Valentin Magyar, young Hungarian pianist, has made his first recording of Rachmaninov’s works, Sentimental Moments, on the Hungaroton label. ICMA President Remy Franck reviewed the recording.
When Valentin Magyar plays the piano, he plays music that has something to say. He sits at the piano like a poet and tells stories. He lets them blossom and embellishes them with truly stupendous virtuosity. The wealth of notes he can produce and the dynamic contrasts are simply breathtaking.
Magyar can also combine energy with sensitivity. In the very first two pieces on the album, Rachmaninov’s Etudes-tableaux op. 39.6 and op. 33,5, one can experience this exciting juxtaposition of rumbling and explosive bravura and soulful calm.
Magyar’s vibrant temperament enlivens expression and structure on both large and small scales, in the Prelude op. 23,5 as well as in op. 32,6.
