This album is included in the following sets:
This set contains the following albums:
- Producer's Note
- Full Track Listing
- Cover Art
Playing of nobility and imagination... a player totally attuned to Liszt's very singular world... these recordings have come up a treat with clarity as well as warmth...
- James Jolly, Gramophone, October 2006
Peter Katin's prodigious talent showed itself in his debut recital at London's Wigmore Hall, when he was just 18. Four years later he made his appearance at the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts; the following year, 1953, found him at Decca's studios making his first recordings.
To choose an all-Liszt recital was perhaps not too surprising- but to choose less familiar pieces throughout, as he did, was. At the time the disc was released, none of these pieces was available on LP in the UK. And a problem arose: the programme that had been selected was not within the capabilities of the cutting room! Side 1 would not fit! Thus it was that the 12-inch LP LXT 2977 omitted the first of the two Polonaises that had been recorded; and a second, 10-inch disc LW 5116 was released that contained just the two Polonaises. To have the complete recital one thus needed to buy both records - and would end up with two copies of the second Polonaise! Our restoration unites the recital as (we believe) it was originally intended. (Some years later Peter Katin re-recorded the same recital in stereo with the 'full' programme - disc cutting having progressed to allow longer side lengths - but our release is, please note, taken exclusively from the earlier mono recordings.)
A second release was to follow on the heels of the first: this time with Katin as soloist in an orchestral concert with the LPO and Martinon. A major Liszt piece - the Totentanz is its centrepiece, however Mendelssohn makes an equally important appearance with his Capriccio Brillant and Rondo Brillant showcases. And a second recital the same year: again an all-Liszt programme was selected but this time we get some 'pops', including three of the most popular of the Hungarian Rhapsodies. They received rave reviews.
Our restorations were sourced from original pressings of the Decca LPs in the possession of a personal friend of Mr Katin's (one of the sleeves is autographed). We were very fortunate to have at least two copies of each release available to us and so could pick and choose for the best quality. Thanks, Robert and Don!
Peter Harrison
KATIN Liszt: Recital No. 1 (1953/4)
LISZT Années de pèlerinage S161/7 “Dante Sonata”
1. Dante Sonata (Années de Pélerinage; 2nd Year, Italy, No. 7) (15:55)
LISZT Polonaises in E and C minor S223/1 & 2
2. Polonaise No. 1 in C minor (11:40)
3. Polonaise no. 2 in E major (8:17)
Shared recording information:
Recorded 16,18,22 Sep & 20 Oct 1953 and 26 Jan 1954
West Hampstead Studios, London
Issued as Decca LPs LXT2877, LW5116
LISZT Six Consolations S172
4. No. 1 in E major (2:08)
5. No. 2 in E major (4:00)
6. No. 3 in D flat major (4:47)
7. No. 4 in D flat major (4:05)
8. No. 5 in E major (2:42)
9. No. 6 in E major (4:23)
Duration 57:57
Peter Katin, piano
Bill Rosen's Review
PETER KATIN RECITAL SERIES
Franz Liszt is a
problematic composer. Probably the greatest musician of the 19th century
for his own transcendental technique, his influence on other composers,
his voluminous and selfless transcriptions of other composers' music,
and his advocacy of Wagner, Berlioz, Grieg and countless others, his own
ouevre is exceedingly large and varies wildly in quality. But even in
the least of his works Liszt imparts a romantic afflatus that combines
sentiment, virtuosity and an often pale but distinct lyricism. Because
Lizst possesses such virtuosity, many performers (even Horowitz and
Richter) stress the pianism to the detriment of the music, which can
sound superficial and fustian. The musical virtuosity must be mastered,
then subordinated to convey the larger musical idea.
Peter Katin,
an English pianist, known to me in a limited fashion for his
performances of Mendelssohn and Rachmaninoff, understands the way Liszt
should be played and has the virtuosity to do it. He has not had a
brilliant international career, but over and over again in the three
volumes below, I was impressed by his tremendous musicianship and also
by his virtuosity when needed. Most of all, he seems to be able to
subordinate his virtuosity to capture and convey the elusive Liszt
romantic ethos.
Liszt Recital #1: "Dante Sonata", 2 Polonaises, 6 Consolations (1953/4)
An
excellent example of Katin's ability is his playing of the "Dante"
Sonata. All those octaves, trills and bass rumblings are made to mean
something beautiful and coherent. There is no triple fortissimo banging.
The first Polonaise is much grimmer and leaner than Chopin , a very sad
piece of music. Katin conveys a spare bitterness that I have never
heard before. In the happier Polonaise #2, hear Katin's runs toward the
end of the piece as an example of Liszt playing at its best. The six
Consolations, which I have mostly considered as rather faded
sentimentality, are played with a tenderness and subtlety. In
particular, the third Consolation in D Flat Major now strikes me as
great music.
Liszt Recital #2: 3 Liebestraume, Rigoletto Paraphrase, Hungarian Rhapsodies #2,6,15 (1954)
Even
Peter Katin cannot quite rescue the first two Liebestraume from the
trunk in the attic, but his playing of number three is lovely,
transforming its slightly saccharine quality to lyricism. The Rigoletto
Paraphrase is gay and delightful. The supreme warhorse, the Hungarian
Rhapsody #2, is played so differently and so magnificently that it
almost defies description. The textures in the "Lassu" portion are very
lean and rapid. There is no grand, rhetorical lingering over each
phrase. The 'Friss" has an astounding drive that banishes all thoughts
of the circus. It must be heard. The Rhapsody #15, the Racoczy March
from Berlioz "Damnation of Faust", is again very tight but exciting.
Peter Katin-First Concert: Mendelssohn: Capriccio Brilliant, Rondo Brilliant; Lizst: Totentanz (LPO, Martinon) (1954)
No
better example of the difference between early and middle 19th century
romanticism and Katin's versatility could be provided. The Mendelssohn
are gentle, musing, elfin works. Katin plays them like a puff of breeze
and they retain their charms very well. The Totentanz is a vision of
Hell. The Katin opening octaves do not pound; they rattle hollowly in
the spare frame provided by the orchestra. There is occasional lyricism,
but the emphasis is on the dry skeletal bones scattered around some
lunar landscape bereft of love, life and hope. A frightening realization
of Liszt's demonic vision.
The sound is very detailed and clear, a great improvement over the original Decca LPs.
Reviewer: Bill Rosen
