Piotr Anderszewski's latest album, Brahms: Late Piano Works, presents a unique window into the composer's solitary artistic maturity. This 48-minute programme features a dozen intimate miniatures that showcase the Polish pianist's interpretative prowess.
Anderszewski opens with the haunting B-minor Intermezzo from Opus 119, setting a melancholic tone that permeates the entire recital. His phrasing is characterized by fluidity and concentration, imbuing each piece with an unmistakable emotional core. The tempo remains moderate throughout, eschewing dramatic contrasts for a more nuanced approach.
The Opus 118 set highlights Anderszewski's ability to evoke heart-wrenching sorrow in his performances. The A-major Intermezzo is particularly poignant, its steady pace building into a sense of overwhelming loss. In contrast, the Opus 116 A-minor Intermezzo and G-minor Capriccio convey pent-up grief and unbridled anguish.
The closing track, Opus 118 No 6, is an otherworldly sorrow that transcends mortality, leaving listeners in a state of poignant desolation. Throughout the recital, Anderszewski's playing exudes a deep sense of introspection, as if he is privy to secrets not shared with the rest of us.
While this album may seem like a sombre and introspective work, Anderszewski's masterful interpretations bring it to life, inviting listeners to experience Brahms' late piano music in all its haunting beauty.
Anderszewski opens with the haunting B-minor Intermezzo from Opus 119, setting a melancholic tone that permeates the entire recital. His phrasing is characterized by fluidity and concentration, imbuing each piece with an unmistakable emotional core. The tempo remains moderate throughout, eschewing dramatic contrasts for a more nuanced approach.
The Opus 118 set highlights Anderszewski's ability to evoke heart-wrenching sorrow in his performances. The A-major Intermezzo is particularly poignant, its steady pace building into a sense of overwhelming loss. In contrast, the Opus 116 A-minor Intermezzo and G-minor Capriccio convey pent-up grief and unbridled anguish.
The closing track, Opus 118 No 6, is an otherworldly sorrow that transcends mortality, leaving listeners in a state of poignant desolation. Throughout the recital, Anderszewski's playing exudes a deep sense of introspection, as if he is privy to secrets not shared with the rest of us.
While this album may seem like a sombre and introspective work, Anderszewski's masterful interpretations bring it to life, inviting listeners to experience Brahms' late piano music in all its haunting beauty.