Brahmsiana
Navona, 2019
9/10
Steven Masi has been quite busy in recent years, having completed a 10 disc recording of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas, and here he lays down a pair of works by Johannes Brahms and one each by Robert Chumbley and Jonathan Cziner.
“3 Intermezzi, Op 117” starts the listen with agile piano work that touches on both light and dark textures, and “Brahmsiana II” follows and extends the opening track with more vibrant textures of timeless elegance.
The back half of the album offers the louder spirit and sophisticated playfulness of “Six Klavierstucke, Op 118”, where space is manipulated with precision, and “Echoes Of Youth” exits the affair with twisting tonality that can get forceful just as it can delicate.
An extremely meticulous effort, Masi again proves why his name is known across the globe for his artistic approach to the piano, and it’s well received on this flawless record.
Travels well with: David Maslanka- The River Of Time; Apollo Chamber Players- Within Earth