Peter Schaffer irons out the differences

Press, 12 April 1982, Page 10

Peter Schaffer irons out the differences

BRAHMS. Sonata No. 3'in D minor. PROKOFIEV. Sonata No. 1 in F minor. Peter Schaffer, violin with Diedre Irons, piano recorded by KIWI PACIFIC TRL-017. Peter Schaffer has often expressed his long-felt admiration‘for the exquisite quality craftsmanship of Arthur Grumiaux so it comes as no surprise that his playing of these two works, particularly the Brahms,, reflects " the exceptional warmth and spontaneity of the latter. • ' . When I last spoke to Peter Schaffer the recording date with Diedre Irons was still a dream but now the realisation of that eagerly awaited event more than fulfils expectations. ... The partnership presents the Brahms. Sonata in the most profound musical terms — as fine a version as I’ve heard on record or in the concert hall, well up to;the Suk/Katchen recording from 1968. Indeed, this late fruit of Brahm’s genius seemed to be bathed in a mellow autumn light, captured too, by Zoe Schaffer in the cover illustration.

Even the Prokofiev, which I feared would come as something of an anti-climax, was lifted from a composition of mixed merits to a highly listenable piece. Schaffer’s fluid fingering in the sombre opening movement wove an expressive pattern around the stark

chords from the piano's tune. The virtuoso nature of f the sonata demanded by the composer was fully exploited by both instruments, each playing important contributions to the whole. Never have I heard the N.Z.S.O. Concertmaster in such scintillating form, even in his beloved Bruch Concertos; nor has the rapport between ’piano and violin been so obviously successful (such as that between- Grumiaux and Clara Haskill); it only remains to hope that an encore will be forthcoming — perhaps in the shape of other Brahms Sonatas or Beethoven. DEBUSSY. Piano Works by Daniel Adni. World records WI 4180 from HMV HQS 1262. (1972.) Back a decade to a young pianist, only just 20 years old. and facing stiff competition from the likes of Vasary, Frankl, Michelangeli and Entremont to come, it must have come hard to launch another set of Arabesques and hope it matches up to the opposition. . Daniel Adni was a highly gifted. pianist who undoubtedly gave the public what they wanted — impressionistic Debussy. With soft, melodic outlines and warm piano sound Adni gives fine performances of the Suite Bergamasque. Preludes Book 2, L’isle Joyeuse, Ballade. Images, Poissons d’or, Reflets dans I’eau and

Mouvement. And the transfers have been so professionally done that few would suspect that here is a 10-year-old disc. Where, one might ask, is Daniel'Adni now? BRUCKNER. Symphony No. 3 in D minor. Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Eugen Jochum, World Records WQ3937 from DG 2535 265. As with the previous disc, age does not dimish the artistic sheen any more than it could have done with this definitive version of Jochum’s Bruckner symphonv, beautifully recorded in 1967 and still retaining all the magic of a first-rate performance. Jochum’s broad, expansive reading is one to be treasured. Those magnificent horn passages and . vivid strings make thrilling listening of an extraordinarily original and potent symphony. This is Bruckner at his best. This is the shortened (Nowak) edition of the work as opposed to, the fuller, Oeser edition as preferred by Haitink. None the less for that technicality, the only demerit I could find was the archaic habit of breaking the slow movement between the first and second sides. The pounding strength of the Scherzo is matched by the almost Mahlerian wistfulness in the same movement. The triumph of the

last Allegro underlines the deep spiritualty of the entire work. It is indeed, a masterpiece and a milestone for the conductor. PIANO TREASURES. 16 Alltime Favourites played by Margaret Gardiner with the Gala Ensemble. MUSIC WORLD MALPS 582. A sad little record. Competently played by Miss Gar-

diner in the expected manner with able assistance from her Dunedin friends, the tastefully subdued Gala Ensemble. but somewhere in there the pianist hints at her own personal tragedy. Greig’s Wedding Day. Schumann's Traumerei. the underrated To a Wild Rose by MacDowell. the delicacy of Greig’s Butterfly are all part of . a well-balanced pro-

gramme. But there are more than a few moments when the soloist's emotions reach a touching level which I suspect is due to the loss of her husband to be. Walter Sinton, also a well-known Dunedin musician. Margaret Gardiner plays these 16 tracks will a skill and depth of feeling heretofore 1 not quite reached. Highly recommended.