Review by Piotr Anderszewski – Works by Bartok, Janacek, and Szymanowski

Piotr Anderszewski recorded the second, lesser-known part of Leoš Janáček's suite “On the Overgrown Path”. He is particularly interested in contrasts. Here the lyrical, there the strict. Especially in the second piece, the middle section looks like it's chiseled. Agitation, above all: completely unemotional. Anderszewski's struggle also shows in his choice of pace. He always plays a little slower where many of his teammates move faster – and vice versa. Even with Béla Bartók's Bagatelles, he knows exactly what he wants, but the result is often a very personal, very deliberate touch. Too isolated, too cerebral? Perhaps so, but what is compelling is the way Andrzejski captures the contemplative moment in Karol Szymanowski's Mazurkas. We hear something like meta mazurks, where dance, sadness, fantasy and rebellion are combined.

Bartok: Bagatelle, op. 6/1-14, Janacek: On an Overgrown Road, Szymanowski: Mazurkas, op. 50 (selection)

Piotr Andrzejski (piano)
Warner Classics

Piotr Andrzewski

When it comes to the quality of his piano playing, the Polish-Hungarian pianist Piotr Andrzejski is uncritical – a trait that helped him achieve his international breakthrough in an unusual way: in 1990 he participated in…Continue