Philip Martin - Herz: Piano Music (2008)

For listeners who enjoyed Hyperion's two discs of Henri Herz's piano concertos in its Great Romantic Piano Concertos series, here is a single disc entirely devoted to his works for solo piano. The same empty sentimentalities and super virtuoso superficialities that distinguished the Parisian née Viennese early Romantic composer's concertos are equally in evidence here. Performed by Philip Martin -- the concerto discs had featured Howard Shelley -- Herz's music is granted all conceivable aid and assistance. Martin dashes through the thorniest double octave in contrary motion with the greatest clarity and races over the gnarliest 10-fingered chords with the utmost dexterity, but more importantly, he never condescends to the material even when the material just about begs for it. Yet, as it had for Shelley, Herz's music resists Martin's best efforts to make it enjoyable. Try the last work on the disc, the Fantaisie et Variations sur des Airs nationaux américains variés, and see if you last through almost 11 minutes of Herz noodling around with Yankee Doodle even in Martin's sparkling rendition. If yes, the rest of this the disc will delight you. If no, it's probably safer to stay away. Recorded in All Saints Church in East Finchley, London, in 2006, Hyperion's digital sound is perhaps a bit too close, but nevertheless clean, full, and colorful. -- James Leonard