Customer Reviews

Geza Anda - Great Pianists of the 20th Century

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Look no further--contained on disc one of this invaluable set is the finest recorded versions of the Bartok Piano Concerti of all time. The chemistry between the still underrated Anda and Fricsay is scintillating. The slow movements are almost painfully haunting--and in the fiendishly virtuosic 2nd concerto you will be privy to some of the most astonishing piano playing on record. As a bonus, the 2nd disc contains Anda's famous recording of the Mozart 21st concerto as well as some unusually introspective, morose renditions of 9 Chopin Waltzes in which you may hear things you've never heard before. Altogether a fitting tribute to one of the century's great, yet scandalously underrated keyboard artists.

This twofer from the Phillips "Great Pianists of the 20th Century" series contains the recording made famous by its inclusion in the film "Elvira Madigan." And a wonderful recording it is--poised, joyful, satisfying. Anda plays and conducts the Salzburg Mozarteum orchestra from the keyboard. The set also includes 13 Chopin waltzes played with beautiful tone and phrasing.

The big draw here are the three Bartók piano concerti, all accompanied by Ferenc Fricsay and the RSO Berlin. Recorded in 1959 and 1960, the sound is just fine. And the playing is - I hesitate to use the word - perfect. I don't know whether it's Anda's Hungarian background or his impeccable musicianship, or both, but he manages to convey Bartók's élan, brilliance, ferocity, and songfulness where necessary. I wouldn't want to be without the set by Kocsis, but this is my go-to collection.