Album Reviews

[Allegra]

Amazon.com: Fantasy: Music: Johann Sebastian Bach,Ludwig van Beethoven,Johannes Brahms,Franz Liszt,Franz Schubert,Giovanni Sgambati,Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky,Claudio Abbado,Herbert von Karajan,Berliner Philharmoniker,Evgeny Kissin

Artist: Evgeny Kissin (Curt and Ben, quite laughing or rolling up your eyes)
Album name: Fantasy
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Released: April 10, 2007
Tracks: 6 Lieders of Schubert - Liszt's transcriptions; Schubert's 'Wanderer' Fantasia; Brahms Fantasias; Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #12; Tchaikovsky's concerto No. 1(with Berliner/Karajan); Beethoven's "Choral Fantasy"(with Berliner/Abbado); a sonata of Bach; etc.

Review: This 2CDs album is a showcase of Kissin's musicality and virtuosity. It contains mostly his recordings of late 80s and early 90s. Most of them had been released in many early albums, a few are the 1st release. I've listened to almost all of them numerous times but now that I play them again they strike me hard with the same forceful impact that only Kissin can generate, just like the first time. I'm a proud owner of almost all his CDs and DVDs available. I feel privileged to have attended quite a few his live concerts/recitals and will continue to do so. The greatest pianist today, that's who he is.

Mark: beyond measure.

[Allegra]

Additional to the above, the CD also includes the piano transcription of Gluck’s Melody (from opera Orfeo ed Euridice). So beautifully played it brought me to tears. I found a video clip played by Nelson Freire (the tempo is one notch too fast):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW1FlZpELE0

Another violin arrangement by one of the best violinists Sarah Chang, absolutely gorgeous:
YouTube - 멜로디

[Curt Chiarelli]

You should write reviews and articles for Gramaphone Magazine or Fanfare! You can't praise Gould's Bach recordings enough in my lexicon! Okay, back to our regularly scheduled reviews!

[HardScienceFan]

uuhhm can you put oldies here,or do they have to be new albums?
DROOL

Deutsche gramophone

[Allegra]

You can review any album you like, Ben! As long as its not Madona's or Britteny something's.

Originally Posted by Curt Chiarelli

You can't praise Gould's Bach recordings enough in my lexicon!

You are absolutely right, Curt! When it comes to Bach, Glenn Gould is the one and only. Right now I’m reading Wondrous Strange - The Life and Art of Glenn Gould, probabaly the best Gould biography to date. The Author Kevin Bazzana wrote that the reason Evgeny Kissin is reluctant to play much of Bach is because of the standard Gould set. It’s true. Gould is the God of Bach. No body can surpass his standard, very few tried to imitate but failed. Because no one has the intellectual depth Gould had, not to mention the skill. He tore Bach’s piano works apart, analyzed every note then put them back together in a brand new way which turned those little less popular pieces to gold.

I remember some reviewer(amazonian?) said that under the sleek modern style Gould is an ardent romantic. That is so true! Gould's Bach is the most intimate, most personal thing I've ever heard.

My favourite Gould quote:

"I believe that the justification of art is the internal combustion it ignites in the hearts of men and not its shallow, externalized, public manifestations. The purpose of art is not the release of a momentary ejection of adrenaline but is, rather, the gradual, lifelong construction of a state of wonder and serenity."

[Allegra]

Artist: Glenn Gould
Album name: The Glenn Gould Edition: Beethoven
Label: Sony
Released: Oct. 13 1992
Tracks:
(32) Variations On An Original Theme In C Minor;
15 Variations With Fugue In E- Flat Major, Op. 35 'Eroica';
Bagatelles, Op. 33 & Op. 126, etc.

Since I received this 2 CDs set sometime ago it has become my most beloved album in my collection. Beethoven wasn't among Gould's favourite composers, he thought his works were too belligerent. However, I was absolutely stunned by his interpretation, which is as daring, dynamic and expressive as it can be, more Beethoven than Beethoven! It's a proof that Gould, as he self-claimed, deep down was a Romantic. His reading is very similar to that of Evgeny Kissin, the full-bloodied Romantic pianist. I especially LOVE the Variations (32), a short stormy, somber piece. Comparing to Kissin's rendition (still available to watch on Verbier's link), Gould's interpretation has more depth and weight; and Kissin's is more forceful and passionate, both are bravure.

[Allegra]

On the note of Beethoven 32 Variations, the Verbier concert viewing website expired today. So, Kissin's performance will remain only in my memory, until someday he may decide to record it. I just found a video clip of Murray Perahia's:

YouTube - Beethoven - 32 Variations in C-minor [Perahia]

Technically Perahia is excellent, but IMO his playing is always shallow and boring, in this piece, lacking of deep understanding emotionally and intellectually, not ferocious enough, not melancholy enough. In fact I'm a little reluctant to post it, but just to give you an idea, if you haven't listened to it before, how this piece sounds like and not how it should be played.