Octo_Russ

Various Composers - 'Liebestraume' Piano Music [Spanswick]

Here's a disc i picked up on Ebay recently, from a Pianist i've never heard before, it contains 21 short piano pieces, with over 70 minutes of music, mainly of famous pieces, i like these compilations, they really serve a purpose, it comprises 14 Composers, i must admit too much Chopin Waltzes, and no Schubert?, but still a good mix, she isn't a truly top class Pianist, too heavy in the left hand [or is it the recording?], a bit clumsy with ideas, not enough nuance in her playing, but serviceable and enjoyable just the same.

Melanie Spanswick is English i think, there's a dearth of information on her, she recorded this recital in 2002, initially it was the front booklet cover that attracted me to the disc on Ebay, a really good shot [by Hilary Shedel], poses where the Artist sits facing away the keyboard are clever, there's great lighting from the right, nice highlights in the hair, and with this particular copy, it's actually signed by Melanie herself in biro, which is a nice touch.

Well i really enjoyed tracks 1-5, 9-11 & 16-18, i must admit i certainly liked the transcription of Tchaikovsky's 'Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy', a neat piece, but ultimately it was Liszt's 'Un Sospiro' that i found heavenly, from the Italian it translates as 'A Sigh', and you certainly get that feeling from this beautiful tune, simple yet pure, over a gorgeous rippling left hand, i admit that Spanswick could have played the opening quieter, a greater sense of mystery is needed, right hand trebles need a bit more legato, but those ripples are great, Spanswick developes quite a hard right hand on those treble singing notes [0:44-1:19], it should be a sigh, Liszt is amazing, in bringing out a real sense of coda-esque half way through [2:23-2:53, and again at 4:00-4:23], a beautiful moment, and afterwards some lovely chimes in the treble [3:04+], a wonderful creation that i really haven't paid attention to in the past, i've had somewhat of a negative view of Liszt, of just a showy virtuoso, but he has depth and poetry too.

Here's young Rachel playing Liszt's 'Un Sospiro' on YouTube, you can see the devilish hand crossovers throughout the piece, notice the cute smile at 3:28!, haha.