I recently ran across an online post about Louis Kentner indicating approval of one of his recordings in spite of what the author believed was his "barely adequate technique". I'd always thought of Kentner as a pianist with technical prowess to spare, who produced a beautiful palette of sound from the percussive colossus he played and -- to my mind at least -- fully mastered. Baffled by the statement, I took down this LP, which I acquired only several months ago, to see if my initial impressions were wrong. Far from it. This recording of the Waldstein rivals in my affections the very different Serkin recording from 1952 that has been my gold standard for years, and there is nothing "barely adequate" in the technique of this heaven-storming, romantic virtuoso in the Appassionata either, nor in other records he made. Stay tuned for postings of his recordings of the Chopin Etudes and some Liszt. His pianism on the recordings of the Beethoven sonatas for violin and piano with Menuhin is colorful and sympathetic, and the recording is well worth looking up. He never reached super-star status, but it was not for lack of musical or pianistic skills, and he recorded enough that it should be clear that he was a very accomplished musician and a brilliant instrumentalist . Link to all files
I cannot believe someone disparaging Kentner's technique! I had the rare privilege of hearing him play Beethoven at the end of his life, and it was an unforgettable experience. Many thanks for this recording - er... any more of his Beethoven in there?
ReplyDeleteHello Ronan. I wish had had more Kentner Beethoven recordings, but --alas! -- I do not. Unfortunately, he recorded less than an artist of his stature should have, and I am unaware of any more Beethoven recordings, even, except those of the Violin Sonatas he did with Menuhin. Somewhere, I have a tape from the 78s of a Mozart 12th Piano Concerto he recorded with Beecham. If it turns up I'll post it, but I think it is available on Music and Arts. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this - very elegant & precise as well as romantic & heaven-storming, I thought. You don't get to make choices about how you play (not bang) those big chords in the Appassionata unless you have technique to spare!
ReplyDeleteKentner famously recorded the Hammerklavier - twice: once pre-war for Columbia and again for Saga; the former is magnificent (it was released on CD by Pearl, aeons ago). There are a few small pieces on HMV and Hungaroton. I also suspect that the Walldstein and Appassionata were recorded twice post war; once on 78 and once on LP (I have never found the former).
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