I have known these pieces for more than 50 years and can confirm that
every move she makes is utterly musical and idiomatic. The melodies are
allowed to speak for themselves in the great pianistic tradition
stretching from Mozart to Ravel... These performances confirm Fingerhut
as an outstanding executant. She brings a wonderfully rapt pianissimo to
the spiritual slow movement of the Sonata; effortlessly glittering
passagework in the scherzo textures; and no exaggeration in rubato.
Margaret Fingerhut is an accomplished and stylish advocate; she is
particularly eloquent in the dark colours of the Michael Berkeley, and
she gives a penetrating account of the Sonata. For anyone interested in
20th -century British music, this is warmly recommended.
The music is sheer joy for pianist and listener alike and Margaret
Fingerhut makes the most of he music's lyrical quality; her touch is
ideally suited to interpreting this very expressive music.
For Strange Meeting and Lennox's Sonata alone, this CD is invaluable.
The fact that it offers more besides...lifts it into the category of essential.
Fingerhut is technically up to handling this material. Her exquisite sense of touch brings out a host of colours without over pedaling.
As you’d expect from Fingerhut and Chandos, this is a first class presentation of Berkeley’s music.
Lennox and Michael Berkeley - Piano Works (CHAN 10247)
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