is like "enhanced Rachmaninov". It has some Elgarian complexity in it, similar rich textures. Medtner is not the greatest melodist and his music is a bit messy but I do like it. Interesting how I had ignored this composer this long. 

[Lethevich]

So now I have listened to the Naxos CD with the 2nd Piano Concerto and Piano Quintet few times. I was unfamiliar with Medtner's music before this. I have to say this composer is a pleasant finding. The music is like "enhanced Rachmaninov". It has some Elgarian complexity in it, similar rich textures. Medtner is not the greatest melodist and his music is a bit messy but I do like it. Interesting how I had ignored this composer this long. 

*cheer* A success!

[Harry]

At the request of my friend Tasos, I will post my impressions of the piano music forthwith in this place....

Nikolai Medtner.
Complete piano works, Volume I.
Hamish Milne, Piano.
Recorded 1977, on the label CRD, by Bob Auger.

Primavera, (Spring Tale) Forgotten Melodies, Second Cycle, Opus 39, No. 2.
Meditation, Forgotten Melodies Second Cycle, opus 39, No. 2.
Fairy Tale, E flat major, opus 26, No, 2.
in F minor, (Ophelia's Song) opus 14, No.1.
in E minor, (March of the Paladin), opus 14, No. 2.
in G major, opus 9, No. 3.
in D minor.
in C sharp minor, opus 35, No. 4.
Three Hymns in Praise of Toil, opus 49.
Elegy opus 59, no. 2.
Dithyramb opus 10, No. 2.



Milne is opening my ears for Medtner. The range of emotions this composer has to offer is enormous, for what a great composer he is.
and you can find that genius in the piano works aplenty. I was slowly finding my way into Medtner, but he takes me by storm and thunder. I am listening to some of his Fairy Tales mostly in Minor keys, and amazing they are. Starting with "Primavera" (Spring Tale) forgotten Melodies, Second Cycle opus 39, No. 3, and No. 1, (Meditation) and both works are blowing me out of my chair, what beauty, and perfectly scored compositions they are. The mystery is oozing from the notes. The elegy opus 59, no. 2 is a stunning work too, as are all works. Milne is a fabulous pianist, and allthough I have no one to compare to, I would say from what I hear Milne fits the bill allright. And the recording from trustworthy Bob Auger is a always expertly done, a warm and detailed sound, in a perfect sound stage.
The start of a 7 cd box was successfull. Cannot wait to play it all. Definitively a very good start of 2008.