Benno Moisewitsch: Great Pianists of the 20th Century, Vol. 70

Benno Moisewitsch (Artist), Chopin (Artist), Prokofiev (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 13, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000IIYH
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,508 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Barcarolle In F Sharp, Op. 60

2. Nocturne In E, Op. 62 No. 2

3. Ballade No. 4 In F Minor, Op. 52

4. Ballade No. 3 In A Flat, Op. 47

5. Fantaisie-Impromptu In C Sharp Minor, Op. 66

6. Scherzo No. 4 In E, Op. 54

7. Nocturne In G, Op. 37 No. 2

8. Scherzo No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 31

9. Scherzo (from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream')

10. Etude de Concert No. 2 In F Minor 'La leggierezza'

Disc: 2

1. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F, Op. 46: 1.Allegro con moto

2. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F, Op. 46: 2.Andante cantabile

3. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F, Op. 46: 3.Allegro giocoso

4. Suggestion diabolique, Op. 4 No. 4

5. Piano Sonata in G min, Op. 22: 1.Tenebroso, sempre affrettando

6. Piano Sonata in G min, Op. 22: 2.Andante lugubre

7. Piano Sonata in G min, Op. 22: 3.Allegro assai

8. Moment Musical In E Min, Op. 16 No. 4

9. Prelude In G, Op. 32 No. 5

10. Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: 1.Moderato

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Greatest Romantic Pianists, August 6, 2000

By 

Hank Drake (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Benno Moisewitsch: Great Pianists of the 20th Century, Vol. 70 (Audio CD)

The decision by Phillips to give only one volume of the Great Pianists of the 20th Century series to Benno Moiseiwitsch, while giving three volumes to the likes of Alfred Brendel is one of the great blunders of our time. Nearly forgotten in today's digital age, Benno Moiseiwitsch was a close friend of Rachmaninoff and other composers of the era.

This 2-CD set reveals some of the characteristics that made him one of the most beloved pianists in Europe during the first six decades of the 20th Century: lovely, unpercussive tone; technique which is solid without being showy; the ability to mould a phrase (almost a lost art these days); and an innate musicality.

Every piece on this set demonstrated the above attributes. Of particular interest are the fiendishly difficult Mendelssohn/Rachmaninoff Scherzo from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (recorded in one take!); the Liszt "La leggierezza" which features Moiseiwitsch's own ending; and the most elegant account of Rachmaninoff's Second Concerto this listener has ever heard.

This is a must for all who love great piano playing.