Martin Stadtfeld is another of Sony Classical's legions of young, attractive recording artists. Like many of his colleagues,
Stadtfeld has a great many strengths overshadowed by a certain degree of artistic immaturity. His intellectual understanding of Bach's music is highly refined as evidenced by his insightful and informative discussion in the liner notes regarding fugues. This recording of three of Bach's keyboard concertos (each of these is actually a transcription of now-lost violin concertos) with the Lucerne Festival Strings proves beyond a doubt that
Stadtfeld also possesses a commanding technique on his instrument, which has allowed his career to rapidly ascend and has earned him deserved competition wins. Despite the beautifully well-rounded tone, clarity in even the most nimble of passages, and impeccable balance (both in his own playing and together with the orchestra), there is still something lacking in these performances. At only 26 years of age at the time of recording, what is lacking likely stems from a certain degree of immaturity.
Stadtfeld's playing simply comes across as bland, over-rehearsed, and unmoving. Tempos are often rigid and metronomic, and there's a great deal of predictability in long, sequential passages. Hope for
Stadtfeld should certainly not be lost, however; if his development continues as it already has, he will be a formidable musician in just a few years' time.