Bloch: Piano Quintets [Import]

Ernest Bloch (Composer), Piers Lane (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Piers Lane
• Composer: Ernest Bloch
• Audio CD (December 11, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B000WE5G6W
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,463 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Agitato

2. Andante Mistico

3. Allegro Energico

4. Night String Quartet

5. North: Moderato Molto

6. Alpestre: Allegretto

7. Tongataboo: Allegro

8. Andante Moderato

9. Allegro Molto

10. Animato

11. Andante

12. Allegro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Music, Wonderfully played, April 9, 2008

By 

R. E. Glasgow (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bloch: Piano Quintets (Audio CD)

There have been only a few recordings of Bloch's chamber music that have stayed in the catalog for any length of time. This one should persevere for years. I sat down intending only to listen to the first Piano Quintet from 1923 but ended up staying through the 1957 Second Quintet. The music is just that compulsively listenable. I have never understood why Bloch's music does not figure in more recital programs and recordings; his chamber music is particularly appealing. His music has a characteristic sound world, much as Bela Bartok's does. As Bloch grew older, his music became somewhat more spare and acerbic but, like Frank Martin's music, it remains uniquely his.

The performances by Piers Lane with the Goldner String Quartet are wonderful, the recording is rich and full, and the notes are a model of their kind.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as Karp/Pro Arte, May 19, 2010

By 

J. A. Van Sant - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bloch: Piano Quintets (Audio CD)

I can only compare the PQ 1, since that is the only one where I have another recording, and I am glad I do. That recording by Karp/Pro Arte (with the 5th String Quartet) is far better. If you like Bloch for his intensity (either loud or soft), then you really should listen to the Karp/Pro Arte recording.

The other works here are well played and enjoyable. Nice, even beautiful smoothness and color. I really enjoy and appreciate the short SQ pieces and they seem to suit the style of performance well.

But for one of the 3 most intense pieces of classical music I have ever heard (LVB 5th Sy and Stravinsky Rite of Spring), you gotta go for broke and give it all you've got, and these guys don't, to my hearing.