Melchers: Piano Concertos

[Ilja]

Out now, from Ondine: both of Henrik Melcher Melchers' Piano Concertos: The first in C minor from 1923 and the second in C major from 1931. Played rather excellently by Peter Jablonski (of Raff PC fame*) with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Christian Reif.

The booklet stresses the French influences in Melchers' music, particularly Franck and d'Indy. After a first listen, however, I also hear more modern sources of inspiration, from the likes of Ravel and perhaps even Roussel. Add Rachmaninov to that, whose influence is particularly palpable during the opening movement of the first concerto and in the overall structure of both works. Rather unique works that do not fit the "Nordic" template all that much; thoughtful and delicate with some powerful moments, presented in convincing performance. Lovely stuff.

* I misremembered: that was Peter Aronsky, not Jablonski.

[Mark Thomas]

I guess it's no surprise that Melchers' two concertos have a distinctly Gallic flavour, considering how long he lived in France. It's a recording premiere for No.1, which turns out to be an intriguing and rather individual work, with its rhapsodic opening movement. Indeed, it's perhaps less conventional than No.2, which betrays the Rachmaninov influence and Melchers' Nordic origins rather more clearly. Stylistically, both are a mite old-fashioned for their time (not a bad thing) and receive excellent performances.