The late Romantic Max Reger is a controversial composer who has to be taken on the defensive again and again. Even his most staunch advocates feel obliged to do so, if only because they have questions themselves. Like the pianist Markus Becker, who has already recorded everything about the piano work. Becker remarks that he had his doubts when he started on Reger's impressive Piano Concerto. No
… recognizable melodies here that you can sing along. Lots of notes and monumental wave movements, breaking and turning on the border of late romanticism and atonality. The best plea, then, is this compelling live performance, which is received by the audience with cheers. (HJ)more
