Claudio Arrau - Great Pianists of the 20th Century I

Claudio Arrau (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000DBU4
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #373,236 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Islamey

2. Spanish Rhapsody - Liszt, Franz

3. Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue - Johann Sebastian Bach

4. Iberia (Book 1): Evocacion

5. Iberia (Book 1): El puerto

6. Iberia (Book 1): Fete-Dieu a Seville

7. Benediction de Dieu dans la solitude - Liszt, Franz

8. Les jeux d'eaux a la Villa d'Este - Liszt, Franz

9. Chasse-neige (Étude d'execution transcendante No. 12)

Disc: 2

1. Variations on a Them by Paganini, Op. 35: Book 1

2. Variations on a Them by Paganini, Op. 35: Book 2

3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-minor, Op. 15: 1.Maestoso - Poco piú moderato

4. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-minor, Op. 15: 2.Adagio

5. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-minor, Op. 15: 3.Rondo. Allegro non Troppo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arrau at his best, March 17, 2003

By 

J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Claudio Arrau - Great Pianists of the 20th Century I (Audio CD)

It might seem like a strange thing to recommend, but for me the most impressive performance on this disc is the oldest, a 1926 recording of Balakirev's 'Islamey.' There are three other versions (Gavrilov, Katchen, Ogdon) in the Philips Great Pianists and this one makes the most music out of Balakirev's knucklebuster. The sound is absolutely amazing for its time (with a lot of inobtrusive help from Philips' engineers). You will be amazed at the variety of piano tone, faithful to Arrau's legendary touch, in such an old recording.

Also on the first of these two discs is an inward 'Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue', by Bach. And Liszt's 'Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude' played slowly and intensely; this piece can lose momentum, but not in Arrau's hands.

The second disc is all Brahms: the Paganini Variations, both books, and a majestic First Concerto, played more slowly than we may be used to. The Variations are stunning. The Concerto will not be to everyone's tastes because of the solemn first movement, but in my opinion it works because of the tonal nuance and musical phrasing Arrau brings to it. The second movement is a beautiful song, and the third a rollicking conclusion.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colourful, breathtaking interpretation, January 11, 2000

By 

Kalle Kuusava (Lahti, Finland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Claudio Arrau - Great Pianists of the 20th Century I (Audio CD)

Arrau is one of the very few pianists who has fantastic touch and crystalbright, brilliantly beatiful sound, whatever he plays. If you want to listen Brahms' Paganini variations with strong intensity and brilliant dynamic differences, every single note played with care, buy this CD. In Liszt's Spanish Rhapsody Arrau shows his breathtaking virtuoso skills, but also so beautiful sound and so different colours in different sections in the piece. True master of music, excellent recording.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Intro to this Spiritual Pianist, November 15, 1998

By 

Shannon W. Mack ([e-mail]) (Los Alamitos, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Claudio Arrau - Great Pianists of the 20th Century I (Audio CD)

Philips has undertaken a massive project. They are remastering classic and rediscovered recordings of almost every legendary pianist of the century. As the fourth installment, they have provided an anthology of studio recordings by the Chilean Claudio Arrau. This set is very well remastered (despite surface noise due to age). The performances are exceptional throughout. The price is quite good for a double set.