It’s sad that these pieces aren’t performed more often; even the delicious Variations seems to have fallen by the wayside. Ernö von Dohnányi was a marvelous composer, one of the few with a genuine musical sense of humor, and God only knows how rare that is. The Variations start with one of the great anti-climaxes in all of Romantic orchestral music, while the finale of the Suite has a delightful episode in which a fit of Spanish bravura (played here with great élan) suddenly breaks out, castanets and all. Symphonic Minutes might not be enticingly named, but the music offers a quarter hour of pure pleasure.
JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic play this music really well, and they are lucky to have a piano soloist in Eldar Nebolsin more than up to the formidable task that Dohnányi sets for him. The etude-like variation for piano and winds moves with effortless virtuosity and excellent balances between solo and orchestra, while the “Sorcerer’s Apprentice meets Danse macabre” variation features some true, humorously grotesque moments (great bassoons). It all builds to an impressively passionate climax leading to the brilliant final fugue. As already mentioned, Falletta handles the Suite with plenty of character. Both here and in Symphonic Minutes the orchestra projects the music’s vivid colors with unaffected clarity. Very good sound too. An excellent disc from every perspective.
