REVIEW: A collection of familiar pieces by Chopin, Schubert, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Debussy and more

IRIS ELEZI

A SCARLETT STRING OF FIRE: 

Works by Elezi, Debussy, Scriabin, Haydn, Schumann, Rachmaninov

Iesous Records IR99878

By John Evans

This is the Albanian-American pianist’s second album; a collection of familiar pieces by Chopin, Schubert, Rachmaninov, Scriabin and Debussy. There are also meatier contributions from Schumann (the Introduction from Papillons) and Haydn (Sonata in E major Hob XVI No 31) and works, including the title track, by the pianist herself plus her improvisations on Albanian folk songs.

Pianist described her previous release, a collection of works spanning Bach to Ginastera, as ‘characterful’. It’s a description that could also be applied to this latest album, at least in the sense of playing that takes occasional liberties with the music. Erratic rubato, an insistent left hand, over-pedalling, scrambled passage work – all these and more characterise Elezi’s performances of the works by Chopin and Rachmaninov, which include the former’s Fantasie-Impromptu and the latter’s Prelude Op 23 No 5.

Fortunately, in Debussy’s Arabesque No 1, Elezi displays greater sensitivity, tighter control and cleaner pedalling; ditto Scriabin’s Four Preludes Op 37. Sadly, Elezi’s cute improvisations feel a little out of place in the context of the album’s core repertoire.