Great Pianists 19

Van Cliburn (Artist), Rachmaninoff (Artist), Tchaikovsky (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B00000HY8C
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,779 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 1. Allegro ma non tanto

2. Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 2. Intermezzo. Adagio

3. Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 3. Finale Alla breve

4. Piano Sonata No.2 In B-flat Minor, Op.36: 1. Allegro agitata

5. Piano Sonata No.2 In B-flat Minor, Op.36: 2. Non allegro

6. Piano Sonata No.2 In B-flat Minor, Op.36: 3. Allegro molto

Disc: 2

1. Piano Concerto No.1 In B-Flat Minor, Op.23: 1. Allegro con sprito

2. Piano Concerto No.1 In B-Flat Minor, Op.23: 2. Adantino semplice

3. Piano Concerto No.1 In B-Flat Minor, Op.23: 3. Allegro con fuoco

4. Prelude In D, Op.23 No.4

5. Prelude In G Minor, Op.23 No.5

6. Prelude In E-Flat, Op.23 No.6

7. Prelude In C Minor, Op. 23 No. 7

8. Etude-Tableau In E-Flat Minor, Op.39 No.5

9. Prelude In C-sharp Minor, Op.3 No.2

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

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every Rachmaninov lover must own this disc, May 2, 1999

By 

Anonymous (California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Pianists 19 (Audio CD)

This collection contains two of the greatest Rachmaninov recordings ever made: Cliburn's versions of the Third Concerto and the Second Sonata. Both readings have similar qualities. Cliburn takes a broader, deeper, more Russian view than virtually any other pianist. In doing so he makes musical sense where so many other virtuosos merely make a lot of noise. I would go so far as to say that only Rachmaninov himself comes close to Cliburn in the Concerto, while he is on his own in the (almost) original version of the Sonata.

This is possibly the most valuable single purchase of Rachmaninov any music lover could make. It is also a touching reminder of the greatness Cliburn had at the beginning of his career.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best recording, May 29, 2004

By 

"petevb" (Jupiter, Florida, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Pianists 19 (Audio CD)

The Rachmaninoff Third Concerto performance is one of the most musically satisfying recordings of anything! It is the most moving and the most beautiful Rachmaninoff 3rd I've ever heard.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American Legend, August 9, 2010

By 

Carl Armstrong - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Great Pianists 19 (Audio CD)

There was William Kapell and there is Van Cliburn.Both American legends that will be remembered hundreds of years from now by anyone who loves great piano playing.Van Cliburn, that tall handsome good natured Texan who knows not the meaning of the word hate, has a special affinity for Russian music.In fact, his understanding of the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff almost borders on the supernatural.Cliburns recordings of the 3rd Concerto and original 1913 version of the 2nd piano Sonata will never be surpassed and set the standard by which all other performances must be compared, as does Schnabels Beethoven.Even today his recording of the popular 2nd Piano Concerto in C minor is still hailed by critics as being unsurpassed.(the sound is excellent and is one of RCAs best)One to watch however is young Freddy Kempff whos stunning all Rachmaninoff CD includes the original 1913 2nd Sonata, and is only a hairs breadth away from equaling Cliburns definitive performance.So there is still hope for the future, but it was Van who really started it all.