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| Decca (Full price) (CD) 410 009-2DH. From SXDL7552 (1/83). Also issued as (Cassette) 410 009-4DH. |
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The arrival of a Compact Disc some time after its LP version does give one the opportunity for more consideration of the performance. I do not want to detract at all seriously from the enthusiasm I showed when I first wrote about this recording in the January issue but as it came for review as long ago as November I have obviously had plenty of time to get to know it more intimately and one slight criticism has suggested itself. It is that I am now more conscious of Ashkenzay's frequent use of what is often called the agogic accent. 'Agogic' is a word I seldom use, since its meanings are several and the word is therefore imprecise; but it usually means a momentary hesitation before a note or chord, or a slight lingering on one. This is a perfectly legitimate weapon in a soloist's armoury, especially in Romantic music but it can become a mannerism if used excessively and once you become conscious of a mannerism it can be slightly tiresome. It does not worry me greatly as Ashkenazy uses it but I would not have minded if he had used it less.
All the same, I still think it a very fine performance, to the extent that I enjoy it enormously each time I hear it; and that alone would make me choose the CD version, for after only a few playings of my LP the surface is already slightly damaged, though I treat my records with the utmost care, and this is one I shall certainly want to enjoy very often, so that it is marvellous to sit back with the assurance that no extraneous noises will irritate me.
Opinions have differed about the quality of the piano tone but I find it perfectly good on both LP and CD. It has been suggested that the piano is poorly tuned (I understand that Ashkenazy had to use the 'resident' one in the Concertgebouw) but the moments of questionable tuning are fleeting and do not seriously detract from my overall pleasure. The LP sound was bright and clear. The CD is the same and slightly improves on the reproduction of the orchestra, giving it even more detail in the middle register: but the basic reason I should choose it is, as I said, because this is a version of the concerto I shall want to play very often, and my second thoughts on the playing should be read in conjunction with the splendid qualities I noted in my review of the LP disc.