Taneyev - Suite de Concert
Rimsky-Korsakov - Fantasy on Russian Themes
Mordkovitch; RSNO / Järvi
Chandos CHAN10491

Release date October 2008

In the last decades of the nineteenth century two music schools dominated in Russia, one in Moscow and one in St Petersburg. They represented the two main trends in compositional style. Broadly speaking, St Petersburg was associated with Russian nationalism and the 'Mighty Five’, whereas Moscow was influenced by more European traditions such as the music of Bach and Beethoven. This disc showcases that divide: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Fantasy on Russian Themes and Taneyev’s Suite de Concert (whose opening bars sound distinctly Elgarian to me). It is a welcome addition to the catalogue for these seldom-recorded works. The Fantasy takes the form of a concerto to which Mordkovitch’s Russian style of playing naturally lends itself. The Taneyev Suite is the more substantial work of the two and is in five movements, each with a distinctly different mood. Less obviously Russian in character than the Fantasy, it places great emotional demands on the soloist - but this is the stuff on which Mordkovitch thrives. The depth of passion that the soloist delivers equals that of a painter so eager to get the oil on canvas he ends up with it everywhere; yet when it comes to the fine lines, the detail is perfect. She uses very precise articulation, as if every note has been meticulously considered. Her ability to imbue a single sustained note with an entire palette of colour is one of the reasons this soloist ranks above many others, especially in this kind of repertoire. Be it wild flashes of virtuosity or more languid phrases oozing with delicious portamento, this is playing of the highest order and makes this a disc to relish. The RSNO under Neeme Järvi are a suitably meaty match for this fine player.

NB:The programme notes state that Taneyev was born in 1889 which is incorrect, the date in fact was 1856.


Reviewed by Dawn Cooke