Fanfare 3
*****
David Munk-Nielsen’s masterful renditions of piano music by Schumann and Sibelius
SCHUMANN Kinderszenen, op. 15. Fantasie in C, op. 17. SIBELIUS 10 Pieces, op. 24: Impromptu, op. 24/1. Nocturno, op. 24/8. Romance, op. 24/9. Impromptu, op. 5/5  David Munk-Nielsen (pn)  OUR 8.226938 (65:30) Reviewed from a wav download with resolution 24/44.1
Between Fire and Silence is a recital by Danish pianist David Munk-Nielsen (b. Copenhagen, 1998). Munk-Nielsen graduated from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. His recital comprises Schumann’s Kinderszenen and C-Major Fantasie, with various Sibelius miniatures serving as an intermezzo. As Munk-Nielsen describes in his liner notes, these Romantic piano works explore “the quiet and intimate to the passionate and almost explosive, hence the title of the CD. These pieces have followed me for years; I keep returning to them because they speak so personally to me, while naturally complementing each other to form a coherent and musically varied whole.”
The piano music of Schumann demands numerous qualities from the interpreter. Of course, the artist must possess a first-rate technique to meet such challenges as the infamous closing bars of the Fantasie’s second movement. That technique is always be at the service of Schumann’s mercurial changes of mood, the musical personification of his alter-egos Florestan and Eusebius. Phrasing should embody a pure, singing tone, masterful rubato, and keen sensitivity to variations of dynamics and articulation. And with all this, the performer must be ever-attentive to Schumann’s overarching narrative, so that the episodic never supplants the organic. David Munk-Nielsen is such an artist. His Kinderszenen, sculpted with tender lyricism, is by turns poetic, spirited, and nostalgic. Munk-Nielsen’s elegant and crystal-clear tone is a constant delight. His avoidance of mannerisms only serves to bring into relief the eloquence of his playing. Munk-Nielsen displays the same attributes in Schumann’s virtuoso Fantasie. While his interpretation is not at all flamboyant, Munk-Nielsen captures the searing Romanticism that is at the heart of the piece. His ability to linger over tender episodes without ever disrupting the overall momentum is a major strength. And when called upon to execute virtuoso passages, Munk-Nielsen is riveting. These are superb renditions of two of Schumann’s piano masterworks. Munk-Nielsen is likewise masterful in the quartet of Sibelius miniatures, with playing that is fluent, tonally resplendent, and unfailingly elegant. All of the performances are captured in superb sound. An impressive recital by a gifted young pianist. I look forward to hearing more of David Munk-Nielsen’s artistry. Ken Meltzer