With 53 tracks on a single disc, Aphorisms by pianist
Jascha Nemtsov lives up to its name. The longest movement here is a bit less than three minutes, the shortest a bit less than half a minute, and the average about a minute and a half. Whether this collage of miniatures coheres as an artistic statement will of course depend on the listener, but many will likely lean toward the latter.
Jascha Nemtsov brings authentically Russian strength and a clear intellect to his work, and the performances captured here are truly excellent examples of pianism.
Dmitry Shostakovich's Aphorisms are clearly early works, and though well-crafted and expressive, they lack the depth of feeling so characteristic of the mature composer. The jury is still out as to Mieczyslaw Weinberg's reputation, though he is clearly in a period of ascendency in the repertoire, but his indebtedness to
Shostakovich is clearly audible here, sounding more like an epigone than a distinctive original. Sarah Nemtsov, as recorded here by her husband, is a fluent composer with an extravagantly post-tonal language marked by sometimes supple, sometimes jagged, textures and a consistently surprising approach to transitions and a mercurial temperament. Her forceful and perhaps too-aggressive by half voice dominates the album, and it may well alienate some listeners. Hänssler's digital sound is clear and detailed, but perhaps a little too close for comfort.