Customer Reviews

Composers in Person: Shostakovich

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If you are looking for a recording of the first piano concerto, look no further - this one tops them all. While other interpretations may offer more subtle phrasing and nuance, the composer's own performance in pure energy. And, after all - that's what the piece is all about. The sound is amazing for a mono recording, and should not be a factor in the decision. The only other available recording of Shostakovich humself playing this piece (a recently deleted Revelation recording from about a decade earlier) suffers from scratchy, muffled sound. Others, including Andsnes on EMI, are excellent in their own right, but every other player I've heard tends to cop out with too much rubato in the fast, rollicking finale. Shostakovich blasts right through it, and what he sometimes lacks in precision, he makes up for in fiery commitment. Don't hesitate - this one was unavailable in the states for some time and, given the sad state of the recording industry, may not be around as long as it should.

This is a terrific CD but don't buy the full-price version of this title. The exact same performances have been recently reissued at a mid-line price in EMI's Great Recordings of the Century series (see my review). Same great music at a much lower price! Don't make the same mistake I did!

Dmitri Shostakovich was not only great 20th century's composer in Russia but also has hidden talent-pianist. When he entered the Leningrad Conservatory, he studied composition and piano. His classmates were Maria Yudina, Vladimir Sofronitsky and others. And he worked as a pianist in theater and cinema. So, Shostakovich's many early works were composed for piano solo. You can heard Shostakovich's Three fantastic Dances(1922) in this CD. And this CD contains his very important piano works-24 Preludes and Fugues(1950-51)' five excerpts. But this CD's very exciting works are two Piano Concertos. First concerto's orchestral accompaniments are only formal strings and added trumpet soloist. Shostakovich and trumpeter Ludovic Vaillant played very 'poignant' in this concerto. Especially in last fourth movement, Shostakovich played very fast tempi with little rubato and percussionistic touch. In last fanfaronade coda, you'll imagine roller coaster. Second concerto is shorter than first but its sneer and march-like surroundings much better than first-for example, first movement's two 'stupid' and childish fanfare themes. But in second movement, Shostakovich composed and played very lyrical and clarity tones like a Andre Gagnon's lyrical pieces. And third movement without pause, Shostakovich and orchestra played no trouble in some strange 7/8 beat's passages. These documents are all mono recordings. But it has very stabilized and clear sound because EMI's careful restoration. I think these recordings has very excellent level than other Shostakovich's late recordings as a pianist.

Shostakovich can, of course, lay claim to being greatest 20th century composer, or certainly one of three or four. He was also, not surprisingly, a brilliant pianist. His performance of the Preludes and Fugues, one of his many masterworks, is a revelation. Shostakovich was transcendent.

This CD is a revelation. Shostakovich playing himself with all the athoritative power who he meant ; a great composer and believe or not a very gifted pianist.
In the Piano concert no. 1 Shostakovich plays with caucassian moods ; outrage and histamine . There's one serious performance that rivalizes with this one . Kapell -Ormandy-Philadelphia of 1945 .
The second concert is a true revelation. The second movement is not only filled with arresting lyricism but itself means a jump to the future. Think in the andante of the ninth concert for piano of Mozart or in the Adagio of the Ninth of Bruckner : There are cosmical raptures who goes far beyond a simple moment of divine inspiration.
Eugene Liszt made a great performance in the fifties too, but never wins with that.
If you're a serious collector of unforgettable issues ; thius recording is a must!