Magic Fire and other Wagner Transcriptions (2013, ABCD 353)

Si tratta di trascrizioni che richiedono al pianista un grande impegno virtuosistico,compito che viene assolto da Marin con grande bravura e conoscenza dello stile. Luca Chierici, www.amfion.fi, 19.5.2015

On this new CD, the Finnish pianist proves to be a true master of the opera transcriptions. The Ride of the Valkyries in the fiendishly difficult Tausig arrangement will leave you wondering whether Marin has a couple of extra fingers. The Schelling Tristan Prelude moves beyond dreams, while the Busoni…

Sturdy Performances: Marin is very strong in Liszt’s ultra-difficult Tannhäuser arrangement. Malcolm Hayes, BBC Music Magazine 2013

This disc has been programmed with great care, the more effusive transcriptions sandwiched between those of interior delight, such as Brassin’s delicately baroque Waldweben from Siegfried. Placing that alongside the dark cortège of Busoni’s Trauermarsch is equally inspired, for it highlights the composers’ different styles and how fluently Marin adapts…

Marinin jyhkeälle mutta riittävän erottelukykyiselle pianismille Wagner-sovitukset ovat paras mahdollinen temmellyskenttä. Tausigin Valkyyrioiden ratsastus on hengästyttävää pianotekniikan ja orkestraalisen pauhun vyörytystä kaasu pohjassa; Schellingin Tristan ja Isolde -alkusoitossa pelkistetyt melodiat, ylimaallinen kauneus ja painokkaat iskut ovat täydellisessä tasapainossa; Busonin Surumarssin synkät alkusävelet todistavat hyvästä sointiväriaistista. Levyn vaikuttavimpia hetkiä ovat varmaotteiset…

”The very characteristic orchestral sonority of Wagner’s music has been a challenge for piano transcribers over the years. Here is a fascinating set of transcriptions played by a Finnish pianist that starts off with a transcription by a fellow Finn. Jukka Nykänen (born 1976) takes Liszt as his starting point,…