Firkusny's quickness of response, his sensitivity of phrase, his ability to seek out the essence of Janacek's lyrical statements in a brief melodic curve are as rewarding as ever.
Rudolf Firkusny's fine set of performances on DG has long been a touchstone of interpretation of Janacek's piano music; and his quickness of response, his sensitivity of phrase, his ability to seek out the essence of Janacek's lyrical statements in a brief melodic curve are as rewarding as ever on the new RCA disc. He has not greatly modified them, except by sometimes refining his response still further... The Sonata's two movements are entitled ''Presentiment'' and ''Death'', and refer to an incident when a worker was killed in demonstrations for a Czech University in Brno. Firkusny plays the first movement with a controlled nervous intensity that makes its point well... Firkusny is quick and delicate in his responses to music that must make its point deftly yet evocatively... The delicate In the mists pieces are beautifully played...
