Posted by Ross on November 02, 1998 at 23:36:01:
In Reply to: Nicolai Medtner - one of the greats of the century posted by Giacomo on October 22, 1998 at 17:43:13:
Why, yes, Giacomo, I do admire Medtner. His piano concertos are magnificent (try Tozer and Jarvi on Chandos; I also have a recording of Medtner himself performing the Second, on Testament). He was a good friend of Rachmaninoff, but did not share the romantic master's enthusiasm for "big" melodies. Granted, once you get inside Medtner's idiom he is hard to shake. The sonatas are haunting works. But I'm not sure he will ever be more than a "specialty" composer, of interest mostly to collectors and musicians (and maharajahs). This is not necessarily a criticism against Medtner. The rabble just enjoys a little vulgarity in their clics -- and Medtner has none of that!