Customer Reviews

Grieg: Lyric Pieces (Performed on Grieg's Piano)

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I first began seriously listening to classical/instrumental music I wanted to build a collection of cds that would cover all the great works. At first I thought this might not seem too difficult, until I began realizing that many works have many "must-have" interpretations. For example, In Ashenkazy's "Favorite Piano Works of Chopin" I thought I had the definitive Chopin recording...until I heard significantly different and fascinating interpretations of much of the same works by Jean-Yves Thibaudet, followed by Martha Argerich.

And the same holds true for the lyric pieces of Grieg, first encountered by Emil Gilels on his famous DG recording of the 70's, and now by Leif Ove Andsnes. Both of these recordings take me to significantly different musical places, and hence I'm glad to have listened to each at least 50 times now. It doesn't have to be "either or" when it comes to deciding which to buy. Listen to both and I guarantee each will find separate places in your heart. In Gilels you may find more elegance and sensitivity to each note, while in Andsnes you'll tend to find more force, uplift, and variation of intensity. In either case I'm sure Grieg would have realized that both have lived the dreams that are promised within his work to all great, dedicated performers.

Guilty. I admit not having taken the time to listen to any of Leif Ove Andsnes recordings until I recently acquired this one at an Ebay auction (at a price that was far too good to pass up). Now I may have to seek out his other recordings as well beacasue this one is clearly a winner.

I grew up with the now legendary Emil Gilels recording of Grieg and Andsnes' new recording is worthy of comparison in the same breath. There is little overlap between the two recordings, eight pieces, out of the twenty played by Gilels and twenty-four by Andsnes. Ironically, both recordings begin and end with the same selections but Andsnes offers some of the more lively pieces in his set.

What really makes this recording novel is the use of Grieg's own Steinway piano from the 1890's in his studio. It is a wonderful instrument with a very rich sound, well suited to these very intimiate miniatures which are a whole musical genre unto themselves. Andsnes does not have to hold back because this piano can deliver and its sonority packs a very suprising punch. There are a few of the quirks unique to older pianos, but they only add to the overall performance. Listen and learn.

Perhaps my acquaintance with Andsnes was overdue, but this is a very fine recording--faithful to the instrument and its surroundings; and like the music of Grieg, something to be cherished. If you already own the Gilels recording, this is a nice addition too, or vice versa. I plan on enjoying both for a very long time. Thank you EMI for doing something worthwhile.

This review is for three categories of people considering the purchase of this CD.

1. For those who are not familiar with Grieg's Lyric Pieces: "enchanting" may be the best word to summarize this set of subtle, lyrical, and exotic short piano pieces. Grieg has a distinctive voice as a composer, and these pieces showcase his ideas well. Modal harmonies and Scandanavian sounds mix effortlessly with traditional romantic beauty to create a sparkling spectrum of moods and textures. If you are a fan of piano music looking for something other than Beethoven and Chopin, try Grieg next.

2. For those who have the Gilels CD and wonder whether to get this one too: YES. Fourteen of the pieces on this CD are not on Gilels's, including favorites like March of the Dwarfs, Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, and the Waltz in A minor. On at least a few of the pieces that overlap, I'll admit a slight preference for Gilels, but even so, there is little redundancy, because the differences in interpretation are often fascinating in their own right.

3. For those deciding whether to start with this or Gilels: I recommend this one, for one main reason. Andsnes plays a few more of the early pieces than Gilels. Grieg's style changed quite a bit over the years, so I feel that the more rounded set on this CD would probably make a better introduction. Still, you won't go wrong with either.

I agree with the previous reviewer's recommendation of the Gilels recording of Grieg. It is beautiful, poetic.

Having said this, the joy of the Andsnes recording is that it is played on Grieg's piano in Grieg's own room so we capture a sound close to what Grieg originally heard. The best news is that Andsnes does play beautifully, even if I might have preferred some other tempos on occasion. By way of example, I much prefer Gilels sensitive, thoughtful and slow performance of Arietta. Still, I'm sure Grieg would say that Andsnes is closer to the way he conceived the music to be played.

If you are only to have one recording if Grieg's solo piano music (that's sad), then I don't think you'll regret purchasing the Gilels recording. If you don't drink the same wine with every meal, then consider this Andsnes recording. I think there is some delight in knowing whose piano is being played and where. I wonder what Grieg would say listening from a chair in a corner of the room?

Leif Ove Andsnes' latest traversal of Grieg's Lyric Pieces compares favorably to Emil Gilels' distinguished 1974 recording for Deutsche Grammophon. Although Gilels' interpretations may seem a bit more polished, I suspect that may be due more to the sound quality, which surprisingly is slightly better on the earlier analogue recording. Still, EMI has done a fine job capturing Andsnes' lively, warm performances of selections from Grieg's Lyric Pieces, most of which aren't identical with those performed by Gilels. In stark contrast to Gilels, Andsnes tends to emphasize the lyrical qualities - no pun intended - of Grieg's music, at the expense of technique, yet by no means should one rate Andsnes an inferior pianist. I am greatly impressed with the deep sonority and rich tones of Grieg's 1892 Steinway, which Andsnes exploits successfully in each of his performances. Fans of Andsnes' playing and Grieg's music will certainly acquire this fine CD.

Despite what seemed to be a lot of advance press for this CD, I was disappointed. Although it is quite good, the recording is just not nearly of the same high quality as Emil Gilels's Deutsche Grammaphon recording of Lyric Pieces from 1974. Of the 24 selections on Andsnes's CD, 10 of them are among the 20 selections on Gilels's CD. Each of those 10 Gilels plays as well as, and in most cases better than, Andsnes. Gilels's musical judgment and execution are simply superior in every way. Andsnes's version of "Melody," for example, is about 3 minutes long and rather hamhanded. Gilels's version, by contrast, is about 1 minute longer and very polished; the slower tempo is the obviously better musical choice. It might be tempting to think of the superior version of Lyric Pieces as the one performed by a young native Norwegian playing Grieg's own piano, rather than by an aging Russian more well-known for playing Beethoven, but it is not so. If you are going to buy one, buy the Gilels, which is available on Amazon.

I am not familiar with the Emil Giles' recording of the Lyric Pieces so I cannot compare them to the selection by Lief Ove Andsnes recorded here. However, I have other recording by Mr. Andsnes and can vouch that he is an unusually sensitive performer. I find I disagree with the criticism here of Andsnes' playing, and can back up my opinion with three reviews in major music magazines that Andsnes performs this selection of Grieg's music thoughtfully and with insight. The selections played by Mr. Andsnes are meant to give us a kind of portrait of Grieg and the Lyric Pieces serve as a kind of musical diary. Because the Lyric Pieces were written over a 30-year period, we can discern how Grieg developed as a composer. Many of the pieces have nostalgia and make one think of the long, bleak winter of Norway.

I have heard the more familiar pieces (March of the Trolls and The Wedding Day at Troldhaugen) played by other pianists and can vouch to this extent that Andsnes performs them well indeed. One of my new favorites is Homeward and The Brook. The less familiar pieces are well performed, and, hopefully, he will record all of the Lyric Pieces some day. Until then, I think that these performances should be considered as equally excellent with those of Giles. For someone wanting an introduction to the Lyric Pieces, this recording is invaluable. The novelty of this recording is, of course, that Andsnes plays Grieg's own Steinway but there also is a very performance as well.

Leif Ove Andsnes is Norway's most famous living classical musician, probably its most famous pianist since Grieg himself. Andsnes was allowed (invited?) to record this album of Grieg's Lyric Pieces on Grieg's own piano, and that alone speaks volumes about Andsnes' reputation in his homeland.

Judging from the reviews here, the acclaim for Andsnes doesn't sit too well with some classical music fans. We all have our favorite performers, but I've heard enough of Andsnes by now--not only his version of the Lyric Pieces, but also the Grieg Concerto and the Rachmaninov Second and Third--to know that, at least for me, his technique and musicality are superb. I bought this CD for "Wedding Day at Troldhaugen," but I found Andsnes' performance sparkling and elegant in every piece on this disc. Unless you are a partisan of Gilels or some other pianist in this repertoire, I think you will enjoy this CD very much.

I am sure Emil Gilels' recording cannot be surpassed but why not get both? After all, there isn't much of overlap.

By the way, I can't help questioning the intention of one of the reviewers named Dag Johansen. He is proactively reviewing most of Andsnes' CDs and giving them very poor rating. In fact, all he is reviewing are Andsnes', no other.
I don't mind that if it is truly his honest opinion but there's something fishy here... why does he keep buying Andsnes' CDs if he hates his playing so much? It's as if he is trying to damage the artist's reputation... Shady....

I have not actully heard this CD or any of Andsnes'. Just felt I needed to report on this.

I've heard 4 interpretations now, and I certainly wont quibble that Leif Oves Andnes has a bad technique. It's dazzling. I only want to remark that it's sometimes a little too rushed for my liking.
I dont feel I have the time to dream and enjoy the poetry as one does with the Gilels interpretation, or the Grieg: Pièces Lyriques Op. 54, 57 et 62 interpretation by Daniel Propper, which is not mentioned in the reviews because it's very recent. Incidentally if you are very keen on the music why dont you get all three CD's by Daniel Propper?