BEETHOVEN:

Piano Concerto No. 4, op. 58

CHOPIN:

Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, op. 21

(Orchestre National de France, D.E. Inghelbrecht conducting) - Recorded on 15.V.1958 (Beethoven) and 21.VI.1959 (Chopin)

Guller (piano)

Orchestre National de France / Inghelbrecht (conductor)

After two CD (Tah630 and 650), that were quite successful, Tahra continues to release previously unissued recordings by the great French Pianist Youra Guller: the Beethoven Fourth Piano Concerto and the Chopin Second Piano Concerto – two of her “specialties”. These are live recordings of the concerts that took in place in Paris in 1958-9 under the baton of D. Inghelbrecht conducting the Orchestre National de France.

Press review

The Chopin Concerto (21 June 1959) seems to wait for the Larghetto to reveal the pliant mysteries Guller could impart to the melodic line, the ornaments appearing to dissipate into interstellar space. No wonder Martha Argerich insisted Guller return to the recording studios! The flourishes and bold fioritura may imply the school of Isidor Philipp and Alfred Cortot, but her poetry has its unique voice and sculpting. The dark interlude in the nocturnal Larghetto becomes a mighty introspection, with the orchestra's supplying a sounding voice for melancholy ruminations on mortality. The lithe mazurka that constitutes the Allegro vivace brings crisp fire to the concert platform, with Guller's seeming to relish the roulades and shifting metrics that blend with the maverick woodwind or stormy string line that accompanies the eminently vocal execution of the keyboard. The col legno strings delicately ply their trade under a declamatory Guller who maneuvers rubato and inflections of touch with a suave assurance of style.

Highly recommended as a recording of special merit.

Gary Lemco (www.Audaud.com)

Tahra TAH719