The final volume of Martin Roscoe’s Szymanowski cycle matches the excellence of its predecessors. In the Op. 9 Preludes Roscoe’s melting legato and pliable phrasing gives a sexier patina to the early-Scriabinesque keyboard writing than in Martin Jones’ relatively straitlaced interpretation. He shapes the Op. 3 variations with characterful variety and well-unified tempo relationships and impressively grasps the thick, Brahms-like textures in the final variation. Roscoe proves equally at home in the idiosyncratic Mazurkas, bringing out all their earthy lilt, sultry nuance, and harmonic mystery.
Listeners who’ve experienced the broad tempos, wide dynamic contrasts, and refined polyphonic control distinguishing Piotr Anderszewski’s recording of the Third Sonata may find that Roscoe’s mastery of this difficult score makes a less individual impression. And although Roscoe’s faster basic tempo for the final fugue matches the slower Anderszewski’s incisive power, he pushes his instrument to its limits, causing its tuning to slip a little near the end. In any event, Naxos now has a Szymanowski cycle to favorably compete with Martin Jones/Nimbus in terms of sound quality and price. Recommended. [1/9/2006]
