Han Na Chang plays Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante and Cello Sonata
Sergei Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante and Cello SonataHan-Na Chang, cello
London Symphony Orchestra
Antonio Pappano, conductor.
The CD I have is a budget reissue from their previous "award winner" release. The original which was universally acclaimed by critics had a much more decent, classy cover. I don't know if the hideous cover is the intention of the marketing gurus who wanted this album to scream BUDGET GREATEST HIT so much. The fonts which formed the words looked blah and add insult to injury there is this hideous clay doll or whatever that "graced" the bloody cover. And lets not mention the pretentious copyright disclaimed in the disc that tells us how much money the people involved in the recording would lose yak yak yak. But it explain why Cheng Hooi (my friend who ordered this online for me) charged me only RM 38 for that CD, considering its from overseas. I don't mind paying extra money for the cover above since I'm going to ask Han-Na Chang to autograph it (Me: Miss Chang, this is NOT a pirated cd and yes, this legit cd exists and its from EMI) - the horrors. No, Mr Cheng Hooi I'm not blaming you, sorry.
The only significant recordings of Prokofiev' Sinfonia Concertante are done by late maestro Rostropovich, who premiered it alongside a orchestra conducted by Sviatoslav Richter. Yes, you read that right and the cover analysis claims it is the only time the legendary pianist ever hold a baton. Subsequently he recorded it with other orchestras and you should watch the video of him playing it with a French orchestra despite its rather dry acoustics. This is the most difficult mainstream classical work for cello, a work that would've made Paganini bang his head on the wall and wish he could write like that. The elusive enigma that remains is that the late maestro never recorded it with a top-notch orchestral accompaniment, say Leningrad Philharmonic or a Chicago Symphony. When this present recording came out, it is of no surprise it went straight to "benchmark" acclaim. This is the reference recording, boast the critics.
Miss Chang's virtuosity tackles the work with relative gusto and finally a London Symphony Orchestra does justice accompanying her. One particular vivid moment was in 2nd movement where the trumpets gave a squael that sounded like those old-fashioned Russian brasses from Leningrad Philharmonic (at around 6 mins and 11 mins recap on the CD) and it sounds stunning. Miss Chang's highlight is the Herculean 2nd movement, where the soloists alternates from "heavenly dreamness to frenzied madness" to quote her. She does that with ease, jumping from beautiful lyrical melodies to a series of cellistic Olympian gymnastic hurdles. Prokofiev wrote that with Rostropovich's virtuosity in mind, no surprise after all. Better, her tempi is faster than what Rostropovich normally does if that doesn't freak you out.
Miss Chang's rendition of the Sonata for Cello and Piano is very fine, although to be frank the work doesn't move me. In fact I am not a great admirer of Prokofiev as much as Shostakovich. Han-Na Chang isn't just a flashy virtuoso cellist. In fact watching a YouTube video of her playing Shostakovich 1st concerto with BBC Symphony her slow movements moved me a lot with her genuinely anguished rendition, which shows the maturity of her interpretative powers, although only a glimpse. The power of her playing and vision has much compared similarities to Rostropovich and won't be surprised if she is indeed the heir to the Late Maestro of cello. All fans of cello and cellists should listen to this recording.
My only quip (or grunts) is the recording sound. Somehow for an album made in 2002, the engineering isn't quite up to par. There are a little "glare" typical of early digital recordings made in 80s and I am annoyed by the "whooshing" sounds and the breathing grunts in the Prokofiev, presumably from the soloist. The engineers could do a lot better making sure these annoyances are least distruptive as possible. But then EMI engineers don't really match those from DG especially evident in Simon Rattle's Berlin Philharmonic recordings (I welcome brickbats regarding this). Still, considering Han-Na Chang's visit to DFP this January, this album will give a glimpse of her talent - for those who are curious.
Technical: 10
Interpretation: 9
Recording: 8
The only significant recordings of Prokofiev' Sinfonia Concertante are done by late maestro Rostropovich, who premiered it alongside a orchestra conducted by Sviatoslav Richter. Yes, you read that right and the cover analysis claims it is the only time the legendary pianist ever hold a baton. Subsequently he recorded it with other orchestras and you should watch the video of him playing it with a French orchestra despite its rather dry acoustics. This is the most difficult mainstream classical work for cello, a work that would've made Paganini bang his head on the wall and wish he could write like that. The elusive enigma that remains is that the late maestro never recorded it with a top-notch orchestral accompaniment, say Leningrad Philharmonic or a Chicago Symphony. When this present recording came out, it is of no surprise it went straight to "benchmark" acclaim. This is the reference recording, boast the critics.
Miss Chang's virtuosity tackles the work with relative gusto and finally a London Symphony Orchestra does justice accompanying her. One particular vivid moment was in 2nd movement where the trumpets gave a squael that sounded like those old-fashioned Russian brasses from Leningrad Philharmonic (at around 6 mins and 11 mins recap on the CD) and it sounds stunning. Miss Chang's highlight is the Herculean 2nd movement, where the soloists alternates from "heavenly dreamness to frenzied madness" to quote her. She does that with ease, jumping from beautiful lyrical melodies to a series of cellistic Olympian gymnastic hurdles. Prokofiev wrote that with Rostropovich's virtuosity in mind, no surprise after all. Better, her tempi is faster than what Rostropovich normally does if that doesn't freak you out.
Miss Chang's rendition of the Sonata for Cello and Piano is very fine, although to be frank the work doesn't move me. In fact I am not a great admirer of Prokofiev as much as Shostakovich. Han-Na Chang isn't just a flashy virtuoso cellist. In fact watching a YouTube video of her playing Shostakovich 1st concerto with BBC Symphony her slow movements moved me a lot with her genuinely anguished rendition, which shows the maturity of her interpretative powers, although only a glimpse. The power of her playing and vision has much compared similarities to Rostropovich and won't be surprised if she is indeed the heir to the Late Maestro of cello. All fans of cello and cellists should listen to this recording.
My only quip (or grunts) is the recording sound. Somehow for an album made in 2002, the engineering isn't quite up to par. There are a little "glare" typical of early digital recordings made in 80s and I am annoyed by the "whooshing" sounds and the breathing grunts in the Prokofiev, presumably from the soloist. The engineers could do a lot better making sure these annoyances are least distruptive as possible. But then EMI engineers don't really match those from DG especially evident in Simon Rattle's Berlin Philharmonic recordings (I welcome brickbats regarding this). Still, considering Han-Na Chang's visit to DFP this January, this album will give a glimpse of her talent - for those who are curious.
Technical: 10
Interpretation: 9
Recording: 8
posted by Corgan Sow at 10:48 am
2 Comments:
To Mr. Corgan Sow Yoong Wai,
Please be informed that no one is happy about the antics on your blog. I sincerely hope you will keep up to your words to do no more posts on MPYO.
With Appreciation,
Cuteharpist
The other CD with the cover you showed on this blog is more expensive.
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