Reicha: L’art du varier
Ivan Ilić (piano) (Chandos)
(scroll down for English review)
Anton Reicha不單和貝多芬同年出生，兩人少年時已在波恩認識，各散東西十年後，Reicha於1802至1808年居於維也納，和舊友重逢並交流對音樂的想法，包括變奏曲可以怎樣寫。這套《變奏曲的藝術》寫於1803年，一共有57個變奏（和此曲的作品編號一樣），這個演奏共長86分鐘。
我不打算推介這個錄音，純粹說些感想，況且我也沒真正聽完這86分鐘，但有聽全部57個變奏。每個變奏平均都有超過三分二（都在變奏的最後）要重覆一次，於是我便跳去下個變奏。我有看譜，要是沒有，就較難（但仍可以）知道幾時要重覆。
我不是因為Reicha不及貝多芬而失去耐性，就如我上次聽Bavouzet的「貝多芬同期者」專輯，我沒對Reicha有太大期望。問題是他眼高手低，Reicha企圖綜納及開拓變奏曲的創作可能，但又沒有貝多芬的能耐及膽量。
演奏方面，這張是Ilić的第三張Reicha專輯，看得出他有心想推廣這位作曲家的，不過單從這個錄音來看，他彈得太呆板，和作品本身都很平凡，假如他有炫技的自覺，一定可以彌補作品的不足。
Anton Reicha wasn’t just of the same age as Beethoven, they actually knew each other as teenagers in Bonn. A decade after Beethoven’s departure from Bonn, Reicha found himself living in Vienna from 1802 to 1808. The friendship was rekindled and they exchanged thoughts on music, such as the musical form of variations. Written in 1803, The Art of Variations has 57 variations (same as its opus number) and this recording is 86 minutes long.
I’m not going to recommend this but would like to leave some thoughts. Besides, I didn’t listen to all 86 minutes but did listen to all 57 variations. Each variation repeats its latter two-thirds so I skipped the repeated section. The score is available online, without which it might be difficult (but still possible) to know when the repeats begin.
I’m fully aware that Reicha is no Beethoven but the point is that Reicha over-promised but under-delivered. The work title is so daunting, as if a summation and an extension of the music form. But the work itself is neither accomplished nor daring. Not everyone can be Beethoven.
This is the 3rd entry of this Reicha series by Ilić. The heart is there but I think the playing is too bland. If he was willing to play it as an empty virtuosic display the work isn’t hopeless.