Franz Liszt:
Années de pèlerinage, 1ère année, Suisse (9 pieces), S. 160
Consolations, Six Pensées poétiques, S. 172,
LAN290
Guardian, March 2010
‘The young Czech pianist Libor Novacek’s recording of the second, Italian book of Liszt’s Années de Pčlerinage brought him to everyone’s attention when it appeared four years ago, and the release of his version of its earlier, more introverted Swiss companion has long felt overdue. It’s been worth the wait, however. In many respects Novacek is an ideal Liszt interpreter, technically exacting yet aware that the composer’s aim was not so much to push the player to his limits as to expand the piano’s expressive capabilities and the descriptive and narrative possibilities of music. You’re aware of a fine poetic sensibility at work here, yielding breathtaking results in the shorter pieces such as Au Lac de Wallenstadt and Pastorale. Yet Novacek also has the ability to think big when he needs to, so the larger, more discursive pieces such as Vallée d’Obermann never seem shapeless or out of control. The filler is the Consolations, in a performance of exquisite refinement, though darker and less sentimental than most.
5*****
Tim Ashley
International Record Review, March 2010
‘Of course many attributes combine to make Novacek’s Swiss Année so compellingly beautiful. His sense of pace is leisurely and alluring, making the crystal-clear waters of Lac de Wallendstadt, marked Andante placido, not only placid but a veritable balm for the agitated spirit. Liszt’s evocation of an alpine storm, ‘Orage’, sheds its familiar guise as a piano tour de force, to emerge as the sound portrait of a genuinely terrifying natural phenomenon. Infinite degrees of pianissimo shadings enhance the simple rusticity of the ‘Pastorale’ and coax the faint sound of distant bells from Geneva as though through a fog. Rhetorical aptness is again the focus in ‘Vallée d’Obermann’, which seems less a case study in the numbness of depression than Obermann’s plaintive search for existential meaning. The most refined blend of legato and secco articulation captures the geysers and spray of ‘Au bord d’un source’ in a dazzling display of light and colour. As if all this were not enough, Novacek crowns his Années with the Six Consolations in exquisitely lyrical performances of the utmost sincerity.’
Patrick Rucker
Evening Standard, March 2010
‘Liszt is red meat for the big beasts of the piano. What makes this recital so arresting is the low-key approach that Libor Novacek takes to the Swiss episodes of Liszt’s travel diaries, as well the later, lesser known Consolations. The meditative, priestly aspect of Liszt is often eclipsed by virtuosic display. Not here, though. Softly, reflectively, Novacek portrays a deeper, introspective Liszt, seldom rising above double-forte. Norman Lebrecht’s CD of the Week – 3 March 2010 ‘
Norman Lebrecht
PianoNews 06/2009
Libor Novacek recorded the Italian part of Liszt’s Années de Pèlerinage a year ago and his rendering was so splendid that his listeners have secretly been wishing for the Années project to be continued ever since. Now that wish has come true and the result confirms, once again, Novacek’s status as one of the most interesting Liszt interpreters of our time. The thing that immediately captivates in his interpretation is the complete immersion in a more unknown side of a composer whose work was until today labelled as ‘easy listening’. When interpreted by Novacek, Liszt does not appear to us like a Swiss tourist who is on a short holiday to recover from the stress of life as a virtuoso, but as a veritable poet, a receiver, who abandons himself completely to the beauty of nature, and transforms that beauty into a collection of sonorous objects. Novacek performs nature impressions like Au Lac de Wallenstadt or Eglogue with a tranquillity that has almost meditative qualities. In La vallée d´Obermann, the musically most challenging piece of the collection, he succeeds where not many others have done in covering the whole spectrum from brooding melancholy to rollicking euphoria, and for a few moments, reveals his eminent virtuoso qualities. The combination of the Années with its kindred spirit Consolations proves itself to be an exceedingly happy one, especially since here, too, Libor Novacek bestows upon us numerous moments of pure lyrical joy.
Robert Nemecek
…das Resultat bestätigt einmal mehr Novaceks Rang als einem der interessantesten Liszt-Interpreten unserer Zeit.
In La vallée d´Obermann, dem musikalisch anspruchsvollsten Stück der Sammlung, gelingt es ihm wie nur wenigen, den Bogen von vergrübelter Melancholie bis zu ausgelassener Euphorie zu spannen, wobei kurzzeitig auch Novaceks eminente virtuose Qualitäten offenbar werden.
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The latest recording by Czech star Libor Novacek on the Landor label finds him tackling another of Liszt’s years pilgrimage with a performance of the complete book for Switzerland, which ranges from impressionistic miniatures such as Pastorale to the virtuoso Orage and to the grandeur of Vallee d’Obermann.
All the power of his previous performance of Italie which won the Diplom d’Honneur at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest is linked to a serenity of purpose which makes these truly special readings of great works. This is a worthy successor to readings by many of the great pianists of the twentieth century. As a bonus the recording concludes with a performance of the six Consolations.
Recorded at Potton Hall under ideal conditions with the same production team (Jeremy Hayes and Tony Faulkner) this disc truly lives up to the expectations of Novacek’s growing army of fans and makes a splendid addition to his (and Landor’s) discography.
Release date: 28-9-09
Label: Landor Records
