Volume six of Naxos’ Benno Moiseiwitsch survey features Delius’ rarely heard piano concerto in a 1946 recording, with the pianist on top form. Moiseiwitsch’s flair for coaxing silky nuances from all ends of the keyboard perfectly suits Delius’ sensual harmonic language and rhapsodic idiom. Constant Lambert’s limber support is a major asset, with Walter Legge’s newly formed Philharmonia orchestra giving its all. The original sonics are quite vivid for their time and sound better than ever via Ward Marston’s clean and clear transfer.
Solo works by other 20th century composers fill out the disc. Debussy’s Jardins sous la pluie and Toccata get bracing, colorful, yet utterly relaxed readings, as do Ravel’s Toccata and Jeux d’eau. Few other pianists have made Stravinsky’s tricky F-sharp Etude (Op. 7 No. 4) or Godowsky’s Fledermaus Paraphrase appear easy to play, or Prokofiev’s Suggestion Diobolique sound less notey and steel-edged. Similarly, Moiseiwitsch insouciantly tosses off Abram Chasins’ once-popular-now-kitschy Flirtation in a Chinese Garden and Rush Hour in Hong Kong, and plays Vallier’s little Toccata with tremendous verve and polish. And for Moiseiwitsch’s lyrical poetry and aristocratic proportion in gentle swing, listen to the pair of Granados Spanish Dances, plus the lovely short works by Poulenc, Ibert, and Palmgren. Certain solo selections benefit from brighter or quieter transfers elsewhere (the former on Pearl, the latter on Testament), but if you’ve been collecting this series, don’t stop now!
