The Russian Piano Tradition: Heinrich Neuhaus (Recorded 1938-1951)

Presentación del Álbum

Despite being an active recitalist up until 1949, pianist Heinrich Neuhaus' legacy lives on most notably in his pedagogical contributions rather than his recorded works. A venerable and much sought-after instructor at the Moscow Conservatoire, his students included the likes of Sviatoslav Richter and Radu Lupu, to name but a few. But unlike his students, Neuhaus was not a technically proficient performer; he suffered from stage fright, which impacted his performances, including the ones heard here. In fact, it is downright surprising that an artist as technically solid as Richter had his beginnings with Neuhaus. More interested in the musical and emotional impact of the music than what the composer had actually written in the score, Neuhaus frequently glosses over passagework and bangs through rapid chordal passages, practices that would never be acceptable in the modern era. This recording in particular exemplifies Neuhaus' musical acumen at his instrument while also demonstrating his blasé attitude toward accuracy. The result is a CD of moderate historical interest but not fulfilling in a broader musical sense. The restored sound of the recordings made between 1938 and 1951 is also undesirable and does little to demonstrate what many composers had enjoyed about Neuhaus' sound.
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