Customer Reviews

Grieg and Schumann: Piano Concertos

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This CD has been out since 2004, but only recently has it started selling here at Amazon. That is because when this new line of Sony "Great Performances" first came out, they were being offered exclusively through Tower Records, but now thankfully they are available anywhere fine music is sold (I sound like a commercial). Of the dozen or so "GP" reissues this title, featuring the Grieg and Schumann Piano Concertos, is easily the best. Pianist Leon Fleisher and conductor George Szell (along with the Cleveland Orchestra of course) formed a memorable partnership before Fleisher's career came to a tragic, but fortunately temporary, halt. Most notably they produced a brilliant pair of Brahms Concerto recordings, and a Beethoven Concerto Cycle (now scandalously out-of-print) that many still regard as definitive. These 1960 Grieg and Schumann performances are no different, and this disc has to be considered the first choice in this repertoire. I'm still fuming mad at Sony for recently deleting so many of their best CDs, but at least they are continuing to make some classics available once again.

This is another outstanding achievement by Felisher-Szell partnership alongside their Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninov (Paganini Rhapsody) recordings. Grieg's Concerto has never been played with such intensity, penetrating tone and depth of feeling since the legendary Praga recording by Richter/Kondashin. Fleisher captures the rapt serenity of the slow movement like no other pianist could.

Schumann Concerto is even better. The limitless range of Fleisher's tonal shading and colours makes the music so fresh and alive! You get the impression that the pianist is completely one with the music. The last movement is totally electrifying.

I don't know if Columbia Records brought them together, but the young Leon Fleisher made almost all of his classic Sixties concerto recordings with George Szell. Their work shone through the dreary, hissy sonics to be found on the Epic label, but here are two recordings--the Grieg and Schumann concertos--in excellent refurbished sonics, by far the best they've ever enjoyed. The solo piano, placed fairly close, and the Cleveland Orch. both sound full and natural, without any edginess at loud volume.

As for the interpretations, the Grieg is revisionist history. At the time (1960) this old horse was almost dead from over-popularity, so Szell and Fleisher slowed the tempo down and replaced dazzling keyboard attack with thoughtful, considered phrasing. It's awfully low key and serious at times, particuarly compared to the blazing reading that Richter gives on EMI, but the two partners are masters at what they do.

In the Schumann their pacing is close to the norm, but again the overall tone is low key, serious, and more classic than romantic. Dynamics heed close to mezzo forte, and there aren't a lot of passionate exchanges between piano and orchestra. The main thing to admire here is Szell's control over the orchestra and Fleisher's natural, unassuming musicianship. I'm not sure I love this reading, but no American pianist since Fleisher, with the exception of Perahia, has made such accomplished recordings of these two chestnuts.

I'm not a sophisticated musical reviewer, just love great music and in particular these two concertos. The Schumann is one of my favorite pieces of music and when played well is glorious. Fleisher plays it perfectly, giving just the right touch to the fabulous runs at the end. Szell is one of my favorite conductors so when I am not familiar with the various recordings of a piece, I always go for one of his knowing I won't be disappointed. Since some of my first listening experiences were with the 'Great Performance' recordings, I'm thrilled some of them are now available through Amazon. While some recordings make pleasant background music, these make you stop and listen with all your attention. They're that good.

The Grieg-Schumann combination has become almost a cliche among classical CDs, so often do we encounter it. These piano concerti are among the most recorded ever, and--at least for a musical layman such as I--it's difficult to say which one is the best, or even which five are the best. I love the recordings by Andsnes, Zimerman and Howard Shelley, among others, but Fleisher and Szell are strong contenders in this repertoire, and the bargain price makes this CD even more attractive. The polish and musicality of these performances are magnificent. My only minor complaint is that the sound quality, naturally in recordings nearly 50 years old, is slightly muted. But it is still perfectly acceptable. At least Sony Classical cares enough to produce a CD that plays all the way through without sticking or skipping--which is more than I can say for Deutsche Grammophon and the two successive copies I bought of the Grieg-Schumann disc featuring Zimerman and Von Karajan!

Great quality and great sound, a must buy if you want a piece of Grieg, Schumann master works, My dad loved it as a birthday present, I had the chance to listened with him and he was very pleased.