The Fantasie is so emotionally driven that it is almost willful, but it never gets out of control and is utterly convincing. There is a good deal of manipulation of tempi and dynamics for expressive reasons. It reminds me somewhat of a concert performance I once heard by Yuri Egourov, although it is much more virtuosic, and Lord knows that's needed in the treacherous second movement. I have one question, though: What is with the ending of the third movement? Cohen interpolates some harmonic changes and a short recap of the ending of the first movement into the ending of the third. I've never heard this done before and it certainly isn't what's printed in my Edition Peters score. I do know that Charles Rosen recorded some of Schumann's earlier versions of his piano music some years ago but never heard those recordings; could this be one of those variants? It makes no real difference in the long run; the performance is still one of the great ones. But the first time that variant ending sailed past my jaw dropped.
The Brahms starts properly, with chaste trills and runs, but by Variations 3 & 4 Cohen's Latin temperament begins coming out and, although it never gets out of hand, there is more heat and passion than one ordinarily hears in this piece. When appropriate he returns to the more neatly classic approach in the variations that require it (e.g. Var. 12). The overall effect is certainly exciting! At first I wasn't sure what to make of it, but as I listened again and again it came to feel right. I went back to recordings by people like Serkin and Brendel and they began sounding, well, tame. I think it comes down to the fact that many great pieces can tolerate widely differing interpretive approaches and it was nice to hear this one.
Schumann's Arabesque concludes this well-filled disc (TT=66mins.) and is rather more mainstream (although somewhat faster than usual) than the two big pieces. No matter; it is nicely done and a satisfying conclusion to the recital.
Arnaldo Cohen is clearly a major pianist. If I were in charge of things, I'd make sure he had major bookings and recordings. He deserves to be heard.
Finally, there is the amazingly low budget price of this CD. You really can't afford NOT to buy this one.
Highest recommendation.
Reviewed by Scott Morrison
I also enjoyed the other two compositions in the CD. In Brahms' Variations, Cohen displays a variety of tone colors. His interpretation of the score underlines the quasi-symphonic scope of this composition. I also like the juxtaposition of this piece with the first one - the light-hearted mood of this composition serves as a respite after the passion of the Fantasia. Schumann's delightful Arabesque then brings the excellent program to a close.
This is a CD that I return to again and again.
