Edition Géza Anda Vol. 2: Beethoven, Brahms & Liszt

The second volume of recordings by Géza-Anda-Edition from the archives of the WDR Cologne, issued by audite, is dedicated to nineteenth century piano masterpieces which also ranked highly in Anda’s own repertoire. Impressive recordings from 1955 until 1969 can be heard, beginning with his reading of Beethoven: the strictly non-histrionic but nonetheless poetic interpretation of an early and a late Sonata (Op. 10 No. 3 in D major and Op. 101 in A major) is contrasted by an energetic and intense performance of the Piano Concerto Op. 15 from a live recording (with Anda as soloist as well as conductor). Anda’s significance as a Brahms interpreter is demonstrated by his powerful performance of the early Piano Sonata Op. 5 in F minor and his subtle, melancholy realisation of the three late Intermezzi Op. 117. The high point of this disc, however, is Anda’s technically stupendous and musically superior interpretation of Liszt’s B minor Sonata, whose combination of grandeur and quasi-improvisatory boldness only few pianists are able to execute.

The historical publications at audite are based, without exception, on the original tapes from broadcasting archives. In general these are the original analogue tapes, which attain an astonishingly high quality, even measured by today‘s standards, with their tape speed of up to 76 cm/sec. The remastering – professionally competent and sensitively applied – also uncovers previously hidden details of the interpretations. Thus, a sound of superior quality results. CD publications based on private recordings from broadcasts cannot be compared with these.

Reviews

BBC Music Magazine September 2008

“The Beethoven Concerto… is conducted by Anda, and the orchestra proved highly responsive. This radiant and exhilarating work gets as lively a performance as it deserves, and could easily be a first choice for anyone who isn’t addicted to state-of-the-art sound. Anda… plays the elusive, ground-breaking OP. 101… spontaneously, but without searching for effect. – 4 out of 5 stars

Gramophone Magazine August 2008

“Anda’s was a wholly personal voice backed by pianism and craftsmanship of a transcendental sheen and precision. Few more scintillating or tightly coiled Liszt Sonatas exist.