Georg Tintner is a name more familiar to most as a prolific conductor whose career started as early as 19 years old. Few examples of his compositional output exist; in fact, the seven works heard on this album are world-premiere recordings.
Tintner composed to some degree throughout much of his life, and this album has the many changes that his palate experienced during that time, from the very tonal early works and the earlier experimentation with serialism to the struggles he faced later in his career after the twelve-tone system was no longer in vogue.
Pianist
Helen Huang is the artist predominantly featured throughout the album, although she is denied top billing.
Tintner's earlier, tonal works begin in the middle of the album with the Variations on a Theme of Chopin and conclude with the single-movement F minor Piano Sonata. Each of these works is highly emotional, filled with lush harmonies and intricate workings of the inner voices.
Huang's performance of these pieces is exceptionally thoughtful, elegant, and at times even sensual. The Two Fugues and Trauermusik see
Tintner progressing toward experimentation with the twelve-tone system.
Huang's technique and execution of these works is just as convincing and precise as the previous compositions. The first piece on the album -- the Sonata for Violin and Piano -- is from much later in
Tintner's compositional output and is probably the least successful work on the album. Despite a noble attempt by violinist
Cho-Liang Lin,
Tintner's motive of huge leaps in the violin part makes intonation and sound quality problematic even for a master artist like
Lin. Still, the piano works on this album are quite enjoyable and by themselves make this album worthwhile.