Classical Net

The Internet's Premier Classical Music Source

Related Links

Recommended Links

Give the Composers Timeline Poster



Site News

What's New for
Winter 2018/2019?

Site Search

Follow us on
Facebook    Twitter

Affiliates

In association with
Amazon
Amazon UKAmazon GermanyAmazon CanadaAmazon FranceAmazon Japan

ArkivMusic
CD Universe

JPC
ArkivMusic

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

CD Review

Anton Arensky

Piano Music

  • 12 Preludes, Op. 63
  • 12 Etudes, Op. 74
  • 3 Morceaux, Op. 42
  • Arabesques (Suite), Op. 67
  • Essais dur der rythmes oublies, Op. 28
Anthony Goldstone, piano
Divine Art DDA25085 71mins
Find it at AmazonFind it at Amazon UKFind it at Amazon GermanyFind it at Amazon CanadaFind it at Amazon FranceFind it at Amazon JapanOrder Now from ArkivMusic.com Find it at JPC

This disc, the fifth instalment in Divine Art's mini-cycle dedicated to Russian Piano Music, features the keyboard music of Anton Arensky. Born in 1861, Arensky's career ran parallel with some of Russia's most famous composers like Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky to mention but two, so his life's work tends to be somewhat overshadowed by the achievements of his contemporaries. Still his music, that includes symphonies, concertos, chamber and instrumental pieces is extremely well crafted, and a strong melodic vein is a constant feature. Unfortunately, just like Mussorgsky, he was a compulsive gambler and drinker not to mention other vices, and as a result his health started deteriorating at an early age. He died in 1906 from sepsis due to an infected insect bite, not yet age 45.

The piano works that make up this issue reveal a master miniaturist. Many of the pieces last just over a minute, but their idiomatic timbre and graceful subtlety make them highly attractive creations. Indeed, the one real remarkable feature is their understatement and lack of bombast, but overall there is much that one can admire and enjoy.

As in the previous recordings, Anthony Goldstone's love for this music is all too apparent, and his advocacy for these Arensky gems is splendidly accurate and spontaneous. That emotional touch is not amiss either. This is an exciting and wonderful conclusion to an innovative series full of fascinating, if not wholly memorable, surprises.

Copyright © 2010, Gerald Fenech

Trumpet

© 1995-2024 Classical Net
Use of text, images, or any other copyrightable material contained in these pages, without the written permission of the copyright holder,
except as specified in the Copyright Notice, is strictly prohibited. All Rights Reserved.