Nov 24, 2011
Stradal’s transcriptions are both scrupulously accurate and strutted in vaulting virtuoso demands to carry over, with the fullest possible effect, the symphonic grandeurs of the originals and put them in the hands of pianists equal to them. Risto-Matti Marin is such a pianist. One marvels at the stamina that can keep such a plethora of detail in place with such relentless élan; at his narrative shaping, which can turn up an already withering heat, so to speak, at climactic moments; at his overarching persuasiveness.
Adrian Corleonis, Fanfare, Nov–Dec 2011
Nov 3, 2011
Kuten asiaan kuuluuu, Whittallin teos kunnioittaa soolopianoteosten perinnettä. Vaikutteet rönsyilevät Chopinistä impressionistien kautta Reichin minimalismiin. Whittallin oma ääni kuitenkin erottuu selvästi. Hän rakastaa modernismin parhaita paloja muttei pelkää romanttista paatosta; hän leikittelee pop-estetiikalla mutta janoaa syvällisyyttä. Whittall painottaa sointivärejä ja atmosfäärejä, ja siksi pianopreludi on hänelle erittäin sopiva ilmaisumuoto. Tuoreen kuuloinen sointimagia pianolla ei ole helppoa, mutta Whittall osaa asiansa. Whittallin preludeille on vaikea kuvitella osuvampaa tulkkia kuin Risto-Matti Marin, jolla on napakka kosketus, romanttinen väriaisti ja laaja kokemus pianomusiikin kulta-ajasta.
Kare Eskola, Yle, 3.11.2011
Feb 12, 2011
What a debut it is: Whittall’s Leaves of Grass is a stunning work. One of its greatest assets is the structural and harmonic simplicity of much of the music: steeped in an easy Satiesque indolence of what are at times almost minimalist proportions, Whittall somehow fashions the material into one deeply evocative experience after another. Leaves of Grass is marvellously performed by Finnish pianist Risto-Matti Marin, a year younger than his friend Whittall, on this, his sixth solo CD. One of his most recent projects has been for Toccata, volume I of the piano transcriptions by August Stradal of all of Liszt’s Symphonic Poems. Such Lisztian virtuosity and stamina comes in handy for some of Whittall’s Preludes, but Marin is also a performer of immense subtlety, capable of the finest shadings of expression.”
“Byzantheon”, www.musicweb-international.com,12.2.2011
Oct 21, 2010
This is a fantastic performance: The slower sections are beautifully played, the more stormy and virtuosic sections are taken at a tremendous pace and the whole piece holds together. I can’t imagine a better performance of this [Die Ideale] piece in this transcription. I would award this accolade to the other pieces on the disc as well.
Liszt Society Review 21, 2010
Jul 7, 2010
August Stradalin laatimat Lisztin orkesterirunoelmien sovitukset ovat ällistyttäviä näytteitä Marinin osaamisesta. Tuttu Preludit kuulostaa taas mielenkiintoiselta, harvinainen Heroïde funèbre on matalan rekisterin ja uljaiden sointuvyörytysten tehoissaan suuren pianismin juhlaa. Ihmeen ehjästi Marin saa välitetyksi mitassaan ja tunnelmissaan haastavan Die Idealen.
Veijo Murtomäki, Helsingin Sanomat, 7.7.2010
