MARTINU, B.: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 4 / Les fresques de Piero della Francesca / Overture (Kolinsky, Basel Symphony, Ashkenazy)

Album review

Vladimir Ashkenazy can conduct anything from Beethoven to Stravinsky, with stops along the way for Brahms, Dvorák, Debussy, and Berg, as well as such relatively unfamiliar composers like Josef Suk. Here, Ashkenazy has gathered four infrequently heard works by Bohuslav Martinu -- his orchestral Overture from 1934, Les Fresques de Piera della Francesca from 1956, and two of his piano concertos, the Second from 1934, and Fourth from 1956 -- and given each work the deluxe treatment with the aid of the expert Sinfonieorchester Basel. Although Martinu's unique combination of piquant colors, opulent sonorities, lyrical melodies, and vigorous rhythms has defeated many other conductors' interpretive efforts, Ashkenazy does a superlative job of realizing all these elements in exactly the right proportions. Most importantly, he brings Martinu's music to vital life, from the Overture's ebullient excitement to Les Fresques' luminous ecstasy. Joined by virtuoso Swiss pianist Robert Kilinsky in the concertos, Ashkenazy has delivered a Martinu recording that every fan of the composer will want to hear again and again, particularly in Ondine's crisp, clean but highly evocative digital sound.

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