Ignacy Paderewski’s Piano Concerto belongs with the finest works of Romantic nationalism, right up there with the similar works of Grieg, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninov. The reasons for its comparative neglect are simply unfathomable: it has great tunes, is very well orchestrated, and sounds like a blast to play. The Polish Fantasy is equally attractive, and would make a very welcome change of pace in concert from the endless parade of Paganini Rhapsodies and other such warhorses. The principal competition for this new release comes from Koch, where Eva Kupiec and conductor Hugh Wolff turn in lyrical, affecting performances of both works (there’s also a Hyperion disc that I find comparatively uninteresting). Janina Fialkowska has more steel in her tone, and plays both works with less “Chopin” and more “Prokofiev” than her compatriot, and this suits the music, which is vintage turn-of-the-century stuff, very well. I find her approach particularly compelling in the finale of the concerto where her firm articulation and slightly more relaxed tempo gives the music more strength of purpose and direction than does Kupiec. Naxos also includes a bonus in the form of the rarely heard Overture, and Antoni Wit’s conducting is easily as fine as Wolff’s. My one reservation concerns the recording: the tone of piano becomes somewhat clattery in the keyboard’s upper octaves, and this is particularly noticeable in the final measures of the concerto’s outer movements, where Paderewski really piles on the treble. It’s a small drawback in what is otherwise a highly recommendable enterprise. [1/19/2000]
