Notes and Editorial Reviews
A great deal of John Ogdon’s commercial discography was given over to big Romantic and early twentieth-century music. By comparison the music of composers of the late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-centuries are fairly lightly represented so it’s good that BBC Legends have chosen works by Beethoven and Schubert for this release.
The present performance of the "Emperor" finds him in fine form and ably supported by Jascha Horenstein. The opening flourishes and tutti are strongly projected. I wondered for a second if they were too strongly projected but it soon became clear that this is of a piece with the approach to the work favoured here by both conductor and soloists.
Ogdon clearly conceives the
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music on an heroic scale. Inevitably there are a few minor bits of untidiness, such as one almost inevitably encounters in live performances. For me, the conviction of the playing more than carries the day. Ogdon is thoughtful and poetic in the slow movement and he receives sensitive support from Horenstein and his players. There’s vigour, verve and not a little bounce in the finale. Both pianist and orchestra play with strong rhythmic drive, greatly to the benefit of the music.
All in all this is a fine, spirited performance, which I much enjoyed.
The remainder of the disc comes from a studio recital given almost exactly three years later. Beethoven’s compressed, inventive set of variations receives a fine, enjoyable performance. I especially liked the more delicate passages where one senses pianistic power being held in reserve and, indeed, a degree of playfulness. The variations, and indeed the Schubert sonata benefit from a better recording than is the case in the concerto – there’s more space round the sound. I enjoyed Ogdon’s reading of these variations very much.
The Schubert sonata is, perhaps, marginally less successful. The powerful elements of the first movement come off well. However, I did wonder if at certain points in the movement, where Schubert relaxes, whether Ogdon relaxes to quite the same degree? The slow movement, not quite one of Schubert’s most interesting ones, sounds just a bit plain here. The music of the scampering finale is almost insouciant at times. The movement may be a little long for its material, especially when all repeats are given, but I think Ogdon does it pretty well. The music bowls along pretty irresistibly under his fingers.
Despite minor reservations about the Schubert – which not everyone will share – this is a most welcome disc. It is a fine souvenir of a much-missed artist and a valuable extension to his discography. There’s a good note about John Ogden by Jeremy Siepmann, though I wish it had been set in type that is easier to read. I’m happy to recommend this CD.
– MusicWeb International (John Quinn) Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Concerto for Piano no 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor" by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
John Ogdon (Piano)
Conductor:
Jascha Horenstein
Orchestra/Ensemble:
BBC Northern Symphony
Period: Classical
Written: 1809; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 01/21/1969
Venue: Live Festhalle, Viersen, Germany
Length: 29 Minutes 25 Secs.
Notes: This selection is a mono recording.
2.
Sonata for Piano in C minor, D 958 by Franz Schubert
Performer:
John Ogdon (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1828; Vienna, Austria
Date of Recording: 01/23/1972
Venue: BBC Studios, Maida Vale, London, UK
Length: 26 Minutes 35 Secs.
Notes: This selection is a stereo recording.
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