Miklós Perényi. Bach Cello Suites. Hungaraton Vinyl 3 xLP SLPX 12270-72 Release 1982.
Introduction.
No further details related to venue of recording or cello used.
This recording of the Bach Cello Suites by the highly regarded Hungarian cellist Miklós Perényi is only available on vinyl. Apart from a later recording available as a DVD in 2005, there are no CD versions available. There are however reports that Perényi is due to record the Suites again in 2020.
Cards on the table! I really wanted to like this recording. Last winter (2019) I had the opportunity to see Perényi perform the Beethoven sonatas at the Wigmore Hall. I was very impressed by his musical interpretation, prowess with technically challenging passages and general down to earth demeanour without airs and graces sometimes associated with performers.
I have his ECM recordings of these pieces with pianist András Schiff which justifiably has won acclamation. Perényi has an almost magical way of playing fast passages so that they appear very rapid, but always in control and not rushed.
The Recording.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed! Its not that this recording is bad, but that it does not come up to expectations on a number of levels.
The first is that the quality of the cello sound on this recording is surprisingly coarse and bright sounding. The acoustic is dry and has little sense of space or resonance around it. The cello tone sounds forced and is not easy to listen to for any length of time.
I suspect that the reason is two-fold. One is that Perényi may have adopted the heavy hitting concert hall filling approach of the early 1980s.
Other recordings released at the time were those by Starker, Harrell, Schiff Gendron and the first Yo Yo Ma. Many of these impressed at the time with their big sound but compared to more recent recordings, I feel are less enjoyable to listen to.
They would have benefitted from more natural resonance to allow the music to flow readily. Most modern instrumentalists do focus a great deal on relaxation techniques to avoid tension which can “box in sound” as opposed to project it. The second reason I suspect lies in the recording techniques, microphones used and possibly even the mastering of the records.
The interpretation.
A second disappointment is that the interpretations of the Suites are for the most part very mainstream and dare I say mundane.
Playing is always rhythmic but some of the Minuets are very heavy sounding. There is little give and take in timing with some movements almost metronomic.
On the positive side, again relating to Perényi’s mastery of fast passages, everything has a sense of pace and progression. There are moments of light and shade. Howeveer, it is all very subtle and it was rare to note repeats played with significant variation.
The best bit.
The exception to all of this was Perényi’s rendition of the sixth suite. This had power and attack but also moments of reflection and contrasting tone. The Allemande was played with great grace and refinement. The Gigue is played with great aplomb and is a fitting note to end on.
Conclusion.
So in short, not a recording to strongly recommend which is just as well as it is only available on difficult to source vinyl!
I am looking forward to Perényi’s new recordings and suspect they will be more contemplative and reflective than this recording. Listening to the DVD version of the Suites on You Tube, recorded in 2005 suggests this might be the case. I just hope he doesn’t go too far as some artists have done when re recording and become self indulgent!
PS.
For the answer to the above, read my review of the artists 2020 recording!
Charles.