NEWS
Clean Sweep of Stunning Reviews
for Novacek's new Brahms CD
THE LAST REVIEW
PIANIST'S CHOICE
The Pianist Magazine - September-November 2008by Marius Dawn
Novacek is overwhelmingly convincing in his Brahms recital, which is catapulted into the listing of the finest
Brahms releases ever, even ousting historic recordings by Katchen and Curzon.
One cannot get enough of his glorious piano sound.
*****
Friday September 12, 2008
by Tim Ashley
Czech pianist Libor Novacek's considerable reputation rests primarily on his Liszt performances, though he is also a superb Brahmsian if this startling recital is anything to go by.
This is big-boned playing, very Romantic and covering a huge dynamic and emotional range.
The high point comes, however, with Novacek's performance of the Op 117 Intermezzos, which are heartbreaking in their quiet intensity.
*****
Following on from his 'Instrumental Choice' nomination in BBC Music Magazine, Libor Novacek's latest release of
Brahms piano works on Landor has garnered the highest praise from some of the piano world's
leading critics.
In Gramophone, Bryce Morrison describes the Czech pianist as 'a master of inwardness' and writes that 'he can scarcely wait to hear this exceptional young artist in more Brahms and in the widest possible range of repertoire.'
Jeremy Nicholas in Classic FM Magazine finds it 'a highly rewarding programme, and one to which [Libor Novacek] brings clear textures, warm tonal colours and an insightful musicality' and Julian Haylock in International Record Review deems Novacek 'a Brahmsian of distinction', while Piano News in Germany believes this release is no less than 'one of the most important and most significant documents of Brahms interpretations of recent times' .
Richard Evans in International Piano SELECTION recommend this recording as 'for the discerning Brahmsian.'
BBC Music Magazine - 'Instrumental Choice'
by Calum MacDonald
'Libor Novacek relishes Brahms's fiery style
Through there are excellent versions available from, among others Katchen and Richter, I feel Novacek may have set a new benchmark here. Altogether an impressive release.'
*****
October 2008
by Bryce Morrison
'Poised and poetic:
this exceptional young pianist finds the beauty in Brahms
His playing captures a reflection and nostalgia at the heart of such music, "an eternal note of sadness"
A master of inwardness...resolving every thorny and perverse difficulty with ease and lucidity.'
*****
September 2008
by Julian Haylock
'Novacek emerges as a master of multi-linear articulation, giving independent strands of simultaneous musical material the own identity.
Novacek's Schubertian grace and clear-sightedness pays real dividends.'
*****
September 2008
by Robert Nemecek
'It is the result of an excellent combination of phenomenal sound control and distinctive awareness of form and structure.
...in my judgment that what we have here is one of the most important and most significant documents of Brahms interpretations of recent times.'
*****
Classic FM Magazine
October 2008
by Jeremy Nicholas
'This is a highly rewarding programme, and one to which the young Czech pianist brings clear textures, warm tonal colours and an insightful musicality.'
*****
September/October 2008
by Richard Evans
' [Libor Novacek] proves himself to be an artist of vision and circumspection, and master of subtle rubato.
A disc for the discerning Brahmsian.
*****
LIBOR AT THE WIGMORE
July - August 2008
by Max Harrison
Libor Novacek began on 4 June with Haydn's Sonata No.38, Hob.XVI/23.
His performance proved yet again what a goldmine therse works are of melody and pianistic invention, their thematic developments more tuneful of those of Mozart and Beethoven. Novacek made the Adagio sound most
affecting as well.
La Chapelle de Guillaume Tellhad exactly the right degree of vivid pituresquennes, Au lac de Wallenstadt and Au bord d'une source were living representationsof the movement of water...
*****
MUSIC JOURNAL - EDITORIAL
by Deborah AnnettsLandor/YCAT Piano Festival Hall at the Wigmore Hall
The programme of Haydn, Brahms and Liszt on 4 June was performed by Libor Novacek, a young Czech pianist.
While Liszt may not be everyone's composer of choice, on a warm summer's evening in London the performance of
Annees de Pelerinage, Premiere Annee: Suisse made me believe I was in Switzerland experiencing the
changing moods and scenery of that beautiful country. And I was not the only person who felt the power of the artist's
ability to communicate as was evidenced by the prolonged applause at the end of the concert.
The art of communication was indeed clearly demonstrated.
*****
July / August 2008
RISING STAR
Libor Novacek, the young Czech pianist who's taking his music to new audiences
Interview with Libor in International Piano magazine
*****
Libor Novacek on Czech Radio 3 - Vltava
14th July 2008
Click here to listen Libor in interview with Marketa Vejvodova
(75 minutes)
*****
Classic FM podcast
Classic FM podcast
Thursday 5th June
Last night at the Wigmore Hall, the young Czech pianist Libor Novacek performed a programme of Haydn, Brahms and Liszt, and also took the opportunity to launch his latest CD - an ambitious approach to the work of Brahms. He talks to Arts Daily about his approach to his work, his relationship with the Young Concert Artists trust (YCAT) and Recording v. Concert Hall performance.
(9:47 minutes)
*****
On 23rd February 2008 Libor made his solo debut in the beautiful Dvorak Hall of the Rudolfinum in his native town of Prague. A superb performance of a hugely demanding programme (Brahms - Sonata No 2 in F sharp minor and Three Intermezzi op.117 plus Liszt - Annees de Pelerinage - Premiere Annee - Suisse) before a rapturous audience of over 1000 people. The day following his performance in Prague Libor was off to perform the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the RPO in Northampton, before a sold-out house of 1700!
*****
DIARIO DE BURGOS
3 de Marzo de 2008
T. Fernandez
Quienes asistieron al auditorio de caja de Ahoros del Circulo de C/Julio Saez de la Hoya el dia de aquel concierto
fueron testigos en directo
de la asombrosa maduracion artistica de este joven musico.
El recital, compuesto por obras de Scarlatti, Mozart, Brahms y Liszt, puso
de manifesto el magnifico control que
Novacek ejerce sobre el teclado,
la intensidad con la que interpreta las piezas,
su virtuosismo y, sobre todo,
su enorme registro de matices y la gran riqueza timbrica que sabe sacarle al piano.