Nikolai Medtner - The Piano Works Vol.2

Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951)

The Piano Works Vol. 2

Geoffrey Tozer

The piano music of Nikolai Medtner has become pretty much common fare the last couple of years, but if you want a complete series (which this masterly music certainly deserves to have in the catalogue - preferably in several versions), the late Geoffrey Tozer is probably the one to go for. That said, since his volume contains some of Medtner's best works - as such it is a good introduction to the composer - the competition is somewhat fiercer, and Tozer, while impressive, might not in the end quite make it to the top. The Sonata-Triad, for instance - a masterpiece if there ever was one - is excellently done, with spirit and life, a sure understanding of the music and is very convincing in his take on the various leaps and twists and textural nuances, but there is, I think, possible to conjure up a little more fire and vibrancy (think Hamelin). The same thing is the case for the marvelous, remarkable tone-pictures that make up the Forgotten Melody and Fairy Tale sets; rich, kaleidoscopic, always inventive and surprising and usually truly memorable music. Tozer's performances are very good, to be sure, but sometimes the music doesn't quite sing or come across as the fierce and fiery small dramas they can be. In any case, I should emphasize that this review might sound harsher than I intended it to be - the performances are, again, usually superb. The piano sound is a little close and flat, but generally fine enough. In sum, this is a very much recommendable release, even for newcomers to this fabulous music, and is surely a must for followers of this series.