GERHARD WILLNER
eiU,-Every musician is exposed to unfavourable criticism, but while your correspondent "D.M." is entitled to express his disapproval of Gerhard Willner’s playing of the Mozart sonatas, I feel that such statements as "Mr, Willner shows a cheerful disregard for expression marks," are, not only unfavourable but unfair, Without claiming a greater knowledge of Mozart or ability to criticise his works than "D.M." I am intimately acquainted with all his pianoforte sonatas’ and have followed most of Gerhard Willner’s performances with ‘the unedited Kalmus edition. While not disregarding the possibility of an unintentional omission of ,dynamic marks in the few bars of the G Major Sonata, K.283, as quoted, I have found that Gerhard Willner generally observes the composet’s. indications with meticulous care. The unedited edition reveals, that expression marks become fewer in the later sonatas and are almost non-existent in- the last three-surely an indication of Mozart’s growing tendency to allow greater freedom to the performer, in contrast with Beethoven,;-who went the opposite way. The fact that we find greater differences in approach to
Mozart among world-famous performers than in any other composer’s works, shows that a convincing and inspired performance of his works depends on something more than hard and fast rules, The impression I have gained while listening to the present Mozart sonata series by the pianist Gerhard Willner is that this artist’s approach is not merely pianistic -but reveals deep understanding and sensitive musicianship. The adagio passages are played with ‘a devotion and reverence rarely. heard, and at no time is the work marred by an intrusion of the performer’$s individuality. I feel grateful for the opportunity of listening to all the Mozart sonatas made possible by the NZBS, and commend their wisdom in acquiring. a musician of Gerhard Willner’s calibre to per. form them. z
P. L.
DARKE
(Paraparaumu Beach).
(Mr. Ly D. Austin, who opened this discussion, has the right to reply before it is closed. :>
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 535, 23 September 1949, Page 5
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323GERHARD WILLNER New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 535, 23 September 1949, Page 5
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