19/12/2008 by Gary Higginson Brahms – LAN275 ‘Novacek captures the thunderous power of the opening very well and also has a lovely way of coaxing the second movement into existence. I have enjoyed this disc very much. It is not a conveniently planned programme and throws up the unfamiliar with the better known. Novacek has [...]
11/2008 by Partick Szersnovitcz ‘Il est significatif que la premiere sonate connue de Brahms – la “ Deuxieme Sonate “ en fa diese mineur op. 2 de novembre 1852 – soit la plus ouvertement romantique. Jeune pianiste ne a Prague et deja renomme, notamment en Angleterre. Libor Novacek fait montre d’une remarquable maitrise pianistique et [...]
11/09/2008 by Chantal Nastasi Phanomenale Klangkontrolle ‘Sie ist ein Jugendwerk, die fis-Moll Sonate von Johannes Brahms. Brahms komponierte sie als 19-Jahriger, wohl vor der heute offiziell als Erste bekannten Sonate. Zogerlich, suchend nahert sich Novacek der Musik des jungen Brahms. Novacek erforscht die Harmonien, den Zusammenhang der Themen, die Brahms mehr wie eine Art Fantasie [...]
09-11/2008 Pianist’s Choice Marius Dawn unearths gem after gem in a trove of new discs, with Libor Novacek’s Brahms and jewels from Glenn Gould and Vladimir Horowitz sparkling the most brightly. ‘Novacek is overwhelmingly convincing in his Brahms recital, which is catapulted into the listing of the finest Brahms releases ever, even ousting historic recordings [...]
08/2008 by Calum MacDonald ‘Instrumental Choice’ 5***** ‘The Sonata is among Brahms’s least-recorded piano works, and though there are excellent versions available from, among others, Katchen and Richter (both on Decca), I feel Novacek may have set a new benchmark here, while his op. 76 stands out strongly from other accounts. Altogether an impressive release.’
09/2008 by Robert Nemecek Interpretation: ***** Klang: ***** Repertoirewert: ***** ‘It is the result of an excellent combination of phenomenal sound control and distinctive awareness of form and structure. …in my judgment that what we have here is one of the most important and most significant documents of Brahms interpretations of recent times.’
10/2008 by Bryce Morrison ‘Poised and poetic: this exceptional young pianist finds the beauty in Brahms. His playing captures a reflection and nostalgia at the heart of such music, „an eternal note of sadness“. A master of inwardness…resolving every thorny and perverse difficulty with ease and lucidity.’
09/2008 by Julian Haylock ‘Novacek emerges as a master of multi-linear articulation, giving independent strands of simultaneous musical material the own identity. Novacek’s Schubertian grace and clear-sightedness pays real dividends.’
09-10/2008 by Richard Evans ‘Libor Novacek proves himself to be an artist of vision and circumspection, and master of subtle rubato. A disc for the discerning Brahmsian.’
14/09/2008 by Stephen Pettitt Brahms: Piano Works ‘I prefer Novacek in the later music. There’s greater contrast of colour and mood in the rest of the recital.’
