Naida Cole; Or: What a debut disc should be
Posted by: Todd A on 02 August 2002
I finally purchased Naida Cole's debuts CD of French piano music earlier this week and I could kick myself for not buying it sooner. I have mentioned her before, praising her outstanding version of Gaspard de la nuit, claiming that only Ivo Pogorelich does it better (a belief I still hold). My only familiarity with the young Ms. Cole previously has been via my local classical station, on which I have heard both Gaspard and Faure's Ballade. Both were exceptional. Additionally, I have heard her in broadcast performances of Schumann's Piano Quintet and Bartok's Improvisations. Each time I have been extremely impressed.
Hearing the disc through my system has only improved my opinion of her. Both Gaspard and the Ballade sound even better on disc, with Ms. Cole's extremely fine fingerwork immediately apparent, and her enormous dynamic range exposed. This is especially true of Gaspard, with Scarbo displaying a truly spectacular range. The other works on the disc include three gems from Chabrier including a fun, lively, and inviting Bouree Fantasque, as well as a mesmerizing Gymnopedie No 1 from Satie and Ravel's Jeux d'Eau and Pavane pour une Infante defunte. Everything is delivered wonderfully. I'm not going to claim that her versions are the best ever, but they are the best of any young pianist that I have heard. (All this and she's easy on the eyes, too.) The only complaint I have of the disc is the poor Yamaha piano, which sounds less than ideal; the recording is fine, but the piano is somewhat steely at times.
All piano music lovers should buy this disc. I now anxiously await her new disc due out in the fall that will have Bartok's Improvisations, Liszt's Sonata, and Ravel's Miroirs.
This debut disc makes a fine and timely (for me) contrast with the Arcadi Volodos debut disc I just recently bought. Ms. Cole's disc is a fine example of high-art whereas Mr. Volodos' seems more a cynical marketing ploy cashing in on his admittedly breathtaking virtuoisty. Fortunately, Volodos has delivered the potential disc of the year in his recent Schubert release, and while Naida Cole's disc cannot match that new disc in overall quality, it points to a major new talent that should move on to bigger and greater things. Perhaps Beethoven? One can only hope.
As an afterthought, I had the opportunity to hear Ms. Cole in person in January, and I knew it, but I missed the show. I am so disappointed in myself. She performed the entire second half of Messiaen's Vingt Regards, which I have heard and read, she delivers with great authority. Let's hope the Yellow Label wants a recording in its catalog.
[This message was edited by Todd Arola on FRIDAY 02 August 2002 at 18:39.]
[This message was edited by Todd Arola on FRIDAY 02 August 2002 at 19:06.]
Hearing the disc through my system has only improved my opinion of her. Both Gaspard and the Ballade sound even better on disc, with Ms. Cole's extremely fine fingerwork immediately apparent, and her enormous dynamic range exposed. This is especially true of Gaspard, with Scarbo displaying a truly spectacular range. The other works on the disc include three gems from Chabrier including a fun, lively, and inviting Bouree Fantasque, as well as a mesmerizing Gymnopedie No 1 from Satie and Ravel's Jeux d'Eau and Pavane pour une Infante defunte. Everything is delivered wonderfully. I'm not going to claim that her versions are the best ever, but they are the best of any young pianist that I have heard. (All this and she's easy on the eyes, too.) The only complaint I have of the disc is the poor Yamaha piano, which sounds less than ideal; the recording is fine, but the piano is somewhat steely at times.
All piano music lovers should buy this disc. I now anxiously await her new disc due out in the fall that will have Bartok's Improvisations, Liszt's Sonata, and Ravel's Miroirs.
This debut disc makes a fine and timely (for me) contrast with the Arcadi Volodos debut disc I just recently bought. Ms. Cole's disc is a fine example of high-art whereas Mr. Volodos' seems more a cynical marketing ploy cashing in on his admittedly breathtaking virtuoisty. Fortunately, Volodos has delivered the potential disc of the year in his recent Schubert release, and while Naida Cole's disc cannot match that new disc in overall quality, it points to a major new talent that should move on to bigger and greater things. Perhaps Beethoven? One can only hope.
As an afterthought, I had the opportunity to hear Ms. Cole in person in January, and I knew it, but I missed the show. I am so disappointed in myself. She performed the entire second half of Messiaen's Vingt Regards, which I have heard and read, she delivers with great authority. Let's hope the Yellow Label wants a recording in its catalog.
[This message was edited by Todd Arola on FRIDAY 02 August 2002 at 18:39.]
[This message was edited by Todd Arola on FRIDAY 02 August 2002 at 19:06.]