Artist: Yury Martynov
Album: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 8 (Transcribed for Piano by Franz Liszt)
Genre: Classical
Release Date: 2014
Audio Format:: FLAC (tracks) 24bit, 88,2 kHz
Duration: 01:21:48
Total Tracks: 8
Total Size: 1,22 GB

Tracklist:

01. Yury Martynov – Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’: I. Allegro con brio (17:38)
02. Yury Martynov – Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’: II. Marcia funebre (Adagio assai) (17:55)
03. Yury Martynov – Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’: III. Scherzo (Allegro vivace) (05:54)
04. Yury Martynov – Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’: IV. Finale (Allegro molto) (11:47)
05. Yury Martynov – Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93: I. Allegro vivace e con brio (09:39)
06. Yury Martynov – Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93: II. Allegretto scherzando (03:49)
07. Yury Martynov – Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93: III. Tempo di menuetto (05:25)
08. Yury Martynov – Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93: IV. Allegro vivace (09:37)

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Transcription, for Franz Liszt, was in equal measure a means of celebrating the genius of Beethoven and of meditating on his works. It was also a way of provoking a well-nigh titanic confrontation between the resources of the pianist and his instrument and the immense potential of the orchestra. Thus the power of the interpreter’s conception, his understanding of the essence of the work, become the crucial factor in Liszt’s approach and in the adventure offered to the listener.

For the third volume of his complete set of Liszt’s transcriptions of the Beethoven symphonies, Yury Martynov has chosen a piano of 1867 made by Blüthner, whose instruments were much admired by Liszt.

The fourth and fifth volumes in the series will be released in early 2015 and early 2016 respectively. Yury Martynov will also record a Prokofiev programme on a modern piano, which will be issued by Zig-Zag Territoires in the autumn of 2014.For the latest installment in this period-instrument cycle-in-progress featuring the Beethoven symphonies in Franz Liszt’s solo-piano transcriptions, Yury Martynov uses a rare, recently restored concert model 1867 Blüthner. In addition to its distinct registral characteristics, I also assume that its keyboard action is light and responsive, judging from Martynov’s effortless dispatch of the Eighth symphony finale’s all-but-impossible repeated notes.

As a transcriber Liszt knew how to transform non-pianistic orchestral effects into idiomatic and logical keyboard writing, and had a sixth sense for what to include and what to leave out. That doesn’t make his Beethoven arrangements any less challenging to execute, yet Martynov’s technique knows no difficulties. Sometimes Martynov’s distortions of phrase, tempo modification, and accents are extreme to the point of mannerism: the “Eroica” Allegro con brio’s swooning second subject; No. 8’s lurching speed-ups and slow-downs in the first movement; the mincing accentuations in the Menuetto.

Yet the playing never lacks continuity or kinetic momentum. In fact, the “Eroica” inner movements prove relatively disciplined from a metric standpoint, as the Scherzo’s firmly sprung soft detached chords and cross-rhythmic syncopations bear out. And although the lyrical character of No. 8’s three-note motive (similar to the one that opens the Rondo of Schubert’s G major D. 894 sonata) and clipped woodwind chords is softened through Martynov’s rhapsodizing, the music’s sardonic undertones still are apparent. The bottom line is that Martynov’s formidable keyboard command and strong musical personality draw you in and compel you to listen. I await this cycle’s remaining volumes with curiosity and anticipation. –Jed Distler, ClassicsToday