Reviewer: Jessica
Duchen The Belgian pianist
Julien Libeer, a sometime protégé of MariaJoăo Pires among other mentors, here
brings together suites by Bach and Bartok, perhaps highlighting the long
influence of the first and the deep-rooted heritage of the second, Libeer
alternates the composers' suites, club sandwich fashion, and the pairing, while
certainly interesting, can be a bit of a jolt: you've settled happily into the
ambience of one when the suite ends and the other world springs into life. One
might be left wondering if a whole disc devoted to each might have been more
satisfying. Its nevertheless a striking tribute to Libeer’s ability to conjure
up different atmospheres that this contrast makes such an impression.
Indeed, its almost impossible to fault his playing - unless, of course, you are
deeply allergic to Bach on the modern piano (which I’m not). He brings the G
major French Suite and the Partita No. 2 the full complement of the
pianos advantages - a wonderfully cantabile touch, carefully wrought dynamic
contrasts, judicious use of the pedal for expression – and the performance never
becomes unidiomatic, applying improvised embellishments on repeats and
maintaining exemplary clarity. The Bartok suites, with their uniquely unsettling
mixture of earthy dance rhythms and eerie nocturnal rustles and shivers, have
the same sense of minute attention to detail and intensity of focus; tone
quality is full and rich, with voices vividly layered and colours plentiful.
The recorded
sound is superb and makes the most of the performance's mix of defined character
and technical perfectionism.
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