Raul Koczalski Musique de chambre vol 3 Lacny Garwolinski - AP0510 - Acte Préalable

Acte Préalable continue son exploration de l’œuvre de Raul Koczalski avec ce nouveau volume consacré à sa musique pour violoncelle et piano (composée de deux sonates et d’une suite romanesque). Cette musique de grande qualité, extrêmement lyrique et frémissante, est interprétée par d’excellents musiciens servant ces œuvres avec engagement et conviction. Le jeu lyrique de Maciej Lacny est profond, conférant à la sonorité de son violoncelle une grande chaleur. Karol Garwolinski est un partenaire idéal au jeu équilibré et brillant qui n’écrase jamais son partenaire malgré l’écriture pourtant très pianistique de Koczalski. Ce dernier, de la génération des Fischer, Backhaus ou Schnabel fut un immense pianiste virtuose spécialiste de Chopin. Son style prend pour unique modèle le langage Chopinien dont les œuvres ici présentées se font l’écho (Sonate opus 65 – Introduction et Polonaise opus 3). Cette admiration est si exclusive que Koczalski compose une œuvre romantique semblant occulter toute l’évolution du langage du début du vingtième siècle (Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky, et même Szymanowski). Cela n’empêche nullement de trouver sa musique aussi délicieuse que remarquable, même si elle n’est guère novatrice. (Jean-Noël Regnier)

Raul Koczalski was a phenomenal piano virtuoso whose career began when he was still a child. He came from Warsaw, where he got his feet wet while exhibiting his unique talent, which was not exclusive to the piano. After these youthful performances he was often called the “Polish Mozart”, an accurate nickname since his first steps as a composer took place when he was only five years old. He was the so called “wonder child” of Polish pianism. As a young boy he incited amazement in the hearts of audiences around the world… except in Poland. In his homeland, renowned critics including J. Kleczynski and A. Polinski, were very sceptical about the performances of the young virtuoso. Research concerning Koczalski’s legacy revealed, that as a six year old he already possessed over 40 works of his own. He perfected his piano skills under the guidance of Anton Rubinstein and Karol Mikuli. By 1900 he had already performed around 1000 times, often playing his own compositions. Between 1903 and 1907 he reduced his virtuoso career in favour of a creative one. (...) As a composer Koczalski composed with great ease; despite his frequent concert travels he composed over 150 opus, covering every genre. Amongst them are stage works (his opera Raymond was very successful, and was performed 147 times in various European cities), symphonies, concertos, as well as a rich array of chamber music and piano solo works. Alas, a few were ever published.(...)