Piano Concerto 1 & 2; Rhapsody on Ukranian Themes (The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol. 30) [Import]

Sergei Lyapunov (Composer), Martyn Brabbins (Conductor), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Hamish Milne (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Hamish Milne
• Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Martyn Brabbins
• Composer: Sergei Lyapunov
• Audio CD (November 12, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B00006L3WB
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,396 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Renditions of Lyapunov's Appealing Oeuvres., January 4, 2003

By 

David Anthony Hollingsworth (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Piano Concerto 1 & 2; Rhapsody on Ukranian Themes (The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol. 30) (Audio CD)

Hyperion continues with it highly valuable yet somewhat uneven "Romantic Piano Concerto" series with the release of Lyapunov's works for piano and orchestra. It mentions that the First Piano Concerto is a premiere recording. A shocking claim, perhaps, for Melodiya was too enterprising to pass this compelling piece of music by, and it's possible that there may be a recording or two of the music in archives (imagine if the Russian Revelation label continues to operate today). Besides, Lyapunov piano music was held too much in high esteem especially by the turn of the 20th Century for even prominent musicians to ignore (but then again I'm reminded that even pianists could be very selective, ignoring even the most memorable of piano music of, say Glazunov, Medtner Catoire, Arensky, to some extent Tchaikovsky, Rubinstein, and even Lyapunov himself).

And Lyapunov's First Concerto is a compelling piece of music, rather as ambitious as the First Symphony written two years before, in 1888. And where the piano bravura is more or less in the mode of Lizst and Balakirev, the thematic invention and rhetoric are very much Lyapunov's own. Not to say that the composition is of its upmost originality, but the ideas and handling of them show why Lyapunov is a major point of reference when studying and analyzing Russian music. Listen to the piano entry at 1'42", how poetic yet noble the writing becomes (thanks in part to Milne's highly charged yet imaginative delivery here). There's something heroic within that recalls Balakirev (especially in his First Concerto). But the writing remains lucid, and in the second and fourth movements, beautiful and tranquil. The third movement is heroic, much in the manner of Liszt (his First Concerto-first movement), but in convincingly Russian in temperament, as in the finale, which rarely flags. A major accomplishment no doubt.

Lyapunov's Rhapsody on Ukrainian Themes (1907) is in a rondo form, with the first theme (andante pastorale) announced by the cor anglais then by the woodwinds. It's a beautiful yet an innocent theme, recalling a bit of Balakirev and Rimsky- Korsakov, though in a Lyapunovian sense of lucidity. The piano entry is likewise beautiful yet poetic - like leaves blossoming in early Spring. And this theme truly blossom into something more expressive as it goes along, with the theme more emphatic at the finale bars. The second theme (allegro scherzando) is dancelike and flamboyant as in the orchestration. But the third theme (andante pastorale) returns to these same leaves still blossoming in great beauty & nobleness in character. It leads itself purposefully to the final theme (allegro giocoso), which is a kazachok (an Ukrainian folkdance). This theme, rather exuberant yet charming, become more Lizstian at the final minute of the work (listen to 3'05"-ff on track 9) but never devoid of Lyapunov's individualism.

The Second Concerto (1909) is likewise a substantial affair, not as heroic as the First, but easy-going in its' noble, romantic way. In six continuous movements, the piece is rewardingly concise and, like the First Concerto & the Rhapsody, richly varied. The opening movement (lento ma non troppo) is indeed beautiful and lovely-a fantasia tranquil yet exotic. Whereas the second and fourth movements (allegro molto ed appasionato & allegro molto respectively) offer some vivacity, the third movement and fifth movements (allegro moderato & lento ma non troppo) has a compelling lightness of touch, rendered beautifully here by Milne (with a charmingly support of Brabbins & the BBC Scottish Symphony). But the poetic yet heroic moments of the finale are hardly banal, with the closing convincingly majestic that would have done Borodin proud (for a moment I thought of Prince Igor).

The renditions here are fully ideal. After giving high praise in Hamish Milne's survey of Alexandrov's piano music (under the Hyperion label), Milne comes up huge here. His vivacious and imaginative playing are never in doubt, and his virtuosity in the First Concerto and in the Rhapsody adds to the compelling nature of the works. But the beauty and the dignity Milne brings in the slow movements of the works are worthy of everlasting praise. The same shall be said of the BBC Scottish Symphony, which has this Russian sonority that reminds me the Russian Federation Orchestra under the late Svetlanov (and I tend to forget, going along memory lane, that it is the BBC Scottish Symphony among the main features here). Brabbins' approach incidentally reminds me of Svetlanov, placing great emphasis on organic growth. While he's not as overindulgent as Svetlanov can sometimes be, he is as decisive as this late, great Russian maestro (listen to Brabbins' renditions of Bortkiewicz' symphonies). Edward Garden's booklet essay is of high quality, along with the recording, with its warmth and somewhat bright incandescence.

No doubt a great yet important release which will raise Lyapunov status as Russia's important composer significantly. The blossoming of the leaves well worth waking up for, with this CD album in one's deep yet searching subconsciousness.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unjustly neglected music well worth hearing, December 27, 2003

By 

Mr. Ian C. Kemp - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Piano Concerto 1 & 2; Rhapsody on Ukranian Themes (The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol. 30) (Audio CD)

If this were music by a more famous composer such as Liszt, Schumann, Borodin, Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninov, it would surely be in the regular repertory (it has affinities with all of them). I only came across it because I had by chance encountered Lyapunov's First Piano Concerto many years ago, and have been looking in vain ever since for a recording. Hamish Milne, Martin Brabbins and the BBC Scottish SO make a very persuasive case for the music and show that it was worth waiting for. I equally enjoyed the Second Piano Concerto and Ukrainian Rhapsody, which were new to me. All the music has clear themes, memorable tunes and is well crafted - it knows where it's going. Think of Liszt's piano concertos with tunes in the Russian folksong-derived style of the "Mighty Handful" and you have a fair idea what to expect. The influences are clear, but Lyapunov has his own voice - this is not merely derivative. Edward Garden's comment on No.1 in his excellent notes in the booklet sums it up for me; "This is altogether much too good a concerto to have been neglected for so long". No hesitation in recommending both the performance and the recording if you want to try this music for yourself.

Incidentally, it was queried whether this was the first ever recording. It is certainly the first easily available commercially. In 1989, having been unable to find one, I wrote to the BBC to ask for it to be played on air. They too were unable to track down any recording. However, they took it as a challenge and produced a studio recording, again with Hamish Milne but accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Sadly, they never released it commercially, but the new CD at last fills the gap, even more impressively. Thanks Hyperion!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lyapounov Boom Keeps On Going!!!!, June 23, 2003

By 

Darin Tysdal (Bloomington, MN 55420) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Piano Concerto 1 & 2; Rhapsody on Ukranian Themes (The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol. 30) (Audio CD)

Another peripheral on the Russian music scene, Lyapounov's music needs to be better known. Much of his music is influenced by Liszt. In fact, the beginning of the 2nd Concerto sounds a lot like the opening of Liszt's Second Concerto. You also hear some glissandi in the piano also towards the end of the work, just like in the Liszt. It is easy to overlook these influences with very good performances such as these. In the 2nd Concerto, Hamish Milne is in competition with Howard Shelley on Chandos, which couples the work with Lyapounov's First Symphony and Polonaise for orchestra. I can live happily with both, and I am interested to see if Shelley will record the other works as well. The Rhapsody is even more flavored with the spectre of Liszt as was the Rimsky-Korsakov Piano Concerto. There is more flamboyance here plus more of Lyapounov's expert orchestration. The first concerto is in the unexpected key of E-Flat Minor. This work somehow has lost some of the influence of Liszt and more 'Russianness' comes out. Here I feel that the loud sections are more impressive than the soft parts, which is not the fault of the performers. This is a much more interesting disc than the Stojowski concertos that I reviewed before. I look forward with anticipation more CD's in this series. I think this is number 31? There is still the concerto by Fritz Spindler......