Dussek, Jan Ladislav (Johann Ladislaus)/Cramer, Johann Baptist/Haydn, Franz Joseph: Malcolm Bilson plays... (Bridge Audio CD)

Reviews

"I downloaded from iTunes the last movement of Dussek's Farewell Sonata, op. 44. Bilson has a marvelously clear sound, and his instrument shows the special character of the different registers, from a deep, resonant bass to the characteristic tinkly, staccato treble of many fortepianos.

I congratulate him for his originality of conception, but I must wonder about the tradition he draws from for such a conception. That is to say, is there such a tradition, that makes a Rondo movement marked Moderato: Allegro ed espressivo into a stopping and starting exercise in free-form tempo variation? I imagine that Bilson interprets "espressivo" as a license to play the movement as a cadenza-fantasy. But in fact, there is enough latent expression in the music to serve an a tempo performance, and Bilson's approach, while successful in a very personal way, detracts from the momentum of the very powerful music. He makes it a bit too precious. Still, a worthwhile listen to a searching musician with an immaculate technique."

Rating:    11/4/2008 By: James Irsay