Customer Reviews

Nikolai Kapustin: Piano Music

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

True, Russian composer Nikolai Kapustin is not a household name, but with CDs like this, hopefully his time will come (and soon). How should this album be recommended? The draw will either be Kapustin or Hamelin (or both) - and review boards are already flooded with superlatives for Marc-Andre Hamelin, the Canadian sensation with a mind-boggling technique. That said, I'll say what I can about Kapustin's works to offer a recommendation, as there is far less about him and his compositions.

Kapustin is often labeled as a 'jazz-' or a 'crossover-' composer. I think that the latter is a more appropriate label. True, many of his compositions are jazzy, but he certainly does not limit himself to this style, and the idiomatic well from which he draws is so deep, that no listener will be displeased. Reviewers often mention Art Tatum, Gottschalk, Jelly Roll Morton, Gershwin, Joplin, and Zez Confrey as those whose sounds are evoked in Kapustin - his works range over blues, jazz, ragtime, and 'cocktail bar nonchalance' themes in addition to delving into more modern ideas.

The Variations Op. 41 and 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 are indicative of the more jazzy side, as is the Bagatelle No. 9. The Suite in the Old Style, Op. 28 and Sonata No. 6 are, while excellent compositions, more on the borderline, thematically, between jazz and 20th-century. Recordings of these works already exist (all of them performed by Kapustin, on Russian labels), so the real gems of Hamelin's disc are the Sonatina, Op. 100 and 5 Etudes for Piano in Different Intervals, Op. 68. The Sonatina is a delightful Haydn-esque romp, very light, and the Interval Etudes are some of the most difficult, harrowing, and breathtaking etudes I've heard. The final 'Etude in Octaves' is, as another reviewer put it, "the octave study to end all octave studies," which Hamelin plays to perfection.

Yes, I'll admit I am a fan of Kapustin's music (I own 7 or 8 albums) so my recommendation is slightly biased, but all those whom I've leant this CD to have been astonished. I fully recommend this album - but have a listen to some audio samples first to judge for yourself. Tower Records has streams of all the tracks, as well as Steven Osborne's wonderful Hyperion Kapustin album. The Boheme Music website has 2 whole albums available to stream with Kapustin himself as the composer, including works featured on this disc. Check them out. Not convinced? As for a proper review of this album (this is my first; apologies to all!) and more information, please visit the Hyperion Records website for Jed Distler's comments. Happy hunting!

I have Marc-Andre Hamelin to thank for introducing me to Kapustin's music. He played a work of his as an encore on one of his concerts, and the whole audience was just floored! After much searching I was able to find recordings and printed music. His music is the closest to Gershwin as I have been able to find. His fusion of Jazz and Classical music is a wonder in itself. Hamelin picks some very difficult as well as a couple of rather easy pieces of Kapustin's to record. The Toccatina is the simplest piece of all, very jazzy and almost "cute". The Variations is a mini-catalog of all of Kapustin's styles, from the romantic to boogie-woogie to Errol Garner-style jazz. With the etudes, Kapustin moves more towards the etudes of Lyapounov and Medtner. There are Latin influences, Broadway show tunes, you name it! All very difficult! I've learned some of them and played them in concert and in competition. Do not be afraid of this music-he is a major discovery and we need to spread the gospel of Kapustin around the world! You can find other recordings on Ebay, and at HMV in Japan by Kapustin himself. Groth Music in Bloomington also sells his piano music and our website is www.grothmusic.com. It's hard music, but it's worth the effort! More recordings, please!

Nothing inspires and challenges a piano virtuoso like Hamelin as much as discovering a magic repertoire of another technical virtuoso. Kapustin's monumental technical capabilities, which few of us had the opportunity to hear directly, are presented by Hamelin with percussive athleticisn and intricate precision of execution. For all of us who want to be an inspired devotee to what can best be described as an early "post modern" take on pianoforte, which is Kapustin's legacy, this first collection from Hamelin egages the listener, then inspires, awes and satisfies with flawlessly executed technique, sensitive mood shifts, and dynamic voicing that confidently and potently declares, 'this is the new world, and you are in it'!Nikolai Kapustin: Piano Music

Nicolai Kasputin is one of the finest if not the very greatest living composer. His music is designed to reach everyone, and not just sophisticated highbrows. Like Gershwin, his works are instantly appealing and many were inspired by the great Oscar Peterson.Marc Andre Hamelin plays this music definitevely with stunning virtuosity and impeccable taste. The recorded sound is state of the art.If you love Gershwins Concerto in F or the Rhapsody in Blue you will love this music. A real collectors item.

The fine combination of pianist Marc-André Hamelin and composer Nikolai Kapustin was featured on the extraordinary album "In A State Of Jazz," in which Kapustin's Sonata No. 2 surprised this classical and jazz fan. That beautiful jazz-influenced piece was not the exception, as this wonderful album demonstrates. As I listened with tearful eyes of joy, I am in a rapture of the mind-blowing piano perfomance of Hamelin (who can play the notes of the scores of Alkan, Liszt, and Chopin) and of the luxurious melodies, romantic rhythms, and edgy modern European etudes that is the synthesis of romantic classical and postmodern jazz. Fantasies, show-stoppers, reveries, dances, touches of Bernstein, Corea, Willie "the Lion" Smith, and the tunesmiths of the Great American Songbook envelop the listener. This is not your grandfather's classical music, not counting Gershwin's rhapsodies, preludes, and piano concerto. Full of vitality, the album soars for 77 minutes, dropping musical notes of happiness behind. Listen! And spread the word.

These are too incredible. Hamelin is not just the best pianist of his generation, but a pianist for the ages. In his hands, Kapustin's musicality reaches its perfect voice ... it can only be listened to do it justice.

Hamelin appears to be in search of some niche, and it seems that he decided to concentrate on technically super-demanding and obscure repertory. I regret this very much, because he is a fantastic pianist, but he ends up playing a lot of garbage I don't want to hear no matter how well played (like Medtner, Reger, Alcan, and now Kapustin). Kapustin's music is written-out jazz: that is, it's idiomatically jazz but sans improvisation. As jazz pieces they're busy but not inventive or original, so what's the point? You can hear this sort of music on any good jazz pianist's record (and know that the guy is making it up as he goes).

Hamelin gets five stars, Kapustin gets one star, three stars overall.

I wish Hamelin issued more stuff like his Scriabin sonatas collection. Isn't there more music like that: difficult, yet, nevertheless, listenable?