photo credit:
July / August 2008
RISING STARS
Libor Novacek, the young Czech pianist who's taking his music to new audiences
Interview with Libor in International Piano magazine
*****
Classic FM podcast
Classic FM podcast
Thursday 5th June
Last night at the Wigmore Hall, the young Czech pianist Libor Novacek performed a programme of Haydn, Brahms and Liszt, and also took the opportunity to launch his latest CD - an ambitious approach to the work of Brahms. He talks to Arts Daily about his approach to his work, his relationship with the Young Concert Artists trust (YCAT) and Recording v. Concert Hall performance.
(9:47 minutes)
*****
DIARIO DE BURGOS
3 de Marzo de 2008
T. Fernandez
Quienes asistieron al auditorio de caja de Ahoros del Circulo de C/Julio Saez de la Hoya el dia de aquel concierto
fueron testigos en directo
de la asombrosa maduracion artistica de este joven musico.
El recital, compuesto por obras de Scarlatti, Mozart, Brahms y Liszt, puso
de manifesto el magnifico control que
Novacek ejerce sobre el teclado,
la intensidad con la que interpreta las piezas,
su virtuosismo y, sobre todo,
su enorme registro de matices y la gran riqueza timbrica que sabe sacarle al piano.
*****
21st March 2008
Darlington Arts Centre
In a very full evening of contrasting large-scale works, he played Janacek's In The Mists, which reflects on life from the viewpoint of old age,
intense and resigned. Over the decades, I have heard the work performed many times by leading pianists of different nationalities and seniority,
but never,
I venture, recorded with such a deep emotional power and insight
as by this young man.
'[Brahms' Piano Sonata in F sharp minor Opus 2]... Novacek played it with relish, with the ardour of burgeoning
youth in the opening allegro
and no less lively in the ensuing movements.
'[The first book of Liszt's Annees de pelerinage]... All were performed with
a sensitive touch, never replacing power with stridency, by a performer
of distinction, even in the hot colours and rhythms of Spain
in an
deserved encore of Manuel de Falla's Fire Dance.
*****
HOSPODARSKE NOVINY
by Petr Veber
'The pianist demonstrated his ability to produce a wide spectrum of rich, broad, colourful and resounding sound...'
'...Novacek se do pozdnich tri intermezz ponoril tak, ze daval zapomenout
na plynouci cas.'
'Novacek enraptured himself in the music of Brahms's 3 Intermezzi,
thus making time stand still... '
'..prokazal odvaznou uhozovou kulturu, znacnou predstavivost, bezpecnou rozvahu
pro vystavbu velkych ploch a forem'
i schopnost zvladnout nadstandardni manualni naroky.'
'[Novacek]... showed fearless and flawless touch, phenomenal inspiration and imagination, well-pondered architecture of
the large passages and musical form, and often displayed his mastery
over extreme technical difficulties...'
*****
Oktober 2007
Jorg Konigsdorf
Sicher eine der interessantesten Lisztaufnahmen der letzten Jahre.
*****
Czech Radio 3 - VLTAVA
Rondo
Rondo
13.09.2007
At hraje Libor Novacek ceskou hudbu, impresionisty ci romantiky, vzdy je jeho uhoz velmi distingovany, zretelny a spise jemny.
Vypjate emoce
si nechava na mista skutecnych vrcholu. Malokdy jej pristihneme,
ze by popustil uzdu citum. Snazi se spise kouzlit
barvami tonu,
jejichz paleta je obdivuhodne pestra.
Landor Records CD 274 - Werke von Janacek, Debussy, Ravel und Martinu
Novackova hra vnuka dojem, ze on sam je tim, kdo stanul plny uzasu pred renesancnim platnem, pod kupoli jiz pronika italske slunce.
Lyrika a cistota uhozu berou dech.
Landor Records CD 278 - Annees de Pelerinage: Italie, Mephisto-Walzer
*****
VIKEND
magazin Hospodarskych novin
magazin Hospodarskych novin
07.09.2007
Petr Melnicuk
*****
Fono Forum 08/2007
Musik * * * * *
Klang * * * *
Novacek ist ein Virtuose, der noch die schwierigsten Satze mit verwegen anmutenden Tempi geschmeidig und ohne erkennbare technische Muhen durchzieht.
Vor allem aber ist ein musikalischer Gestalter...
...ein geborener Piano- und Legato Spieler...
...sechs Debussy-Preludes oder Liszt-Italien habe ich lange nicht mehr so eindrucksvoll gehort.
Ingesamt ein erstaunlich reifes, musikalisch uneitel-fertiges und hochperonliches Diskus- Doppeldebut.
Landor Records CD 274 - Werke von Janacek, Debussy, Ravel und Martinu
Landor Records CD 278 - Annees de Pelerinage: Italie, Mephisto-Walzer
*****
EVENING POST
18 July 2007 St George's, Reynoldston
'The Gower Festival has welcomed many terrific pianists in its time, but few can have made so powerful an impression as the young Czech Libor Novacek - an impression as much of his stamina as his musicianship.
The piano nearly exploded. But Novacek was equally at home in gentler Mozart, and especially in Janacek's In the Mists, a kind of Czech homage to Debussy, but with its own quirky strangeness.
Novacek held nothing back and he established a charming rapport with the audience.
A virtuosic triumph.'
*****
GAZETTE & HERALD
26th June 2007 2007 by Alison Giles
'The delicate, clear sound and musicality of this performance (Mozart K485) had a soiree-like intimacy in the Town Hall..
Then came a leap forward to an early Brahms sonata and the piano singing great melodies. Here he gave us great lyricism and strong harmonic colouring, fully exploiting the depth of sound and dynamic range of the modern piano.
Libor is a great communicator both through his playing and in his introductions to the pieces he played, which added considerably to our understanding and enjoyment.'
*****
Franz Liszt - arte.tv
Pour le reste, son jeu convient a merveille aux pages qu'il se propose de faire revivre. Les couleurs du piano, la clarte des lignes, l'etagement des timbres, tout cela donne aux pieces une forme singuliere et cree un climat de mystere qu'on taxerait volontiers de "poetique" si l'on ne craignait ici de reduire et l'ouvre et l'interpretation sous un seul vocable : car si ce que l'on entend n'est pas seulement de la musique, ce n'est en meme temps rien d'autre. Et l'on ne se soucie finalement guere de savoir si, au-dela des notes et des rythmes, se cache un monde d'images ou de mots. De ce point de vue, ce Liszt est une parfaite reussite…
Ansonsten passt sein Klavierspiel wunderbar zu den Seiten, die es zum Leben erwecken soll. Die Klangfarben des Klaviers, die Klarheit der Linien, die Abstufung der Klange: All dies verleiht den Stucken eine einzigartige Form und entfacht eine mysteriose Stimmung, die man gern als "poetisch" bezeichnen wurde, wenn nicht die Gefahr bestunde, sowohl das Werk als auch die Darbietung auf eine einzelne Vokabel zu reduzieren. Denn was wir horen, ist nicht nur Musik, und doch nichts anderes als Musik. Letzten Endes ist es dem Horer gleichgultig, ob sich jenseits der Noten und Rhythmen eine Welt der Bilder oder Worter verbirgt. So gesehen ist diese Interpretation von Liszt ein vollkommener Erfolg...
*******
Libor Novacek & Wihan Quartet
Beethoven and Brahms Festival Weekend
Royal Pump Room, Leamington Spa
8 May 2007
Libor Novacek joined the Wihan Quartet for Brahms Piano Quintet Op 34 and was prominent in the long and
demanding final movement with its monumental climax. The performance was greeted with rapturous
applause and foot stamping (how very European!!). For many this was the finest concert for many years at the festival or the winter series.
*******
Libor Novacek at the Wigmore Hall
April 2007
by Max Harrison
On 26 March 2007 Libor Novacek presented four sorts of piano playing which nicely matched four diverse kinds of music. Novacek's performance sagely reflected both Mozart's humour and his structural ingenuity.
Janacek's In the Mists - Novacek's interpretations were everywhere alive to each nuance of these pieces.
Liszt - Yet again Novacek revealed himself a master of all this.
*****
MUSICWEB-INTERNATIONAL
by Colin Clarke'Presented by the Young Concert Artists Trust (YCAT), this concert showcased the talents of young Czech pianist Libor Novacek in an intelligently planned programme.
...Brahms' F sharp minor Sonata, Op. 2 - Novacek's pedalling was expert, lending a bass richness to his texture without blurring. .... this Brahms was in fact the high point of the evening.
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Libor Novacek plays Liszt
Landor Records - LAN278
Landor Records - LAN278
GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE- February 2007
Editor's Forward
James Inverne
'It's always welcome to see a major musician at the start of what promises to be a terrific career. There seems something very special about this artist. It's evident in the hushed, reflective passages, in the whole sense of a pianist who knows how a piece should go. One to watch indeed.'
Review by Nalen Anthoni
Libor Novacek: expansive dignity
[Libor Novacek's] command of the keyboard is very impressive and he aspires to the highest interpretive ideals in this second book of which,
like the first, contains some of Liszt's finest music.
This artist takes time to express his views about these masterpieces. He is not in a hurry, not even in overtly virtuoso pieces such as the
Dante Sonata and the First Mephisto Waltz. There is an expansive dignity to Novacek's playing that spares them from falling into a trough of
banality, as often happens. how a similar approach works at a slow tempo (basically lento) may be heard in the Petrarch Sonnet No 123 where Liszt
tries to convey its spirit through numerous marks of expression. Novacek doesn't balk at observing them. nor does he balk at emotional involvement
with the music; and both virtues are duplicated everywhere.
The recording by Tony Faulkner doesn't get in your way. It is unobtrusively excellent -
as recordings ought to be.'
PIANIST RECOMMENDED
The Pianist Magazine - February-March issue 2007www.pianistmagazine.com
by Bryce Morrisson
'On his second disc for Landor Records, Libor Novacek performs Liszt with an exceptional poetic verve and inwardness. Hushed and reverential at the start of Sposalizio, he then re-creates a rare sense of wonder and interior magic, and whether evoking bells distantly or jubilantly chiming, his playing is ear-catchingly fresh and vital. Il penseroso's dark-hued prophecy of Liszt's final years is no less memorably caught, its harmonic tension and audacity made almost palpable…Novacek captures all of the smouldering intensity of No 104 and is rapturous and interior in No 123. His imaginative scope makes something very special of the Dante sonata. Textures are kept enviably transparent in even the heaviest climaxes, stillness and hyperactivity are vividly contrasted yet nothing is exaggerated. Indeed, such a clear sense of poetic perspective makes this among the finest Dante Sonatas on record. The Mephisto Waltz is no less brilliantly alert and picturesque. This lavishly presented, beautifully recorded recital strongly suggests a young pianist very much on the edge of a major international career.'
*****
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW - January 2007
by Robert Matthew-Walker
...new recital by Libor Novacek is exceptional.
He shows rare combination of virtuosity and musical intelligence.
This excellent issue is strongly recommended.
*****
METRO
1st Dezember 2006*****
by Warwick Thompson
Musical Opinion - November 2006
by Denby Richards
I have yet to hear Libor Novacek in the flesh but this CD held me in my seat for the whole 73 minutes and I have played it again and again to convince myself that this is Liszt playing of the highest order by a player who concentrates on the composer's all too often ignored genius. Of course the Italian Annees de Palerinage contains the three expressive Petrarch Sonnets and the dramatic and exciting Dante Sonata, often played separately in recitals, yet when the seven movements are presented as a whole conception of Liszt's Italian experience the overall impression is as stimulating as any epic. Even more impressive, however, is Novacek's treatment of the all too popular Mephisto Waltz, for once becoming a wonderful keyboard tone poem.
Novacek won the 2006 Landor Competition and their recording shows the quality we hope to expect in the future.
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
Cesky preklad
Piano News - Januar/Februar - 1/2007
by Robert Nemecek
Interpretation ***** Klang ******
...aussergewoehnliches, zeitweise Staunen erregendes Liszt-Spiel.Warum? Weil Novacek nicht den grossen Tastenhengst mimt, sondern seine eminente Klavierspiel in den Dienst der poetischen Aussage stellt. Unter seinen Haenden wird "Spozalizio" wirklich zur musikalischen Nachdichtung des gleichnamigen Gemaeldes von Raffael, dessen bedeutungs- und Ausdrucksgehalt Novacek mit einer riesigen, vom hingehauchten Pianissimo bis zum berstenden Fortissimo reichenden Dynamik- und Anschlagsskala erschliesst. "Il Penseroso" entfaltet kraft Novaceks ausserordentlicher Klangdifferenzierung eine unerhoerte Suggestivkraft, waehrend die Dante-Sonate als veritabler Hoellentrip gestaltet.
...man hat hier mit einer der eigenstaendigsten und ausgefeiltesten Annees-Deutungen der letzten Jahre zu tun.
*****
*****
by Roland de BeerEen fantastisch talent
'Novacek, who made his recording debut with works of Janacek and Martinu on Landor Records, has recorded a Liszt programme that outshines everything that has appeared the last few years in this field.
Few would think of fingers, keys or notes when listening to Novacek's interpretations of the Petrarca-sonnets, which are full of colours without smudginess, which sing without a trace of sanctimoniousness, and in which Novacek, above all, tries to fathom the depths of Liszt's fascination for Petrarca's odes to love and death.
Seated in the higher heavens between Rafael, Michelangelo, Petrarca and Dante - phenomena which almost maddened Liszt in his Italian 'Années de pelerinage' - Liszt would most probably shout his approval. His ideal of immaterial pianism is realized here in great measure. The opening bars of Sposalizio, Liszt's impression of Rafael's painting of the marriage of the Virgin, are a statement in themselves, right from the beginning of Novacek's CD. The poetry continues in the springing chords and octave cascades of the Dante Sonata. Even in the diabolic Mefisto Walz nr 1, perhaps added by Novacek in order to show colleagues how to keep the lyric middle parts exciting, everything sounds noble and well-formed.'
*****************************************
Libor Novacek plays
Janacek, Debussy, Ravel, Martinu
Landor Records - LAN274
Janacek, Debussy, Ravel, Martinu
Landor Records - LAN274
BBC Music Magazine
July 2006
by Jan Smaczny
'a performance of real power.....a model performance.....
a CD to savour'
Performance * * * * Sound * * * *
'The strong of linkage between expression and form makes this a performance of real power.
The juxtaposition with six of the Debussy Preludes in spiky and insightful performances works well, particularly given the wealth of detail revealed by the clarity of the recording. His reading of the Ravel is infectious and often ear-catching; as in the Janacek Sonata, there is a persuasive sense of structure in each of the movements and especially in the exquisitely understated Fugue… Martinu's Three Czech Dances receive a model performance. From nearly every point of view this is a CD to savour'. FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
www.pianistmagazine.com
by Bryce Morrison
August/September 2006, Issue No 31
PIANO RECOMMENDED
'Novacek is deeply sensitive to such high-octane drama, playing with an enviable fluency and conviction.
Such playing makes you long for a complete Debussy cycle.
Finally, three playful and astringent Czech dances, superbly performed, bring this fresh, engaging and excellently recorded recital to a close.'
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
The GRAMOPHONE
by Jeremy NicholasFIREWORKS IN DEBUSSY IN THIS YOUNG WINNER'S PRIZE-WORTHY PLAYING
'Beautifully phrased, subtly coloured and actuely characterised, Novacek's playing is outstanding, capped by a triumphant performance of Feux d'artifice (Debussy).
Novacek's revels in the music's sec, veiled sonorities, infinitely better played and recorded (Potton Hall) than Samson François, with the
motoric precision of the concluding Toccata more clearly
articulated than Moiseiwitsch (Ravel).'
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
Cesky preklad
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW
by Carl Rosman
'Novacek delivers fine and forthright performance. His passionate and satisfying performance of Janacek's wonderful sonata stands up well to all but the finest available on disc (such as Firkusny on CD)...
The Martinu dances are a complet succsess. It would have been wonderful to have had more of this: hopefully a Martinu disc is not too far away.
Altogether this is an impressive calling-card from fine and throughful player, with plenty to spark curiosity in his future.'
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
Cesky preklad
MUSICWEB International
Mai 2006 by Michael Cookson
'Janacek score with a marvellous interpretation that is frequently breathtaking...
Debussy certainly shows through in his playing with an interpretation that blends finesse with colourful expression...
Le Tombeau de Couperin is heard here with all the ecessary seventeenth century economy and transparency...
Martinu - the soloist is highly assured amid the technical demands of the unusual and unexpected accents and humorous alternating polyrhythmic motifs.
'The team of Jeremy Hayes and Tony Faulkner have provided a most agreeable and especially well balanced sound quality…
The assured playing from Libor Novacek makes riveting listening. I look forward to hearing more recitals from him.'
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
PIANO NEWS
by Robert Nemecek
05-06 / 2006
'Einer, der Technische Huerden muhelos meistert, der beherzt zupacken kann und dabei auch noch die Zwischentone achtet.
...Ravels haarstraubend schwere Toccata aus dem Tombeau de Couperin hat man kaum je so akkurat gehort - Klavierspiel auf atemberaubend hohem Niveau..
Damit durfte Novacek auch im internationalen Konzertbetrieb gute Karte haben.'
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
HOSPODARSKE NOVINY
by Petr Veber
25th August 2006
'...ambiciozni debutove album.
Deska neni vyberem repertaru prazdne virtuozni nebo jen prvoplanove efektni, ale osobita a predevsim muzikalni.
Nahravka predstavuje Novacka jako sebevedomeho klaviristu s velkym umeleckym potencionalem'
FULL REVIEW IN CZECH (graphic format)
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Libor Novacek in Interviews
Musical Opinion
February 2007
Talks to Christie Morgan
There seems to be an unalloyed enthusiasm for the possibilities of the future associated with the AXA International Piano Competition and Libor Novacek proved no exception when I spoke to him as he looked ahead to the challenges of 2007.
FULL INTERWIEW (graphic format)
January 2007
RISING STAR - GREAT ARTIST OF TOMORROW
This is an unusually reflective reading...
PERFORMANCE **** SOUND ****
THE GRAMOPHONE
Awards 2006
Special issue
ONE TO WATCH
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Libor Novacek in Concerts
HARMONIE
by Vanda Prochazka
September 2006
CZECH SUCCESS IN LONDON
Mostly Mozart - Barbican
'The real delicacy of this evening was Piano Concerto by Josef Antonin Stepan performed by very talented Libor Novacek.
Highly spirited and fresh playing with great stylistic details,
precision and spontaniety - such attributes define his playing.'
FULL REVIEW IN CZECH (graphic format)
THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL
HEREFORD TIMES
by Stewart Taylor
17th August 2006
Silver lining as Czech pianist flies in to save the day
'...delivered with the utmost charisma and beauty of tone...
...most engagingly introduced by the artist and played with such wit and panache...
...Schubert's great A minor Sonata D784. This rather grim work was given a magisterial performance in which the drama of the music was never allowed to unsettle the underlying structure.'
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
IRISH TIMES
May 2006 by Michael Dervan
The AXA Dublin Piano International Competition
1st Round 'I was glad to see the jury responding to the carefully nuanced Mozart of Libor Novacek.'
2nd Round 'High on their semi-final list of 12 must be ...interior light of Libor Novacek's account of Ravel's account Tombeau de Couperin.
Semi-final 'And Libor Novacek, playing, Schubert and Liszt, suggested
a depth of unflappable, mature musicianship that leaves him top of my personal list headings into finals.'
Final 'Novacek, a thoughtful, reflective musician who had performed admirably in previous rounds'
THE STATESMAN
Kolkata - India
06/02/2006 by Kishore Chatterjee
'Novacek is brilliant and only 26. His Brahms is intimate and reflective. His Mozart joyous and sunny, with a clear contour and well-choreographed melodic line. He was equally at home with Liszt, Schumann and Schubert and simply breathtaking in the Liszt Mephisto Waltz.
There was something balanced and clear in his pianism that makes listening a pleasure.'
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
BRISTOL EVENING POST
14/10/2005 by John Packwood
'Blistering show of skills from young pianist'
Libor Novacek (Piano), BRISTOL, St George's
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
SIEGENER ZEITUNG
12 Februar 2005
'NACH BRAHMS NICHTS MEHR! Libor Novacek zelebrierte d-Moll-Klavierkonzert im Busch-Theater..... Minutenlang hatte das Publikum dem jungen Tschechen Ovationen für seine gerade dargebotene Meisterleistung gespendet'
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
BRIGHTON HERALD
17 February 2005
'BRIGHTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Barry Wordsworth - conductor, Libor Novacek - piano
Libor Novacek gave a dazzling performance of the Tchaikovsky classic to earn a rapturous and well-deserved ovation from the BPO faithful.'
FULL REVIEW (graphic format)
© 2007-2010 Libor Novacek, administered by Czechkoncert