Sergei Prokofiev; Sergei Rachmaninov - Piano Concertos (Byron Janis)

Information

Composer: Sergei Prokofiev; Sergei Rachmaninov

• Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
• Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1
• Prokofiev - Toccata in D minor, Op. 11
• Schumann - Variations on a theme by Clara Wieck
• Mendelssohn - Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 62: 1. Andante espressivo
• Pinto - Three Scenes from Childhood

Byron Janis, piano

Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

Kirill Kondrashin, conductor

Date: 1962

Label: Mercury Classics

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Review

Although the original 3-track 35mm magnetic film sources for these early-1960s recordings are missing, the 3-channel half-inch master tapes sound quite lifelike, detailed, and dynamically varied as experienced in surround-sound. More importantly, they capture pianist Byron Janis at the peak of his artistry. His gaunt yet penetrating sonority and tremendous fingerpower come home to roost in the Prokofiev Third Concerto’s big fortissimo chords and brilliant, whimsical passagework. Kyril Kondrashin’s pointed, alert podium support proves a key asset, in spite of the Moscow Philharmonic’s papery brass section.

I’ve always admired Janis’ first recording of the Rachmaninov First Concerto for RCA for its coiled objectivity and stellar orchestral framework, courtesy of Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony. However, the Mercury remake stands out for Kondrashin’s more pronounced yet organically conceived tempo contrasts. These in turn galvanize Janis’ stylish bravura to greater heights, even when the orchestra is not playing (the first-movement cadenza, for example, yields nothing to Richter nor even to the composer’s own jaw-dropping virtuosity).

The solo selections impress no less. Janis plays the Prokofiev Toccata like music rather than the empty-headed showpiece too many pianists make it out to be, while the Schumann and Mendelssohn works offer a wide degree of nuance within Janis’ circumscribed color palette. If any disc can bring audiophiles and pianophiles together, this is it.

-- Jed Distler

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Sergei Prokofiev (27 April [O.S. 15 April] 1891 – 5 March 1953) was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century. He studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory where his teachers included Anatoly Lyadov and Nikolai Tcherepnin. His works include such widely heard pieces as Lieutenant Kijé, Romeo and Juliet, Peter and the Wolf, as well as seven completed operas, seven symphonies, eight ballets, five piano concertos, two violin concertos, a cello concerto, a symphony-concerto for cello and orchestra, and nine completed piano sonatas.

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Sergei Rachmaninov (1 April [O.S. 20 March] 1873 – 28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor. He is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music. His music was influenced by Tchaikovsky, Arensky and Taneyev. Rachmaninov wrote five works for piano and orchestra: four concertos and the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. He also composed a number of works for orchestra alone, including three symphonies, the Symphonic Dances Op. 45, and four symphonic poems.

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Byron Janis (March 24, 1928 – March 14, 2024) was an American classical pianist. He was a student of Josef and Rosina Lhévinne, Adele Marcus and Vladimir Horowitz. He was invited six times by four sitting Presidents to perform at the White House. Janis was also a composer and wrote music for musical theater and television shows. He made numerous recordings for RCA Victor and Mercury Records, and occupies two volumes of the Philips series Great Pianists of the 20th Century. His discography included major piano concertos from Mozart to Rachmaninoff and Liszt to Prokofiev.

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