Making the great greater than they are?
Posted by: Tam on 24 February 2007
In the wake of Hattogate (personally, I didn't see the need to append the suffix, as I would personally reserve it for political scandals, but there we go, anyway, I digress), I have been wondering about something that has been bothering me for a couple of weeks. Ever since I bought Leon Fleisher's recital disc 'Two Hands'.
Fleisher is a pianist I have admired for some time, ever since I bought he discs of the Brahms piano concertos (actually originally bought more out of admiration for his partners - Szell and the Clevelanders) which are firm favourites and which I much prefer to Gilels/Jochum, but that's another thread. However, he has a relatively modest discography when compared to some distinct lack of recordings over the last 30 or so years. In fact, I think I had assumed that he was either retired or dead. Until, a couple of years ago, I read the gramophone review of 'Two Hands'. Fleisher it seems had developed a rare condition called Dystonia which caused the involuntary clenching of the fingers in one of his hands, meaning he could only play the piano with one hand (though according to an interview I read online somewhere, this hasn't stopped him, apparently there are one or two works for left hand, including a concerto, and another which he has commissioned, indeed, in the article he said if he could go back and not suffer from it he might not choose to as he's been able to add to the repertoire in a way he wouldn't otherwise have done - which I think is a pretty remarkable thing to say). Anyway, a couple of years ago he received injections of Botox into his wrist which caused the muscles to relax and enabled him to play with both hands again.
Despite wanting the disc I have somehow managed to hold off ever since as, for one, I'm not a huge fan of recital discs of this sort. And, two, whenever I chanced across it, it was at nothing less than full price. However, it was in a sale last month and that was that. The disc opens with two of the most beautiful pieces of music I know: Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and Sheep May Safely Graze. (These are followed by a Scarlatti sonata, a Chopin mazurka and nocturne, Debussy's Clair de lune and finally a rather interesting reading of Schubert's D960, another favourite.)
But as I was sitting listening (and the many times I have listened since) to the Bach, while I read the liner note about the charity 'Musicians with Dystonia', I wondered how much of the emotion was down to the story behind the disc and how much down to Fleisher's playing. (Similar questions are now being asked of Hatto, though even with the story, none of the discs I heard ever did terribly much for me.) Similarly, when I heard Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Then again, both on CD and in the concert hall, I think it one of the most electrifying readings of Beethoven's 5th I've ever heard. Not technically, maybe, but there is an enthusiasm and passion to the players that few ensembles match. I've read reviews along the lines that if it weren't for who or what the orchestra is, they'd get shorter shrift, which I don't think is entirely fair. But then how can I say, my judgement may well be coloured.
And, even if it is having an effect does it matter? Short of blind listening, any disc or concert we hear is going to be coloured by our personal tastes. When, for example, listen to Mackerras, I am probably not nearly as objective as I ought to be, because he has done such wonderful things at the many concerts of his I have attended, I am doubtless more forgiving of any shortcomings than I might otherwise be (not, I think that there ever are many).
What do other think?
regards, Tam
Fleisher is a pianist I have admired for some time, ever since I bought he discs of the Brahms piano concertos (actually originally bought more out of admiration for his partners - Szell and the Clevelanders) which are firm favourites and which I much prefer to Gilels/Jochum, but that's another thread. However, he has a relatively modest discography when compared to some distinct lack of recordings over the last 30 or so years. In fact, I think I had assumed that he was either retired or dead. Until, a couple of years ago, I read the gramophone review of 'Two Hands'. Fleisher it seems had developed a rare condition called Dystonia which caused the involuntary clenching of the fingers in one of his hands, meaning he could only play the piano with one hand (though according to an interview I read online somewhere, this hasn't stopped him, apparently there are one or two works for left hand, including a concerto, and another which he has commissioned, indeed, in the article he said if he could go back and not suffer from it he might not choose to as he's been able to add to the repertoire in a way he wouldn't otherwise have done - which I think is a pretty remarkable thing to say). Anyway, a couple of years ago he received injections of Botox into his wrist which caused the muscles to relax and enabled him to play with both hands again.
Despite wanting the disc I have somehow managed to hold off ever since as, for one, I'm not a huge fan of recital discs of this sort. And, two, whenever I chanced across it, it was at nothing less than full price. However, it was in a sale last month and that was that. The disc opens with two of the most beautiful pieces of music I know: Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and Sheep May Safely Graze. (These are followed by a Scarlatti sonata, a Chopin mazurka and nocturne, Debussy's Clair de lune and finally a rather interesting reading of Schubert's D960, another favourite.)
But as I was sitting listening (and the many times I have listened since) to the Bach, while I read the liner note about the charity 'Musicians with Dystonia', I wondered how much of the emotion was down to the story behind the disc and how much down to Fleisher's playing. (Similar questions are now being asked of Hatto, though even with the story, none of the discs I heard ever did terribly much for me.) Similarly, when I heard Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Then again, both on CD and in the concert hall, I think it one of the most electrifying readings of Beethoven's 5th I've ever heard. Not technically, maybe, but there is an enthusiasm and passion to the players that few ensembles match. I've read reviews along the lines that if it weren't for who or what the orchestra is, they'd get shorter shrift, which I don't think is entirely fair. But then how can I say, my judgement may well be coloured.
And, even if it is having an effect does it matter? Short of blind listening, any disc or concert we hear is going to be coloured by our personal tastes. When, for example, listen to Mackerras, I am probably not nearly as objective as I ought to be, because he has done such wonderful things at the many concerts of his I have attended, I am doubtless more forgiving of any shortcomings than I might otherwise be (not, I think that there ever are many).
What do other think?
regards, Tam