TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto in B flat minor, Op. 23 – Noel Mewton-Wood, piano / Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra / Walter Goehr, conductor – Pristine Audio

by | Jul 10, 2008 | Classical Reissue Reviews | 0 comments

TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto in B flat minor, Op. 23 – Noel Mewton-Wood, piano / Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra / Walter Goehr, conductor 

Pristine Audio PASC112, 32:57 [www.pristineaudiodirect.com]  (Download or CD-R available) ****:

Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky wrote the First Piano Concerto in 1874-5 hoping it would be taken up by Nikolai Rubinstein. Unfortunately, Rubinstein was, to put it mildly, disparaging about a work which has since become one of the most popular in the repertoire. Variously described as “clumsy and unplayable, when not vulgar and chaotic” the concerto was dedicated instead to Hans von Bülow. Rubinstein did alter his opinion and Tchaikovsky revised the work several times, the version we know today dating from 1889.

Noel Mewton-Wood (1922-1953) was Australian by birth and went to London in 1937 to study at the Royal Academy of Music. Shortly afterwards he managed to get to attend Artur Schnabel’s masterclasses in Como where his technique received praise. In 1939 he was auditioned by Sir Thomas Beecham who was bowled over by his playing, and asked him to perform Beethoven’s third piano concerto for his London debut at the Queen’s Hall in 1940. He can be heard in the gargantuan concerto by Busoni in a live recording conducted by Beecham in 1948 on Somm-Beecham 15.

The Tchaikovsky concerto here was recorded in 1952 in Holland with Walter Goehr, an excellent conductor to have in concertos, and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, an orchestra which was made up of players from three radio orchestras and used by Concert Hall for recording purposes. They play pretty well for this recording, the brass in particular sounding very fine.

The introduction to this concerto launches quite smartly into a cadenza (possibly this structure rankling with Rubinstein) and Mewton-Wood has his goods on display from the off. He plays the grand opening powerfully without forcing his piano’s tone, and the second subject comes across with all the light delicacy which could be hoped for. This delicacy is shown off so well in the second movement where gossamer-like scurrying between piano and orchestra is so effective. The last movement with its famous “big finish” is very impressive indeed.

This is one of Mewton-Wood’s later recordings, dating from 1952, and the sound in this transfer by Andrew Rose is excellent and not only for its time, allowing the sound of the piano its full tone. Pristine Audio’s recordings are available to buy direct as CD-Rs, or as downloads in mp3 or FLAC (lossless) form; the website also offers helpful instructions on downloading and burning your own disc.

Mewton-Wood recorded all of Tchaikovsky’s works for piano and orchestra, and their issue is keenly awaited. In the meantime, this one is highly recommended.

— Peter Joelson
 

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