Johannes Brahms (1883-1897)
Hungarian Dances and the Hungarian Tradition
Adrienn Miksch (soprano), János Bándi (tenor), Ferenc Szecsődi (violin), Szilvia Elek, István Kassai (fortepiano, piano)
rec. 2019/2021, Music Chapel, Vámosszabadi, Hungary & Hungaroton Rottebiller Street Studio, Budapest, Hungary
Naxos 8.574424-25 [2 CDs: 151]
This recording appears to be the labour of love of two distinguished Hungarian pianists Szilvia Elek and István Kassai. It shows. Their enthusiasm for the music is palpable. Their enjoyment shines through. They perform with gusto and style.
As stated on the Naxos website, Szilvia Elek graduated from the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. She also studied composition, piano, chamber music and harpsichord with various distinguished teachers in Hungary. Additionally she studied fortepiano with Malcolm Bilson in the United States and harpsichord with Jos van Immerseel in Belgium. She plays the piano, harpsichord and fortepiano and performs regularly in Europe, the United States and Japan. Her repertoire ranges from early Baroque to contemporary and chamber music. She was a member of the renowned Cristofori Trio and also performed with Anikó Horváth. At present she is the four-hand piano partner of István Kassai. Elek has released several solo and chamber music recordings. She is a teacher at the Béla Bartók Conservatory of Music and the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music.
From his own website one can learn that István Kassai is also a graduate of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. A couple of years after his graduation he obtained a second diploma at the Conservatoire Européen de Musique. Kassai is a celebrated and talented pianist, as well as an expert in Hungarian music. He has been recognised with various prestigious national (in Hungary) and international awards and has been a member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts since 2013. He has completed many recordings, some with critical acclaim, of the complete piano works of Bloch, Erkel, Hubay, Mosonyi and Weiner for Marco Polo, Hungaroton and Naxos. Additionally he has written and published a wide variety of articles and studies about music, as well as editing and revising various volumes of sheet music.
According to Kassai’s own words in the CD booklet, this compilation of Brahms’s Hungarian Dances and traditional Hungarian music as well as music by Hungarian composers was the idea of pianist Szilvia Elek who collaborates with him in this recording.
It is a disc full of joy. The piano playing by Elek and Kassai is second to none, with very fine, delicate and subtle interpretations when the music calls for it. Or as is the case in track 17 of disc 1 (Brahms’s Hungarian Dance No. 5 in F sharp major – arguably his most famous), their delivery is vibrant, vivacious and full of energy. The alternation between Brahms’s various Hungarian Dances, some traditional Hungarian melodies and songs, as well as short compositions by little known Hungarian composers was a good idea and gives the listener much to enjoy.
The singing though not the recording’s essence is very fine too. Tenor János Bándi has a warm tone and an attractive, fresh melodious line, resulting in a tender legato. Very pleasant to listen to. Ferenc Miksch has a crystalline soprano with easy high notes. She is not screechy, her tone is clear and she delivers her pieces with obvious enthusiasm. Her vibrato could be improved, as there’s a slight wobble on a couple of her interventions. On the whole the singing is satisfying and rather pretty, especially Miksch’s duets with tenor Bándi that are particularly lovely.
Ferenc Szecsődi, the violinist, is also outstanding. He, alongside the singers and the pianists perform the music with passion and energetic involvement. The performances of Brahms’s music in particular are spirited. The sequence of Brahms’s music alternating with traditional folk themes and songs helps the listener to better understand Brahms’s sources and his exposure to Hungarian music.
I liked the singers and the violinist very much. All three are supreme musicians but there is no denying that the stars of the recording are the pianos, played beautifully and with excellence by the two pianists – Elek and Kassai.
The CD booklet is informative and interesting to read with detailed notes on Brahms’s sources and the historical background to the composer, his music and Hungarian influences. The information effectively complements the music as you listen to it. I’d recommend reading before playing the CD and then a second time as you move along. The booklet also contains a detailed track of the pieces, short biographies of all the musicians and singers involved in the recording, as well as brief testimonies by pianists Elek and Kassai. It is only in English.
I enjoyed this recording very much and think it is a delight from beginning to end. It leaves you with a smile on your face and a sense of joy and beauty in your heart. The music is gorgeous and fun. The performances appealing, charming and of excellent quality. It is a smashing antidote to the horrors currently happening in the world and that, in my opinion, is to be cherished. In conclusion, I would strongly recommend it.
Margarida Mota-Bull
Margarida writes more than just reviews – see Flowingprose.com
Previous review: Stephen Barber (December 2023)
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Contents
Elemér Szentirmay (né János Németh) (1836-1908)
Édes titkok (‘Sweet Secrets’)
Tiz pár csókot egyvégbül (‘Ten Pairs of Kisses All in One”) (Text: Sándor Petőfi (1823-1856])
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G minor
Hungarian Dance No. 2 in D minor
Hungarian Dance No. 3 in F major
Hungarian Dance No. 4 in F minor
Hungarian Dance No. 5 in F sharp minor
Hungarian Dance No. 6 in D flat major
Hungarian Dance No. 7 in A major
Hungarian Dance No. 8 in A minor
Hungarian Dance No. 9 in E minor
Hungarian Dance No. 10 in E major
Hungarian Dance No. 11 in D minor
Hungarian Dance No. 12 in D minor
Hungarian Dance No. 13 in D major
Hungarian Dance No. 14 in D minor
Hungarian Dance No. 15 in B flat major
Hungarian Dance No. 16 in F minor
Miska Borzó (1800-18597)
Maros vize folyik csendesen (‘The River Maros Flows Softly’) (Text: Trad) (arr. Gyula Káldy [1838-1901])
Isteni csárdás: Hattyú hangok Borzó Miskától (“Divine Csardas: Swan Song by Miska Borzó’) (arr. Ottó Petényi [1837-1903])
Józsi Csillag (active 1860s-70s)
Keglevich nóta (‘Keglevich Song’)
Béla Kéler (1820-1882)
Bártfai emlék, Csárdás, Op. 31 (‘Souvenir of Bártfa’)
Traditional
Uccu bizony, megérett a káka (‘Come, the Rush is Well Ripen’) (Text: Trad) (arr. I. Bognár)
Azt szokták szememre vetni (‘People Say I am Too Young to Love’) (Text: Trad.) (arr. Ignác Bognár [1810-1883])
Tolnai lakodalmas (‘Wedding Dance from Tolna’) (arr. József Riszner [1824-1891])
Csillag elég ragyog… (‘Starry Sky…’) (Text: Traditional) (arr. N. Mérty)
Be szép a katona (‘How Nice a Soldier Is’) (Text: Traditional) (arr. Béni Egressy [1814-1851])
Nem vagyok én szerelmes (‘I am Not in Love’) 0:36 (Text: Traditional) (arr. Aladár Tisza [Viktor Langer] [1842-1902])
Ne, ne büsulį (‘Do Not Be Sad’) (Text: Traditional) (arr. 1. Bognár)
Barna legény (‘Brown Lad”) (Text: Traditional) (arr. Elek Erkel [1843-1893])
Van-e a korsóban… (‘Is There Anything in this Wine Jar?’) (Text: Traditional) (arr. 1. Bognár)
Magyar tánc in D minor (‘Hungarian Dance’)
Mór Windt (active 1850s-60s)
Emma csárdás
Miklós Konkoly-Thege (1842-1916)
18 Egri csárdás (‘Eger Csárdás’)
Ferenc Patikárus (1827-1870)
20 Bárándi emlék: Lassú I-II – Friss I-II (‘Souvenir of Báránd’)
Ede Reményi (1828-1898)
Allegro Ungharese
Friss
Nándor Mérty (1820?-1889?)
Kalocsai emlék (‘Souvenir of Kalocsa’)
Ignác Frank (1824-1897)
Lujza csárdás (‘Louise Csárdás’)
János Travnyik (1818-1864)
Makól csárdás (‘Csárdás from Makó’)
Károly Patikárus? (1827-1858)/ Ede Bartay (1825-1901)
Morog a brugó (‘The Double Bass is Grumbling)
László Zimay (1833-1900)
Édes rózsám (‘My Sweet Rose’) (Text: László Losonczy [1812-1879])
Béni Egressy (1814-1851)
Abránd (‘Fantasy’) Hej, haj, magyar ember (“Hey, Hey, Hungarians’) (Text: Imre Vahot?, 1820-1879) (arr. 1. Bognár)
Ferenc Bunkó (1813/14-1889/91) 4)
karancsal palóc nóta (’13 Palóc Tunes from Karancsalja”) – No. 7 in D minor
1713 karancsai palóc nóta (’13 Palóc Tunes from Karancsalja’) – No. 5 in D major
1913 karancsai palóc nóta (’13 Palóc Tunes from Karancsalja’) – No. 3 in A minor
József Szerdahelyi (1804-1851)
Tánc (‘Dance’) from the play Csikós (‘The Horse Herdsman”) (arr. Anon.)
