We judge almost every composer by his or her best work. So why shouldn't we do the same with Max Reger? Of the German-Austrian composers around 1900 (
Mahler,
Strauss,
Schönberg, Reger) he is the most controversial figure to this day.
Stravinsky detested him, Schoenberg and
Berg admired him. For the generation of
Hindemith he was an enduring example, despite the great stylistic differences. It is
… mainly organists who keep the memory of Reger alive. However, the piano was his real instrument. The Piano Concerto is colossal and intimidating, as is often the case with Reger. The Largo, however, contains moving moments that can also appeal to the uninitiated. The inspiration for the concert came after Reger's student Frieda Kwast-Hodapp gave a performance of Reger's Variations and fugue on a theme by Bach. That too is an enormous piece of high mountains, in which still a lot of beauty can be heard. (HJ)more
