Sergio Fiorentino
Apr 30th, 2009 by oldfogey
I first started collecting classical records around 1968. I was teaching in London and didn’t have much money. Most of my collection was of budget labels - Ace of Clubs, Classics for Pleasure and Saga. Saga LPs were the most interesting, but strangely recorded and badly pressed, warped, full of clicks and pops. But at 10 shillings (50p) I couldn’t complain. The Italian pianist Sergio Fiorentino made a number of recordings for the label. I particularly remember an LP (now lost) of Beethoven’s 5th Piano Concerto, fine and exhilerating, spoiled by a ‘wow’ tape fluctuation at the climax of the third movement.
The critical response to him at the time was rather lukewarm; some praise for his spontaneity, criticism for impetuosity. Not knowing what I was supposed to be listening to, I found him exhilerating and enchanting by turns. A real human personality shining through the crackle of clicks and pops.
Here he is playing Liszt’s famous Liebestraume No.3. It’s taken from one of those Saga LPs, so the sound isn’t perfect and you may also need to turn up the volume.
But I was right.
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