Fanfare Magazine
May 1993

By John Wieser

SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata in A, Op. posth., D.956 BRAHMS: Piano Quintet in F minor for Piano, Two Violins, Viola and Cello, Op.34. (Lev Natochenny, Piano; Penderecki String Quartet (Jerzy Kaplanek, Piotr Buczek, Violins; Yariv Aloni, Viola; Paul Pulford, Cello) TRITONUS 5.002A [DDD]; 75:38. Produced by Markus Heiland.

... The opening movement, which is quieter and lighter than usual, taken with great evenness of motion. and again, unexpectedly plausible in establishing and maintaining a novel expressive context without violating written intentions. The Penderecki Quartet is fine and responsive, and alert enough to the possibilities of its role. One would like to hear them again, with or without collaborators.

The same is true of pianist Lev Natochenny; anyone who can stir me to this kind of attention at first hearing, I want to hear again in comparable repertoire. A solid recording with good acoustic surrounding. Recommended at the indicated dosage.

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