132 CD / Pictures & Reflections

9 reviews for 132 CD / Pictures & Reflections

1. audio-activity.com – 15. October 2013

   --> original review

   Markus Schirmer, Austrian piano player and composer, is an experienced musician, even though his production is not so vast. He has worked with Gergiev, Marriner, Menhuin and Mackerras and he has a quite varied repertoire. Here, he is dealing with “Miroirs” by Ravel, a 1904 composition in 5 movements dedicated to 5 friends that belonged to a group of French impressionists called “Les Apaches”. Among the five compositions the most renown is “Alborada del Gracioso”, orchestrate by the same Ravel and played by different musicians. In the composition we find a dreamlike atmosphere but it also contains images and nervous and precise sounds that are also technically complex.
   The unabridged version of “Pictures”, the famous composition by Mussorgsky, born as a piano music and later orchestrated by Ravel, follows. Schmirner plays the piano with great ability, with expertise and expressiveness. With this Ravel's work, a comparison among the many available versions is inevitable. Here the touch is lighter if compared with that of Pogorelich, and the atmosphere is rarefied and dreamlike. Bydlo, for example, is executed with a certain rhythm and with a lesser, but more credible, dramatic nature. There is here a very agreeable romantic touch. It’s a very nice record, executed with great ability.
   As for the quality of the audio with Tacet there’s no possibility to get wrong. The piano Fazioli F-278 has been recorded in Graz in year 2004, in the Helmut-List-Halle. The recording is quite close but a couple of ambiance microphones, placed far from the piano, recreate a realistic atmosphere. The sound of the piano is slightly dimmed in the top range and very extended between the loudspeakers. I find that this solution is correct, since it’s just one instrument playing and if it wasn’t so, it would sound weird and annoying. Strongly recommended.
   Angelo Jasparro

2. klassik.com – 10. September 2006

   --> original review

   Markus Schirmer is a name to remember (...)

3. Klassik heute – 17. August 2005

   'Pictures & Reflections'—as Austrian pianist Markus Schirmer (or his producer, Andreas Spreer) aptly titles this Russian-French program combination. Perhaps the corresponding French motto would have captured the musical nuances more precisely, but here, understandable market considerations likely played a role. The second essential preliminary note concerns the performance history of this program. When Schirmer played this repertoire near Graz—a concert broadcast by Austrian Radio (ORF)—actor Wolfram Berger contributed significantly to the impact and even the understanding of Mussorgsky’s cycle with his carefully selected Russian texts. During that live performance, Schirmer seemed to me a touch more engaged, bolder in the stronger, even brutal passages. Since this sonically superb Tacet CD runs only 65 minutes, it might have been possible to incorporate some of that brilliant musico-literary concept into the 'studio' of Graz’s new Helmut-List-Halle. Enough preamble and gentle critique. Musically, Schirmer delivers a thoughtful, perhaps—under the influence of the parallel Ravel project—less Russian, more French-elegant interpretation of the Pictures exhibition, yet one that remains fully aligned with the work’s essential character definitions. He plays with measured force when the oxcart rumbles and restrained power in the finale, but without the chordal karate chops that have become fashionable in youthful competition-driven pianism. Schirmer’s version of Miroirs ranks, in my experience, among the softest, most contemplative—if you will, the most reflective—of the entire catalog. He favors indirect lighting, tones that seem painted rather than struck, and an Alborada del Gracioso that truly swings and gurgles 'grazioso' across the imaginary stage. Typically, the showpiece sections of this dance and behavioral study are used (and often abused) as tests of repetition and speed."
   Peter Cossé

4. Hessischer Rundfunk, CD des Tages – 14. July 2005

   "Pictures and Reflections"—that’s the title of our CD of the day, featuring Austrian pianist Markus Schirmer on the TACET label. The title, of course, primarily refers to the two great works on this recording: Mussorgsky’s "Pictures at an Exhibition" and Ravel’s "Miroirs" (Reflections). But it’s not just this inner connection that—linguistically speaking—unites "Pictures and Reflections." Both works share the charm of immersing moods in color, of telling episodes and stories. And Markus Schirmer has a knack for this. On the piano, he doesn’t just convey moods and stories in a way that lets you see them in your mind’s eye—he makes you feel them. Perhaps because his interpretation adopts a certain detached stance, one that invites you to step into it—as if you weren’t actively walking through an exhibition, but rather drifting and feeling your way through it in a dream.
   (...) Unlike the myriad existing recordings, what sets Schirmer’s approach apart is the significance he assigns to the "Promenade"—the strolling through the exhibition. "The Promenade, as a recurring element, is a clever and far-sighted way to bridge one moment to the next, to pave the way for a new perspective, a new event," Schirmer writes in the CD booklet. "The Promenade can also be seen as its own self-contained image. Sometimes, I think I perceive a cantor followed by a choir joining in… Perhaps that’s just my own personal sensation."
   (...) "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky—often heard in its orchestral version. Here, though, you might almost forget that a single person—Markus Schirmer—is sitting at the piano, so masterfully does he convey the mysterious atmosphere of the piece about the old castle through the possibilities of the grand piano. Throughout the entire work, he succeeds in creating nostalgia, melancholy, and a touch of longing with calm, balance, and an enormous palette of piano tones. His soft playing is a great art. Anyone who plays an instrument or sings knows how difficult it is to produce quiet music with substantial, bright tones while maintaining tension.
   (...) Markus Schirmer is a master of touch. With unobtrusive virtuosity, he makes even the softest tones sing, but he saves the dramatic effects for the dangerous wind and the surging waves of the sea, which the little boat defiantly withstands. Schirmer seems to know exactly when it’s worth stirring things up a bit—for example, when he performs on stage. There, the pianist from Graz is anything but reserved; compared to some of his colleagues, he knows how to present himself compellingly.
   (...) Schirmer’s interpretation of "Pictures at an Exhibition" is a thoughtfully structured dramatic unity. And it’s equally harmonious how he combines Mussorgsky’s Pictures with Ravel’s "Miroirs." He has recorded both works with sensitivity and fine nuance, continually capturing them from the perspective of a mysterious, distant observer.
   (...) Not to be forgotten is the recording quality and aesthetics that TACET provides with its affinity for classic tube microphone technology. All in all, this CD is a stroke of luck, and you should really take the time in a quiet hour to let all these musical images wash over you. For there is much to discover not only in Mussorgsky but also in Ravel’s "Miroirs"—for example, in the perhaps most famous piece of the cycle, later orchestrated by Ravel himself: "Alborada del Gracioso"—the fool’s morning song. It sounds as rough and guttural as the Spanish language itself, and as mysteriously rugged as some Spanish landscape—hard, rocky, and in fascinating colors.
   Claudia Dienst

5. Falter – 18. May 2005

   Graz-based pianist Markus Schirmer has paired Ravel’s "Miroirs" with Mussorgsky’s "Pictures at an Exhibition." While the album’s title, "Pictures & Reflections," might seem a bit contrived, the recording wins you over with its refined phrasing and rhythmic subtleties, Schirmer’s keen ear for the sonic potential of his Fazioli grand piano, and—last but not least—outstanding sound engineering.
   Carsten Fastner

6. News – 7. April 2005

   What more can be added to the qualitatively and quantitatively immeasurable performance history of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition? Something like the recording by Austrian pianist Markus Schirmer, without a doubt: bursting with chromatic sophistication yet monumental in its contours, remarkably plastic in its evocative power, and interpreted with such distinctiveness that its details linger long after—yet never in service of the (now even feuilleton-approved) pianistic vanity. The first half of this brilliant program is devoted to Ravel’s shimmering "Miroirs" (Mirrors). Enchanting.
   Heinz Sichrovsky

7. Kleine Zeitung – 3. April 2005

   Elegiac Undertones and Solemn Dignity
   Markus Schirmer Paints Vivid Pictures and Reflections
   Highest Rating: ★★★★★
   Strangely unreal, as if seen through a veil, "The Old Castle" emerges—the second of Modest Mussorgsky’s "Pictures at an Exhibition." Markus Schirmer conjures it before the listener’s mind’s eye as a fading echo of distant times, rendering it with elegiac undertones and taking his time to savor its melancholy.
   Shortly after his celebrated "styriarte" performance of Mussorgsky’s "Pictures at an Exhibition" and Maurice Ravel’s "Miroirs" (Reflections), the Graz-based piano virtuoso recorded both cycles in the summer of 2003 at the Helmut-List-Halle. Before TACET’s tube microphones, however, he did not simply replicate his concert interpretations. Instead, he opted for a deepened, more contemplative rendition, mastering Ravel’s sometimes daunting technical challenges with nonchalant elegance, casting aside virtuoso vanity in favor of precision and clarity, and often adopting deliberately broad tempos.
   With an exquisitely nuanced dynamic palette, Schirmer coaxes Mussorgsky’s cycle from the keys of his Fazioli grand piano, vibrant in color and strikingly three-dimensional. He lets "Bydło" roll with hefty power, while the chicks in "Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks" dance with featherlight grace. In "Goldenberg and Schmuyle", he avoids all caricature, and in the "Great Gate of Kiev", he eschews pomp, instead imbuing it with solemn dignity.
   Ernst Naredi-Rainer

8. hifi & records – 1. March 2005

   "The Graz piano sovereign" is a humorous audiophile who has always defended his label’s multichannel excursions. These "Pictures & Reflections" are set to circulate as a Hi-Res Disc this fall. But even on CD, TACET boss Andreas Spreer’s specialties are unmistakable—such as the excellent balance between direct sound and room reverb and the superb timbre of the Fazioli grand piano. Schirmer first presented this intriguing program in 2002 at Graz’s Helmut-List-Halle, renowned for its acoustics, and has now immortalized it. His "Pictures" performance is far removed from Pletnev’s relentless vitality or Kissin’s magnetic tightrope act. Instead, Schirmer traces the French and Russian images with finesse and irony: The little chicks in "Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks" don’t dance like "Duracell bunnies" (as he puts it), but wobble on unsteady legs through the notes, while the Gnome and the witch Baba Yaga receive nuanced portrayals, culminating in the magically illuminated catacombs. Particularly successful are the colorful plays in *"Miroirs",** which—pure and unadulterated, without orchestral gimmicks—come strikingly close to the listener. Highly recommended for sonorous piano demonstrations.
   Ludwig Flich

9. ORF-Magazin online – 1. January 2005

   Pictures and Reflections
   Markus Schirmer, one of Austria’s most successful pianists, has released a new CD. Following last year’s highly acclaimed Beethoven recording, Schirmer now turns to two iconic piano cycles under the title "Pictures & Reflections": Mussorgsky’s "Pictures at an Exhibition" and Ravel’s "Miroirs." With these masterworks, the Graz-based virtuoso has already captivated audiences at the styriarte festival.
   "I’m a Graz Institution"
   "Here in Graz, people know me—I’ve been a familiar face for many years. But of course, it would be wonderful if people who’ve never heard me in concert or on CD might pick up this ‘twelve-by-twelve-centimeter’ disc, listen to it, and be truly excited. There’s nothing more rewarding than that," says Schirmer.
   New, Exciting Facets
   Schirmer consistently uncovers fresh, thrilling dimensions in even the most familiar piano repertoire. With Ravel and Mussorgsky, listeners can expect new perspectives and sonic refinements—especially when bold interpretation meets ideal recording technique. The CD was recorded in Graz’s Helmut-List-Halle, with Schirmer performing on a Fazioli grand piano.
   A Unique Inspiration
   "The combination of the List-Halle and the Fazioli makes for a very special experience—it gives you a completely different kind of inspiration," Schirmer explains. For instance, "Pictures at an Exhibition" was recorded late at night. When they noticed the lights humming, they turned them all off.
   "Recorded in the Dark"
   "Imagine this huge hall completely dark, with just a tiny nightstand lamp by the piano—that’s the atmosphere in which I recorded the ‘Pictures.’ It was something truly special, and it’s a stroke of luck that the piano sound turned out so magnificently. The presence of the sound is incredible."
   The Quest for the Perfect Piano Sound
   Schirmer is constantly searching for recordings that capture the piano’s true essence. Unfortunately, few succeed—but this time, it worked. "I’m always looking for CDs that reflect the piano in the best possible way," he says.
   Returning to His Roots
   With Ravel’s "Miroirs"—a monumental challenge for any pianist—Schirmer revisits the early days of his career.
   "Drawing Everything Out of the Piano"
   "I worked on these pieces during my studies with my teacher Rudolf Kehrer. What we tried to do was simple: to bring out every possible sound from the piano. It was an exciting and slightly melancholic endeavor because Ravel’s ‘Miroirs’ was the very first piece I ever played in a piano recital—and that was 20 years ago."
   Numerous Prestigious Awards
   His Beethoven and Schubert recordings have already earned him major accolades, and he will soon receive the Karl Böhm Interpretation Prize. "You can never predict what will resonate. Sometimes you think something turned out particularly well, but it doesn’t find success, or you never expect an award, and then one comes. I never imagined I’d win the German Record Critics’ Award for my very first CD, the Schubert recording—that’s highly unusual for a debut," Schirmer reflects.
   No Resting on Laurels
   "But that’s not what matters. The most important thing is to go home after a performance, practice, and prepare again. If you rest on your laurels, nothing works anymore." With Ravel and Mussorgsky, Schirmer once again proves himself to be one of the most sensitive and exciting pianists of our time.