Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Balakirev / Lang Lang

Franz Joseph Haydn (Composer), Sergey Rachmaninov (Composer), Johannes Brahms (Composer), Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Mily Balakirev (Composer), Lang Lang (Performer, Composer), Joseph Haydn (Artist), Sergei Rachmaninoff (Artist), Johannes Brahms (Artist), Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Artist), Mily Balakirev (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Lang Lang
• Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn, Sergey Rachmaninov, Johannes Brahms, Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Mily Balakirev, et al.
• Audio CD (February 27, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000059SYO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #242,106 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent performance marred by in-your-face sound, December 4, 2001

By 

Mireille Wastwater (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Balakirev / Lang Lang (Audio CD)

Having read so many conflicting reviews of this CD I could not resist buying it and listening to it myself. BBC Magazine called him 'a talent in a million' whilst Gramophone were less enthusiastic. So which do I agree with? One thing I'll mention straight away is that the sound is far too dry. Some of the 'floating' pianistic effects that Lang Lang uses, such as in the Rachmaninov 2nd movement and the 2nd of the Op.118 by Brahms, relies on a warmer recording to capture its essence. No doubt the live audience would have been delighted, but on this record the effect is lost. I have heard Lang Lang in concert and he is indeed a talent in a million, as BBC Magazine enthuses. But to label him as such on the basis of this CD would be wrong as it does not show him at his best. Indeed, I would not give a top recommendation for any of the performances on this CD - It is only interesting/worth buying in that it is the debut CD of a rising star. His next recording is of the Rachmaninov 3rd concerto, which I listened to live. You will understand what I mean by the 'floating' effect when you hear his opening phrase (as long as they haven't recorded it as drily as this CD).

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A phenomenal young pianist, May 2, 2001

By 

"rainbowcrow" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Balakirev / Lang Lang (Audio CD)

Since hearing Lang Lang perform in Seattle a few months ago, I've been eager to get ahold of this CD, his first recording. I was very curious to see whether his personality and uniquely emotive style of playing would come through on CD. I finally found a copy of the recording, I certainly was not disappointed! The record faithfully reproduces his spirit of his performance.

It is a joy to hear, as well. The pieces are well chosen (with the possible exception of the Rachmaninoff, in my opinion), and the recording quality is superb. I do not share the editorial reviewer's concern about the final piece, myself, and I find the Tchaikovsky Dumka to be practically worth the price of admission on its own.

If haven't heard about Lang Lang, this might be a good time to see what the buzz is about; if you have heard him play, I suspect you'll be delighted by this recording. I certainly was, and this one will definitely spend a lot of time in my CD player.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting showman., January 2, 2003

By 

alan (Atlanta, Georgia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Haydn, Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Balakirev / Lang Lang (Audio CD)

After seeing Lang Lang play twice in one week I can give an honest review. He has some of the best showman qualities that great performers possess but is lacking in substantial overall pianistic ability and maturity. He concentrates too much on his look and celebrates, in my opinion, his ego. Horowitz was proclaimed as "the greatest pianist alive or dead" but his music had little showmanship. The music went from the heart and then directly too the fingertips.
But Lang Lang has a maturity beyond average pianistic ability. I have scarcely heard anyone play Brahms as well as Lang Lang, which is a great and well-deserved compliment. But his maturity does lack in pieces like Islamey and Rachmaninoff's Second Sonata. These are heavy virtuoso compositions that are recieved with reservations and little power from Lang Lang. He plays in a perfectly crisp tone and does not confuse the listner. He rarely uses the damper pedal which can be a blessing when playing Hayden and a curse with Rachmaninoff. I give this cd 4 stars based on content. Hayden, Brahms, a beautiful Dumka by Tchiakovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Balakirev. It has pieces for everyone and seems to be a promising start for just a 19 year-old pianist.