Burlesque en ré mineur TFV 145, op. 85 & Une vie de héro, TFV 190, op. 40

Album review

Marked as extraneously difficult and even unplayable since its composition in 1886, Richard Strauss' Burleske for Piano and Orchestra rarely finds its way onto CD programs and even less frequently in live concert halls. Much like the extreme demands Strauss places on orchestral musicians, the technical feats called for in Burleske are truly Herculean; 10-note chords, huge leaps, enormous reaches, and rapid filigree passages fill the 20-plus minutes of music. Despite all of these obstacles, this Fuga Libera album featuring the young (only 28 at the time of recording) Bulgarian pianist Plamena Mangova comes out sounding remarkably confident, powerful, and self-assured. Mangova plays with a technical brilliance and musical maturity far beyond her years, making her performance of Burleske reason enough to purchase this album. From relative obscurity, the album proceeds to one of Strauss' most frequently performed tone poems: Ein Heldenleben. Written more than a decade after Burleske, Heldenleben still contains a good deal of youthful exuberance and, some might say, recklessness. The National Orchestra of Belgium led by Walter Weller offers listeners an exuberant and passionate reading of this popular work, minus the recklessness. The orchestra is controlled, meticulous, and highly refined. Weller commands close attention to detail without losing the overall sweep and grandeur of the piece. The brass section, while not the most powerful in the world, is more than capable of delivering when it counts. Balance within the orchestra is quite good and overall sound quality of the recording is rich and full.

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