Around the turn of the century Dohnanyi was considered the greatest Hungarian pianist-composer after Liszt. Today most of his works are forgotten. He was certainly a formidable pianist – he achieved a notable reputation in Europe and North America, and the demands of his piano works reveal his own technical abilities – but his compositional output is uneven. Nevertheless, his best works, including chamber music, the Six Concert Etudes for piano, two piano concertos and the popular Variations on a Nursery Theme, deserve more recognition, and promotion like this is both welcome and enterprising.
The works on this volume, the second in Annette Servadei’s promised complete survey largely continue chronologically from Vol. 1 (5/95). These are works from Dohnanyi’s early maturity, when he had established himself as a concert pianist and his compositional talent had won the acclaim of Brahms. The Four Rhapsodies form a sonata-like whole with some thematic integration, although without sufficient contrast in mood and pianistic texture. They are also occasionally rather derivative in their Brahmsian influence. Servadei’s performances are well-shaped, with an attractive and softly focused tone, although her sound lacks variety and colouristic nuance. The Pastorale, with its drones of bare fifths and melodic characteristics of Hungarian folk music, is more inventive and is persuasively played. The ten bagatelles which constitute Winterreigen are Schumannesque miniatures, which Servadei plays with graceful charm and beauty. She never quite makes the piano sing, but her natural poise and phrasing go some way to compensate. The recording is acceptable, if a little claustrophobic. Overall this is a disc to dip into rather than listen to in one sitting.'