Nikolai Medtner: The Complete Skazki ("Märchen") auf 2 CDs

Es gibt wohl kaum ein Label, das sich so sehr um die Wiederbelebung der Klaviermusik von Nikolai Medtner bemüht hat wie Hyperion – man denke allein an die hoch gelobten Aufnahmen von Marc-André Hamelin. Dass bei Medtner noch immer Entdeckungen zu machen sind, zeigt die vorliegende Aufnahme der »Skazki« (dt. Märchen), die in ihrer Gesamtheit hier als Weltersteinspielung zu hören sind. Sie zeigt eine ganz neue Seite eines Komponisten, der in seinem Hauptwerk – der Serie von 14 Klaviersonaten – größten Wert auf formale Strenge und thematische Verflechtung legt: Seine 38 Miniaturen hingegen sind kleine Tondichtungen voller Atmosphäre und Farbe. Medtner hat sich dabei von einer Reihe literarischer Quellen inspirieren lassen – von Goethe und Shakespeare ebenso wie von Puschkin und der russischen Folkore. Hamish Milne ist ein wundervoller Führer durch diese »Märchenwelt«.

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This is a magnificent and important set. Notwithstanding the current revival of interest in Medtner (in which Hyperion has played no small part) the complete Skazki have never been recorded together, and some of the pieces here are receiving their long overdue first recordings. The Skazki (‘Märchen’ in German; ‘Contes’ in French; the incorrect ‘Fairy Tales’ in English) were the most personal of Medtner’s idioms and contain his most immediately appealing music: they are miniature tone poems full of atmosphere and colour and are arguably the most neglected ‘great’ piano music in the repertoire. Medtner has been central to Hamish Milne’s repertoire since the 1970s—he has already recorded eight CDs of the composer’s music—and no one has a finer grasp of the subtle sound world of these works. Hamish has here surpassed himself in a recording which is also graced with superlative piano sound. These CDs are sure to be regarded as definitive for many years to come.

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'Milne's is a sincere and personal journey, as Medtner's undoubtedly was; the sound is fresh and unfussy, and Milne's own notes perspicuous and heartfelt' (International Piano Magazine)

'Completed by flawless recording quality – immediate, vivid and truthful, but never oppressive (dynamics are faithfully captured) – this is a quite outstanding and revelatory issue' (ClassicalSource. com)

'Medtner was sometimes chided for lacking focus, but there's nothing diffuse in these clean-cut and formally lucid readings, which manage to present a wealth of boldly delineated detail without ever obscuring the music's overall trajectories. We¹re certainly unlikely to get a better complete run of the Skazki in the foreseeable future. Strongly recommended … A revelation: music of fantasy and individuality, and played by Milne with devotion.' (Fanfare, USA)

'This is a major, important release … Milne has been recording Medtner for quite some time now … and his detailed and very well written booklet notes are on the same high level as his pianism … No-one plays these musical Tales as well as Hamish Milne' (American Record Guide)

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