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Album Review Annemieke Spoelstra - Toccare

"Where words fail music speaks" (Hans Christian Andersen)

Every now and then you come into contact with a CD that you think "what a pity that I only now know." For me the CD "Toccare" of the Dutch American pianist Annemieke Spoelstra and that's one of those. This CD is her 2009 recorded and self-published and very worthwhile.

Unfortunately a text book with more information about the music, the performing and recording. I myself am always particularly interested in how an artist chooses his or her music. The music is often more to me than life. For musicians who are at the top, think for example Brendel, Janine Jansen, Mutter, of Sweden, Volodos, is releasing a CD of the normal course of business. For those falling below the longstanding not take their music outside the concert halls or living rooms to the general public to hear. Often do nothing but in-house publication of a CD. Such a project involves substantial costs on hold for the musician and also a certain (financial) risk.

Why does he or she is still a CD and how it is decided which music is finally recorded. The performing musician as can no other answer to this and other questions. For this review I took the plunge and Annemieke email a few questions and her answers in the following text.

The pianist

Annemieke Spoelstra studied at the conservatory in Zwolle classical piano with Rudy de Heus and obtained diplomas teaching and performing musician.

She won first prize for Young Music Talent Netherlands accompanying pianist, and the Friends of the Price Zwolle Conservatory. In 2001 she was a finalist in the Nadia and Lily Boulanger Competition (Paris) Soprano with Maaike Poorthuis.

Since 2004 she lives and works in the United States and acts as a soloist in recitals and as a duo with clarinettist Elizabeth LeBlanc. In the period 2004 - 2006 Spoelstra was staff accompanist at the Boston Conservatory. Also makes Spoelstra with clarinetist Elizabeth LeBlanc and Rachael Elliott fagottiste Heliand part of the Trio. From 2004 - 2008 she was a member of the Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Besides her work as a pianist, she as a teacher (coorperative artist) attached to the Saint Michael's College in Colchester, and has a private practice. At Saint Michael's, she is the pianist at Saint Michael's College Chorale, where she works closely with conductor Nathaniel Lew.

In recent years she performed solo but also with others including the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, the United States, Germany, France, and Poland.

The album

The title "Toccare" comes from Latin and comes down to touch (remember the French word touch and the Spanish tocar) or freely translated as 'play' in this case piano. The CD is to her parents and sisters but also her coach instructed Tan Crone, whose last words to Annemieke were "Keep playing. Always." Luckily for us she does. Not only in concert halls but also in the living room.

The album I have listened with pleasure to contain other known works by Schubert, Bach, and Chopin etudes but also two of the not so famous Russian composer, Bortkiewicz. Despite the fact that he 74 compositions (besides a large number of piano pieces he composed several songs, and two symphonies) to his name, his music rarely performed and there is therefore only a limited number of CDs of his work available. Only pianists Trapman Klaas (Dutch Institute of Music), Nadejda Vlaeva (Music & Arts), and Stephen Coombs (Hyperion) have recently recorded work of Bortkiewicz. Who in the music of this Russian is interested can contact the Dutch Music Institute that his complete piano music onto a CD.

As the names of the composers shows, this CD includes works of Bach alongside music from various Romantic composers. I think this is a surprising choice. Also for this executive is the beginning of many Bach music. The toccata fugue in which the CD starts with sounds Annemieke said "for me like the sea." In order to prosecute "all documents on the CD 'fit' in terms of the sequence of keys. Bortkiewicz The conservatory is a tribute to my teacher, Rudy de Heus. He always came with unexpected ideas for pieces. On the CD is the balance between shorter and longer work important. Schubert sonata for me as a song cycle. Lang, but with many traits. "

The recording

Annemieke has searched for her debut CD contrasts in dynamics, color, tempo, character keys, with pieces that they like to play. That this is successful is due to the wing in which she plays and the shooting technique. The piano is a Steinway from 1920. This is a conscious choice. "The attack was the decisive factor for this instrument. And the 'color box'.

The wing has a sensitive nature like my wing, a Ibach from 1920. "Listening to the CD you directly into the music sucked. Also on this CD I listen to a live recital in my living room and not a pair of speakers where what music comes out. There is hardly any editing on this recording used for the simple reason that "the music must be the result as I would play music in a concert. I want to sound like they will hear me live. "That this is successful, you can read below.

Listening

The first number is as said a toccata of Bach, and is followed by a beautiful sonata by Schubert. At the end of his life, Schubert composed three piano sonatas, namely D 958, 959 D, and D 960. On "Toccare" is only the Sonata in A (D 959) included, this piece demands much of a pianist. The work is very long with the result that the attention of the pianist must not slacken. Even great pianists like Brendel, Lupu, Perahia and Schnabel have performed this sonata multiple times and recorded on CD. And now there is implementation of Annemieke Spoelstra. The notes that Schubert entrusted to the paper come into its own. What a pleasure it is to sit in my listening chair and Schubert in the living room to speak.

Then the word of Bortkiewicz. The etudes of Bortkiewicz be played so beautifully that it is unfortunate that not all ten etudes on this CD. Maybe on the next CD to be well made. After the last show is waiting for the applause. The CD is a recording studio and so it remains well-deserved applause. Fortunately there are two pieces on the CD of Chopin as a bouncer and a "interlude" of Brahms. Chopin was chosen because it "on vocals and reminds the lighter passages in the fantasy match the rapid Bortkiewicz etude".

The Fantasie-Impromptu by Chopin is one of my favorite piano pieces. An impromptu is a music improvisational elements and often a free form. It marks the pianist Spoelstra that it is precisely this piece is included here. It is certainly not one of the easiest piano pieces. Besides a good rhythmic control because you also need a good technique for this piece to a successful conclusion. This document proves they are a great pianist. After her performance, I have the older recordings from 1964 Rubinstein and Horowitz (1989) packed in there and listened. For me the two best performances of all time. You will immediately notice the large difference in pace. Horowitz has a brisk momentum and is over a minute faster than Rubinstein and Spoelstra. This slower pace of Spoelstra is completely annoying and will not for many, even nicer than the high rate of Horowitz. On this kind of listening moments are beautiful memories of home above. I hear Annemieke play and see my mother. This and the beautiful piano playing and balanced choice of music for me is enough reason for this CD to all lovers of piano music heartily recommended.

The two following pieces are more than worth it. The reason to end with Brahms is a very simple but one that makes sense. "I just love that piece and wanted so close." That the cake after 66 minutes is, I take it for granted. Let's hope it does not remain in this debut CD.

Finally, two comments. The music on the CD is more than worth it as a recital to be performed. For longer be able to enjoy this great pianist and romantic piano music, this recital for me then added a couple of works by Rachmaninoff example (such as a sonata or vocalise), Medtner, Albeniz, and Dukas (L'Apprenti sorcier what I is concerned). This review I could not write without the kind cooperation of the sisters Spoelstra, who I also hereby thank for the help and beautiful CD.

Where is this CD for sale

The CD is available direct from the pianist and her sister in the Netherlands to order. Do you want this beautiful and special debut CD ordering please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. JavaScript must be enabled to view it. or visit the website www.annemiekespoelstra.com for more information.

You can also read when Annemieke occurs again. Unfortunately for us, this is usually in her second homeland, the United States. Who, like me, the piano playing Spoelstra want to enjoy, buy the CD. For the money, € 19, -, you do not have to leave. I end my review with which I began, "it is up to the music to speak."

Album info

Executive: Annemieke Spoelstra
Album: Toccare
Year: 2009
Track list: Bach Toccata in E (BWV 914) Schubert, Sonata in A (D 959) Bortkiewicz, Etude in F, Op 15 no 9; Bortkiewicz, Etude in G, Op 15 no 6, Chopin, Fantasie - Impromptus in C, Op 66; Chopin Nocturne in F, Op 48 no 7, Brahms, Intermezzo in A, Op 118, no 2.
Website: www.annemiekespoelstra.com 

© The pictures in this album review come from www.annemiekespoelstra.com