Just when you think that Garrick Ohlsson finally has all bases covered – from such staples as a complete Chopin cycle and all the Beethoven sonatas, through the Russians to interesting Liszt, unusual Americans, Debussy and Bartók, Granados and the Weber sonatas – he strikes out in a new direction. His most recent musical passport stamp is from the Bohemian lands, where’s he been exploring Smetana.

What courage must have been required to tackle these most nationalistic of all Smetana’s works, and what an accomplishment to present them not only lovingly but fairly bursting with character.

By Patrick Rucker
Gramophone
Download PDF