Carl Reinecke; Emil von Sauer - Piano Concertos (Simon Callaghan)

Information

Composer: Carl Reinecke; Emil von Sauer

• Reinecke - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 144
• Reinecke - Konzertstück, Op. 33
• Sauer - Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor

Simon Callaghan, piano

Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen

Modestas Pitrėnas, conductor

Date: 2024

Label: Hyperion

-----------------------------------------------------------

Review

The most significant thing about Hyperion’s latest Romantic Piano Concerto instalment is its inclusion of Emil von Sauer’s Second Concerto (1901), three decades after Stephen Hough’s Gramophone Recording of the Year account of its predecessor (11/95) galvanised this project.

Its melting Cavatina aside, Sauer’s First Concerto was admittedly overshadowed by Xaver Scharwenka’s imposing Fourth Concerto as the coupling, but its follow-up is something else again – right from the affecting cor anglais melody that provides the theme for what is a set of variations across four continuous movements. This comprises a thoughtful Allegro, an animated scherzo with folk inflections, a ‘song without words’ Andante of accumulating pathos, then an eventful final Allegro drawing the overall sequence to its scintillating (whether musically or technically) conclusion. Simon Callaghan’s advocacy presents this in the best possible light.

Not that Carl Reinecke’s Third Concerto (1877) is an also-ran. As Jeremy Nicholas indicates in his detailed and enthusiastic notes, it was highly regarded at the time – not least because of its confiding initial gesture by the soloist, modelled on if not beholden to that of Beethoven’s Fourth Concerto, which reappears at defining junctures in the initial Allegro then returns for a subdued close (an alternate version with its more predictable loud ending can be downloaded, but Reinecke got it right first time). The central Largo has a winsome elegance and the final Allegro never confuses virtuosity with vacuity. More conventional display comes in the outer Allegro sections of the Konzerstück (c1853), its hymnlike Lento exuding the requisite poise.

In the Sauer, Callaghan’s verve and insight along with a laudable response from the St Gallen forces under Modestas Pitrėnas make this version preferable to that by Oleg Marshev (whose six-volume survey remains the touchstone for this composer). As in their accounts of his other concertos (2/23), the Reinecke probes deeper than those fluent yet detached readings by Klaus Hellwig whereas, in the Konzerstück, Andrea Kauten’s winning spontaneity remains supreme. Overall, however, this new release is the most valuable recent addition to an estimable series.

— Richard Whitehouse

-----------------------------------------------------------

Carl Reinecke (23 June 1824 – 10 March 1910) was a German composer, pianist, conductor and educator. He began composing at seven and performed publicly at twelve. After studying with prominent musicians, including Mendelssohn, Schumann and Liszt, he became court pianist in Copenhagen in 1846. In 1860, he was appointed conductor of Leipzig's Gewandhaus Orchestra and professor at the Leipzig Conservatory, leading the orchestra until 1895. Best known for his flute sonata Undine, Reinecke composed nearly 300 published works and taught influential musicians, including Edvard Grieg and Leoš Janáček.

***

Emil von Sauer (8 October 1862 – 27 April 1942) was a notable German composer, pianist, score editor, and music (piano) teacher. He studied with Nikolai Rubinstein at the Moscow Conservatory between 1879 and 1881, then went on to study with Franz Liszt for two years. From 1882, Sauer made frequent and successful tours as a virtuoso pianist; his performing career lasted until 1940. Along with editing the complete piano works of Johannes Brahms and a number of academic works by Josef Pischna, Louis Plaidy and Theodor Kullak, Sauer wrote piano concertos, piano sonatas, concert études, piano pieces, and lieder.

***

Simon Callaghan performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, with a successful career as a recording artist. He appears on a regular basis in the UK’s major concert halls, and on tours to Asia, North America and Europe. His recital partners have included Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Nicholas Daniel, Adrian Brendel, Feng Ning, Samuel West, Prunella Scales and Timothy West. He is also a founding member of the London Piano Quartet. Callaghan’s distinguished and eclectic discography includes recordings for Hyperion, Nimbus and Lyrita. He is Professor of Piano at the Royal Northern College of Music.

-----------------------------------------------------------