Transfigured Bach: The Piano Transcriptions of Bartók, Lipatti, and Friedman

Editorial Reviews
Classics Today, May 1, 2003
For her solo-CD debut, South African pianist Petronel Malan offers an auspicious program.

Album Description
Béla Bartók, Dinu Lipatti and Ignaz Friedmann.- three of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, each, in turn looked to the music of J.S. Bach for inspiration and to challenge their abilities as interpreters and performers. While known primarily for their other accomplishments, this current collection presents the World Premiere recordings of the Bach transcriptions of Lipatti and Bartok, and a welcome survey of the sadly neglected arrangements of Ignaz Friedmann.

This is Bach on the grandest possible scale – historic performance enthusiasts be warned! For those listeners who enjoy hearing an instrument pushed to its utmost expressive extremes, there is much to enjoy in the performances of Ms. Malan.

Petronel Malan comes originally from South Africa; she debuted at the age of 10 with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, and has won every Piano performance competition which she entered. Today, Ms. Malan is regularly in demand as a recitalist, performing at Carnegie Hall in New York and the Salzburger Mozarteum as well as many festivals.

This recording is Petronel Malan’s recorded debut. She performs on a Blüthner - Concert Grand.

Tracks:

Bach/Friedman: Toccata and Fugue in D minor
Bach/Friedman:Bourr(from Violin Partita No. 2 in d minor
Bach/Friedman:Morgenlied - Version No.2 (Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme)
Bach/Friedman: Schafe kn sicher weiden (from Cantata BWV 208)
Bach/Friedman: Gavotte (from Violin Partita No. 3 in E Major)
Bach/Friedman: Sicilienne (from Flute Sonata in E flat Major)
Bach/Friedman: Mein gliges Herze, frohlocke, sing', scherze (from Cantata BWV 68)
Bach/Friedman: "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland"
Bach/Friedman: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme - Version No.1
Bach/Friedman: 1st Movement from Brandenburg Concerto No.3 in G Major
Bach/Lipatti: Pastorella in F Major [WORLD PREMIERE]
Bach/ Bart Organ Sonata No.6 in G Major [WORLD PREMIERE]

Album Description

Béla Bartók, Dinu Lipatti and Ignaz Friedmann.- three of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, each, in turn looked to the music of J.S. Bach for inspiration and to challenge their abilities as interpreters and performers. While known primarily for their other accomplishments, this current collection presents the World Premiere recordings of the Bach transcriptions of Lipatti and Bartok, and a welcome survey of the sadly neglected arrangements of Ignaz Friedmann.

This is Bach on the grandest possible scale - historic performance enthusiasts be warned! For those listeners who enjoy hearing an instrument pushed to its utmost expressive extremes, there is much to enjoy in the performances of Ms. Malan.

This recording is Petronel Malan's recorded debut. She performs on a Blüthner - Concert Grand.

Customer Reviews:

Five stars for a great star.......2005-10-20

World-class pianist Petronel Malan plays transcriptions of Bach works by Bartok, Lipatti and Friedman, including two world premieres. This is compelling stuff. Make sure that you have enough time when you start listening to this CD. You will not be able to tear yourself away from it. From the word go, you will be riveted. The music surges forward, sometimes drawing out your soul with its tenderness, sometimes electrifying you with its excitement. The Bosendorfer concert grand piano enthralls with Petronel's glorious bass lines. If more contemporary pianists play like this, we are living in a new Golden Age of piano playing. May the next CD arrive soon. We also want a DVD!

FANTASTIC!.......2004-06-20

Unique transcription music, but wonderful gems. Really worth your money.
I wish we can find more of her recordings. ???

She is simply amazing - not to mention probably the most gorgeous pianist out there. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Superb music, superb pianism, superb piano.......2004-05-29

This CD is a triumph by any measure: the music, the execution, and the instrument!

Ms. Malan has unearthed three Bach transcriptions that have never been recorded before; strangely so, because the transcribers Bartok, Friedman and Lipatti are among the greatest masters of the art. The Pastorale in F, BWV 590 is an excellent find, and makes very pleasing listening in this piano version. Several of the other pieces, while not world premieres, are hard to find -- both in score and in recording. My favorite on this disk is "Mein glaeubiges Herze" which I think sounds better in this piano version than it does in the original arrangement for voice and chamber orchestra; it is just as joyful and sprightly as the latter but brings tremendous power in the final lines.

Ms. Malan's pianism is without fault. She manages to be gentle and easy-going when needed -- e.g. the Siciliano which is pianissimo most of the time -- but manages a great crashing climax in "Mein glaeubiges Herze", and keeps her stamina with the challenging Toccata and Fugue.

The technical quality of the recording is perfect. There are no extraneous echos or imbalances.

The piano, a Bluethner grand, has a timbre and attack that is highly appropriate for this music. The lower fugal parts are easily recognized as the harmonics on the base notes are not overblown. At last, here is a serious competitor to challenge the Steinway near-monopoly.

We hope Ms. Malan doesn't stop here. Hinson's famous book lists hundreds of worthy transcriptions which need to be made available. There are many composers whose piano music is almost unobtainable, such as Florent Schmitt or Vincent d'Indy. It is time that South African compositions had a hearing, e.g. the concerto by Alexander Johnson.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Recommended Music:

Rise Up [Enhanced]

Piano Sonatas 3 7 & 12

Ravel, Liszt and Prokofiev

Music: Further Down the Old Plank Road

Real Estate Man Plus [Enhanced] [Import]

No Cumpli Mi Juramento

Nix Is Oemesoens [Import]

Rosenrot [Import]

Revealing Damnation

Live Summer Tour [Import]

Original Hits of George Gershwin

Mega International Hits

Masters of the 1 & 2: History's Greatest DJ's

Passage

Myths, Modes & Means: Live at Hot Brass