Great Pianists 99

Maria Yudina (Artist), Bach (Artist), Beethoven (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 9, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00000I0LM
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,682 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. 'Goldberg' Variations ,BWV 988: Aria

2. 'Goldberg' Variations ,BWV 988: Variation I. a 1 Clav.

3. 'Goldberg' Variations ,BWV 988: Variation II. a 1 Clav.

4. 'Goldberg' Variations ,BWV 988: Variation III. Canone all'Unisono a 1 Clav.

5. 'Goldberg' Variations ,BWV 988: Variation IV. a 1 Clav.

6. 'Goldberg' Variations ,BWV 988: Variation V. a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.

7. 'Goldberg' Variations ,BWV 988: Variation VI. Canone alla Seconda a 1 Clav.

8. 'Goldberg' Variations ,BWV 988: Variation VII. a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga

9. 'Goldberg' Variations ,BWV 988: Variation VIII. a 2 Clav.

10. 'Goldberg' Variations ,BWV 988: Variation IX. Canone alla Terza a 1 Clav.

See all 32 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. 'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120: Tema. Vivace

2. 'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120: Variation I. Alla marcia maestoso

3. 'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120: Variation II. Poco allegro

4. 'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120: Variation III. L'istesso tempo

5. 'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120: Variation IV. Un poco piu vivace

6. 'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120: Variation V. Allegro vivace

7. 'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120: Variation VI. Allegro ma non troppo e serioso

8. 'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120: Variation VII. Un poco piu allegro

9. 'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120: Variation VIII. Poco vivace

10. 'Diabelli' Variations, Op. 120: Variation IX. Allegro pesante e risoluto

See all 51 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Profound Humanism, June 26, 2000

By 

Richard Townsend (Southern United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Pianists 99 (Audio CD)

Maria Yudina (1899-1970, one of the greatest pianists of her generation, dared to become a "legend in her own lifetime". She was born in Nevel, Russia and died in Moscow. She began her formal studies at age 7 and went on to become a star pupil at the St. Petersburg Conservatory (studying with the great Anna Essipova). Possessing "fingers of steel", a poetic temperament, and a masculine creative intellect, Yudina made music like no other of her generation. She was truly a profound humanist: an interpreter of genius. She dared to be true to her own beliefs at a time of repressing conformity. She was labeled as Stalin's favorite pianist, and because of this fact, she got away with sending him nasty notes about his policies without being sent to the Gulag like so many great intellectuals. An interesting story has it that she once played a Mozart concerto for Soviet radio and on hearing this, Stalin ordered a copy of the performance to be sent to him immediately. Since no one dared to tell Stalin that it was a live broadcast, the pianist and the entire orchestra found themselves brought back to the recording studio at four in the morning. She was a great eccentric as well, often reading banned literature at her concerts. Her repetoire was staggering, including everything from Rameau to Boulez and STockhausen. However, on this cd is in my opinion, one of hers and history's greatest recordings: that of BAch's Goldberg Variations. It's without doubt the most fascinating and colorful Goldberg I've ever heard, and it was recorded just two years before her death at age 71. She did not get round to playing the Goldberg in public until such a late age because of the maturity and intellectual strength needed to really "interpret" such a monument of music.Her embellishments are torrential. The sound is like a full orchestra. But as the booklet says, this is a Bach very much in keeping with our time, showing that humanism and the creative ethic can still shine in the modern mess of the Twentieth Century. The way in which she brings out the subtleties of the piece is in fact quite amazing. She accentuates the polyphonic richness of the work with a majesty I've rarely heard. Full of fantasy and an amazing drive (even surpassing Gould, Jambor, and other great Bach keyboard artists). Intense, intellectual, and most of all spiritual playing. One of the great talents of the past century. I recommend this recently released recording for any music connoisseur.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of them all, January 13, 2007

By 

Robert Wightman "R. Wightman" (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Pianists 99 (Audio CD)

I disagree to the utmost with Mr. Morrison's comments, that Maria Yudina's Goldberg performance isn't that spectacular. This is a profound interpretation of Bach's 32 variations. This is better than anything I've ever heard. It is hard to really compare with Gould or Perahia or anyone else, as they all are unique interpretations. But this one, this is extra amazing. I was a music major in piano and continue to perform professionally so my opinion does have some weight. Does Mr. Morrison also believe that Thelonious Monk was a basically "bad" pianist? Music has a soul, out of which shines life and creativity. This performance is so full of life, who cares about the recording quality. Don't let yourself be distracted by that. I hope these few words help a bit to remind everyone of the true gift given to Maria Yudina.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most modern pianists of that missed times!, August 16, 2007

By 

Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Pianists 99 (Audio CD)

After the downfall of USRR, it results extremely difficult to this raising generation, to understand in sum grade the terrible spiritual burden around the intellectual elite of those artists who bet and fought for living in a most human world where the free exchange of ideas was not motive to be imprisoned just for disagreeing.

Maria Yudina was a true living legend in the middle of
the ferrous fist- state governed by Stalin. His stubbornness and obsessive struggling for the freedom of thought, made of her a dangerous artistic enemy if the regime and so her expected visits to the West was simply limited to Poland and Leipzig with Shostakovich, but according the judgment of Bela Davidovich she had : "a mystical personality and a very great artist always interesting to hear."

In this sense his steeled conviction inside the environment she had to live was a constant struggle; and so these performances reflect this state of things, that's why you will listen Schubert's Impromptus absolutely despoiled of refined sentimentalism, visible pedalling austerity, free of ornamentations, invested of plasticity and that fierce intensity. She belongs to a missed and historical dynasty, the last confrontation between art and politics.

Rest in peace, venerable master!.