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Jon Nakamatsu’s So-So Schumann

Jed Distler

Artistic Quality:

Sound Quality:

In the 17 years since his 1997 Van Cliburn International Competition victory, Jon Nakamatsu’s Harmonia Mundi releases have ranged from brilliant (his Gershwin and Foss concertos) to workaday (the solo Liszt, Chopin, and Brahms releases). Both of these qualities characterize Nakamatsu’s Schumann recital.

The pianist brings welcome diversity, variety of articulation, and expressive flexibility to the busy and crowded keyboard textures of the G minor sonata’s outer movements, and keeps the Andante’s slow-motion cantabile afloat, albeit not to Argerich’s shimmering reference standard. In the Scherzo Nakamatsu strikes a good balance between Uchida’s measured steadiness and Argerich’s surging momentum.

The Papillons and Carnaval performances are far less persuasive. In Papillons, for example, No. 4’s dotted rhythms really take wing (prodded by deliciously accented arpeggiated chords in the left hand) while No. 3’s freeze-framed sternness and a literal, square, and prosaic reading of the finale’s last page couldn’t be more earthbound. And Carnaval’s colorful, diverse party guests show up as wallflowers. Where is the Préambule’s giddy forward drive? Why do Valse noble’s bass lines wilt with deference rather than proudly take the lead? Why is Pierrot so heavy and humorless? Why do Replique’s laughing right-hand embellishments die on the vine? Paganini is quick(ish) and accurate, but why downplay the syncopated cross-rhythms that are so essential to the music’s character? The Chopin movement swoons out of shape, while Aveu is no less languid. Nakamatsu’s briskly paced finale makes up for lost time but lacks sufficient dynamism and crispness. In short, only Nakamatsu’s Schumann G minor sonata can be considered competitive.


Recording Details:

Reference Recording: Op. 22: Argerich (DG); Op. 2: Kempff (DG), Perahia (Sony); Op. 9: Rubinstein (RCA), Freire (Decca)

  • SCHUMANN, ROBERT:
    Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor Op. 22; Papillons Op. 2; Carnaval Op. 9

    Soloists: Jon Nakamatsu (piano)

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