Stephen Kovacevich - The Complete Philips Recordings [25CD imited Edition Box Set] (2015)

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Artist:
Title: The Complete Philips Recordings
Year Of Release: 2015
Label: Decca [4788662]
Genre: Classical
Quality: 320 kbps / FLAC (tracks+cue, log, scans)
Total Time: 21:54:53
Total Size: 2.96 gb / 4.86 gb
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The 21-year-old Stephen Kovacevich first attracted serious attention in 1961 with a debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall that included Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. Seven years later he launched a fruitful 15-year association with Philips. Kovacevich’s entire output for the label is gathered together in this boxed set and repackaged in original-jacket facsimiles.

It begins, appropriately enough, with the Diabelli Variations. At first Kovacevich’s studied and straightforward precision might strike listeners as slick or cerebral, yet the music’s dramatic arc and dynamism assiduously reveal themselves as the interpretation takes wing, cumulating in a furiously pent-up Fugue (sound clip) that gently decompresses as the concluding Menuetto settles in. Forty years later Kovacevich would deliver a looser-knit, more expressively potent remake, yet his Philips traversal proudly stands the test of time.

The eight Beethoven sonatas Kovacevich set down for Philips largely convey a taut, crisp, buttoned-down demeanor that differs from the edgier remakes in his complete EMI Beethoven cycle. Steel-edged precision and flexibility cogently fuse in the Op. 13 “Pathétique”, while clear voicing and carefully considered tempo relationships distinguish Op. 110’s tricky-to-unify fugal finale. Kovacevich’s “Tempest” Adagio proves oddly bland when considered alongside his virile outer movements. He follows the first movement’s controversial long pedal markings to a tee, but for some reason reads measure 37’s A and C to be E and A. In the finale, one of the two identical bars 159 and 160 is missing; was this elision a tape splicing error or the pianist’s inadvertent omission?

Rehearing the Beethoven concertos with Colin Davis, I still don’t respond to Kovacevich’s objective, somewhat cool demeanor, which, however, loosens up for a poetically responsive Fourth. Conversely, a 1972 all-Chopin disc constitutes one of this collection’s high points. Kovacevich is not afraid to probe the music’s potential for emotional extremes, from his hushed, achingly drawn-out Op. 59 No. 2 F minor Mazurka to the Polonaise-Fantasie’s jolting climaxes.

Five Mozart concertos showcase the young(ish) Colin Davis’ urbane, stylish way with this composer, in contrast to Kovacevich’s scaling back of the piano writing and his over-fondness for feminine endings. As for the Schumann/Grieg concerto coupling, I’ve never understood why these tired, workaday readings continue to be lauded by my British colleagues. Yet it’s easy to hear how Kovacevich’s idiomatic and vividly detailed Bartók concertos stood their reference ground until the Kocsis/Fischer cycle came along.

When Kovacevich’s recording of Richard Rodney Bennett’s First Piano Concerto appeared for the first time on CD, I wondered why this meaty, orchestrally shimmering four-movement work hasn’t attracted a bigger following. It’s a brilliant example of the composer’s youthful, neo-classic serialism at its most communicative. The Kovacevich/Argerich Bartók, Debussy, and Mozart two-piano collaborations need little commentary, and in any event have been reissued to death.

For me, Kovacevich clicked deepest with Brahms during his Philips tenure. Despite congestion in loud tuttis and an over-prominent piano in the mix, the two concertos are lean and line oriented vis-à-vis Szell/Serkin or Szell/Fleisher, with particularly full-throated brass. Kovacevich would eventually free up the slow movements with darker, more personalized phrasing in his early-’90s remakes with Sawallisch, but the intensely focused and well-thought-out Philips versions command attention. In contrast to his forthright and headlong EMI Handel Variations (long out of print, unfortunately), Kovacevich’s earlier Philips reading leaves more space between sections and allows for more lyrical breadth in slower variations.

Dozens of fascinating details permeate the short pieces. For example, Kovacevich lays into the dissonances in Op. 116 No. 5’s loping two-beat phrases, brings a march-like insistence to the central triplets in the “Edward” D minor Ballade Op. 10 No. 1, and conversely imbues the oft-played Op. 76 No. 2 B minor Capriccio with brisk, offhanded simplicity. Sonically speaking, the 1968 Op. 117 and 119 groups have greater warmth and body next to their slightly hollow sounding 1983 counterparts, which are a shade more personalized and diversely textured. To give a few examples: Op. 117 No. 2 benefits from the remake’s increased animation and flexibility, while the second Op. 119 No. 4’s propulsive bass notes gain noticeable urgency.

David Cairns, who worked in Philips’ A&R department during Kovacevich’s years at the label, contributes an affectionate and informative essay. Although Kovacevich’s artistry has ripened and intensified beyond the scope of his Philips years, his best work for the label deserves nothing less than respect and consideration.

:: TRACKLIST ::

Disc 1
01. Tema (Vivace) - Variation I (Alla Marcia Maestoso)
02. Variation II (Poco Allegro)
03. Variation III (L'istesso Tempo)
04. Variation IV (Un Poco Pi Vivace)
05. Variation V (Allegro Vivace)
06. Variation VI (Allegro Ma Non Troppo E Serioso)
07. Variation VII (Un Poco Pi Allegro)
08. Variation VIII (Poco Vivace)
09. Variation IX (Allegro Pesante E Risoluto)
10. Variation X (Presto)
11. Variation XI (Allegretto)
12. Variation XII (Un Poco Pi Moto)
13. Variation XIII (Vivace)
14. Variation XIV (Grave E Maestoso)
15. Variation XV (Presto Scherzando)
16. Variation XVI (Allegro)
17. Variation XVII
18. Variation XVIII (Poco Moderato)
19. Variation XIX (Presto)
20. Variation XX (Andante)
21. Variation XXI (Allegro Con Brio - Meno Allegro - Tempo I)
22. Variation XXII (Allegro Molto): Alla "Notte E Giorno Faticar" Di Mozart
23. Variation XXIII (Allegro Assai)
24. Variation XXIV: Fughetta (Andante)
25. Variation XXV (Allegro)
26. Variation XXVI
27. Variation XXVII (Vivace)
28. Variation XXVIII (Allegro)
29. Variation XXIX (Adagio Ma Non Troppo)
30. Variation XXX (Andante, Sempre Cantabile)
31. Variation XXXI (Largo, Molto Espressivo)
32. Variation XXXII: Fuga (Allegro - Poco Adagio)
33. Variation XXXIII (Tempo Di Minuetto Moderato, Ma Non Tirarsi Dietro)

Disc 2
01. 1. Allegro Con Brio - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Largo - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Rondo (Allegro Scherzando) - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
04. 1. Allegro Molto E Con Brio
05. 2. Adagio Molto
06. 3. Finale (Prestissimo)

Disc 3
01. 1. Allegro Con Brio - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Adagio - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Rondo (Molto Allegro) - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
04. 1. Allegro Moderato - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
05. 2. Andante Con Moto - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
06. 3. Rondo (Vivace) - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

Disc 4
01. 1. Allegro Con Brio - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Largo - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Rondo (Allegro) - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
04. 1. Grave - Allegro Di Molto E Con Brio
05. 2. Adagio Cantabile
06. 3. Rondo (Allegro)

Disc 5
01. 1. Allegro - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Adagio Un Poco Mosso - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Rondo (Allegro) - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

Disc 6
01. 1. Etwas Lebhaft Und Mit Der Innigsten Empfindung (Allegretto Ma Non Troppo)
02. 2. Lebhaft, Marschmig (Vivace Alla Marcia)
03. 3. Langsam Und Sehnsuchtsvoll (Adagio Ma Non Troppo, Con Affetto)
04. 4. Geschwind, Doch Nicht Zu Sehr Und Mit Entschlossen- Heit (Allegro)
05. 1. Vivace, Ma Non Troppo - Adagio Espressivo - Tempo I
06. 2. Prestissimo
07. 3. Gesangvoll, Mit Innigster Empfindung (Andante Molto Cantabile Ed Espressivo)

Disc 7
01. 1. Moderato Cantabile Molto Espressivo
02. 2. Allegro Molto
03. 3. Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Fuga (Allegro Ma Non Troppo)
04. 1. Maestoso - Allegro Con Brio Ed Appassionato
05. 2. Arietta (Adagio Molto Semplice E Cantabile)

Disc 8
01. 1. Largo - Allegro
02. 2. Adagio
03. 3. Allegretto
04. 1. Allegro
05. 2. Scherzo (Allegretto Vivace)
06. 3. Menuetto (Moderato E Grazioso)
07. 4. Presto Con Fuoco

Disc 9
01. 1. Andante Grazioso, Quasi Allegretto
02. 2. Scherzo (Allegro)
03. 3. Allegretto
04. 4. Andante
05. 5. Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
06. 6. Allegretto Quasi Andante
07. 7. Presto
08. 1. Allegretto
09. 2. Andante Con Moto
10. 3. L'allemande
11. 4. Andante Cantabile
12. 5. Risoluto
13. 6. Andante - Allegretto Leggiermente
14. 7. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
15. 8. Moderato Cantabile
16. 9. Vivace Moderato
17. 10. Allegramente
18. 11. Andante, Ma Non Troppo
19. 1. Andante Con Moto
20. 2. Allegro
21. 3. Andante
22. 4. Presto
23. 5. Quasi Allegretto
24. 6. Presto - Andante Amabile E Con Moto

Disc 10
01. Polonaise No.7 in a Flat, Op.61 Polonaise-Fantaisie
02. Impromptu No.3 in G Flat, Op.51
03. Mazurka No.39 in B Op.63 No.1
04. Mazurka No.40 in F Minor Op.63 No.2
05. Mazurka No.41 in C Sharp Minor Op.63 No.3
06. Barcarolle in F Sharp Major, Op.60
07. Nocturne No.17 in B, Op.62 No.1
08. Nocturne No.18 in E, Op.62 No.2

Disc 11
01. 1. Allegro, Ma Non Tanto - Stephen Kovacevich, Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet
02. 2. Dumka (Andante Con Moto) - Stephen Kovacevich, Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet
03. 3. Scherzo (Furiant) (Molto Vivace) - Stephen Kovacevich, Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet
04. 4. Finale (Allegro) - Stephen Kovacevich, Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet
05. 1. Allegro Non Tanto - Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet
06. 2. Allegro Vivo - Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet
07. 3. Larghetto - Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet
08. 4. Finale (Allegro Giusto) - Members of the Berlin Philharmonic Octet
09. 1. Andante - Stephen Kovacevich, Jack Brymer, Patrick Ireland
10. 2. Menuetto & Trio - Stephen Kovacevich, Jack Brymer, Patrick Ireland
11. 3. Rondeau (Allegretto) - Stephen Kovacevich, Jack Brymer, Patrick Ireland

Disc 12
01. 1. Maestoso - Poco Pi Moderato - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Adagio - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Rondo (Allegro Non Troppo) - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

Disc 13
01. 1. Allegro Non Troppo - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Allegro Appassionato - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Andante - Pi Adagio - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
04. 4. Allegretto Grazioso - Un Poco Pi Presto - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

Disc 14
01. Scherzo in E Flat Minor, Op.4
02. No.1 in D Minor
03. No.2 in D
04. No.3 in B Minor
05. No.4 in B
06. 1. Capriccio in F Sharp Minor
07. 2. Capriccio in B Minor
08. 3. Intermezzo in a Flat
09. 4. Intermezzo in B Flat
10. 5. Capriccio in C Sharp Minor
11. 6. Intermezzo in a
12. 7. Intermezzo in a Minor
13. 8. Capriccio in C

Disc 15
01. 1. Capriccio in D Minor
02. 2. Intermezzo in a Minor
03. 3. Capriccio in G Minor
04. 4. Intermezzo in E Major
05. 5. Intermezzo in E Minor
06. 6. Intermezzo in E Major
07. 7. Capriccio in D Minor
08. 1. in E Flat Major
09. 2. in B Flat Minor
10. 3. in C Sharp Minor
11. 1. Intermezzo in B Minor
12. 2. Intermezzo in E Minor
13. 3. Intermezzo in C Major
14. 4. Rhapsody in E Flat Major

Disc 16
01. Aria
02. Variation I
03. Variation II
04. Variation III
05. Variation IV
06. Variation V
07. Variation VI
08. Variation VII
09. Variation VIII
10. Variation IX
11. Variation X
12. Variation XI
13. Variation XII
14. Variation XIII
15. Variation XIV
16. Variation XV
17. Variation XVI
18. Variation XVII
19. Variation XVIII
20. Variation XIX
21. Variation XX
22. Variation XXI
23. Variation XXII
24. Variation XXIII
25. Variation XXIV
26. Variation XXV
27. Fuga
28. 1. Intermezzo in B Minor
29. 2. Intermezzo in E Minor
30. 3. Intermezzo in C
31. 4. Rhapsody in E Flat
32. 1. in E Flat Major
33. 2. in B Flat Minor
34. 3. in C Sharp Minor

Disc 17
01. Rhapsody in B Minor, Op.79, No.1
02. Rhapsody in G Minor, Op.79, No.2
03. 1. in B Major
04. 2. in E Major
05. 3. in G Sharp Minor
06. 4. in E Minor
07. 5. in E Major
08. 6. in C Sharp Major
09. 7. in C Sharp Minor
10. 8. in B Flat Major
11. 9. in D Minor
12. 10. in G Major
13. 11. in B Minor
14. 12. in E Major
15. 13. in B Major
16. 14. in G Sharp Minor
17. 15. in a Flat Major
18. 16. in C Sharp Minor
19. 1. Intermezzo in a Minor
20. 2. Intermezzo in a Major
21. 3. Ballade in G Minor
22. 4. Intermezzo in F Minor
23. 5. Romance in F Major
24. 6. Intermezzo in E Flat Minor

Disc 18
01. 1. Allegro Maestoso - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Andante - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Allegro Vivace Assai - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
04. 1. Allegro Maestoso - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
05. 2. Andante - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
06. 3. Allegretto - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

Disc 19
01. 1. Allegro - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Romance - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Rondo (Allegro Assai) - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
04. 1. Allegro - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
05. 2. Andante - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
06. 3. Allegro Assai - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

Disc 20
01. 1. Allegro Molto Moderato - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Adagio - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Allegro Moderato Molto E Marcato - Quasi Presto - Andante Maestoso - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
04. 1. Allegro Affettuoso - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
05. 2. Intermezzo (Andantino Grazioso) - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
06. 3. Allegro Vivace - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

Disc 21
01. No.140 Free Variations
02. No.141 Subject and Reflection
03. No.142 from the Diary of a Fly
04. No.143 Divided Arpeggios
05. No.144 Minor Seconds, Major Seventh
06. No.145 Chromatic Invention (Version a & B)
07. No.146 Ostinato
08. No.147 March
09. No.148 Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm I
10. No.149 Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm II
11. No.150 Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm III
12. No.151 Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm IV
13. No.152 Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm V
14. No.153 Dance in Bulgarian Rhythm VI
15. 1. with Drums and Pipes
16. 2. Barcarolla
17. 3. Musettes
18. 4. the Night's Music
19. 5. the Chase
20. 1. Allegretto - Allegro
21. 2. Moderato
22. 3. Allegro Vivace

Disc 22
01. 1. Largo - Allegro - Pi Moso - Maestoso - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Largo - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Allegro - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
04. 1. Allegro - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
05. 2. Adagio - Pi Adagio - Presto - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
06. 3. Allegro Molto - Stephen Kovacevich, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

Disc 23
01. 1. Moderato - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Gibson
02. 2. Presto - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Gibson
03. 3. Lento - - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Gibson
04. 4. Vivo - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Gibson
05. Friday's Child - the London Jazz Ensemble, John Lanchbery
06. Saturday's Child - the London Jazz Ensemble, John Lanchbery
07. Sunday's Child - the London Jazz Ensemble, John Lanchbery
08. Monday's Child - the London Jazz Ensemble, John Lanchbery
09. Tuesday's Child - the London Jazz Ensemble, John Lanchbery
10. Wednesday's Child - the London Jazz Ensemble, John Lanchbery
11. Thursday's Child - the London Jazz Ensemble, John Lanchbery

Disc 24
01. 1. Allegro Moderato - Allegro - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
02. 2. Andante - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
03. 3. Allegro Molto - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
04. 1. Allegretto - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
05. 2. Adagio Religioso - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis
06. 3. Allegro Vivace - Stephen Kovacevich, London Symphony Orchestra, Colin Davis

Disc 25
01. Assai Lento - Allegro Molto - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich, Willy Goudswaard, Michael de Roo
02. Lento Ma Non Troppo - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich, Willy Goudswaard, Michael de Roo
03. Allegro Non Troppo - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich, Willy Goudswaard, Michael de Roo
04. Thema (Andante) - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich
05. Variation 1 - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich
06. Variation 2 - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich
07. Variation 3 - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich
08. Variation 4 - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich
09. Variation 5 - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich
10. 1. Avec Emportement - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich
11. 2. Lent. Sombre - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich
12. 3. Scherzando - Martha Argerich, Stephen Kovacevich