Mompou: Complete solo piano works (Rec 1974)

"These classic recordings, licensed from Ensayo, always will be treasured by those who enjoy Federico Mompou's haunting and hermetic style. Not all composers make the best exponents of their own work, and Mompou was fortunate in that he always has been able to rely on the talents of some of the world's foremost pianists. But he does bring something special to his performances of this music, and I can sum it up in a word: simplicity. Again, not all music responds well to this kind of approach, particularly when it means light and technically correct, but limited in emotional communicativeness. Mompou is one of those exceptions that proves the rule, for his music's chaste intimacy stands at the very opposite of self-indulgence.

This is perhaps most obvious in Musica Callada (Music of Silence), where Mompou's slowing tempos and subtle rhythmic stresses convey stillness rather than simply imitating it with trance-like immobility. Similarly, in the Songs and Dances Mompou ensures that the character of the melody shines through in phrasing that always emphasizes the long, elegant line, even where he might sound a touch limited in dynamic range compared to some beefier interpretations. This isn't so much "letting the music speak for itself" as it is taking care that the interpretation loses itself completely in the musical expression, so that the listener's attention remains fixed on the most subtle shifts in rhythm, color, and accent. The 1974 recording sounds a touch dated, but it's perfectly acceptable, and at the Brilliant Classics price you can't beat this classic set."
(ClassicsToday 10/8 for performance and sound)