Michelangeli Plays Grieg & Debussy [Original recording remastered]

Claude Debussy (Composer), Edvard Grieg (Composer), Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (Conductor), New Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra), Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli
• Orchestra: New Philharmonia Orchestra
• Conductor: Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
• Composer: Claude Debussy, Edvard Grieg
• Audio CD (October 10, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: BBC Legends
• ASIN: B00004WJMG
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,731 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16: No. 1, Allegro molto moderato

2. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16: No 2, Adagio

3. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16: No. 3, Allegro marcato

4. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 1, 'Danseuses de Delphes'

5. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 2, 'Voiles'

6. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 3, 'Le vent dans la plaine'

7. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 4, 'Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir' (Baudelaire)

8. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 5, 'Les collines d'Anacapri'

9. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 6, 'Des pas sur la neige'

10. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 7, 'Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest'

11. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 8, 'La fille aux cheveux de lin' (Girl With the Flaxen Hair)

12. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 9, 'La serenade interrompue'

13. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 10, 'La cathedrale engloutie' (The Sunken Cathedral)

14. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 11, 'La danse de Puck'

15. Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: No. 12, 'Minstrels'

Editorial Reviews

From ClassicsToday.com

Some of the few concerts Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli didn't cancel took place in London, and were broadcast by the BBC. This 1965 Grieg Concerto briefly circulated on a Rococo LP, which sounds nowhere near as vibrant and impactive as BBC's remastering, odd balances and all. In essence you get the Apollonian stance and awe-inspiring control of Michelangeli's much-reissued 1943 Telefunken 78s, with much more fire and daring. Moreover, the wider dynamic range reinforces the Lisztian patina of Michelangeli's conception, and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos does an amazing job keeping up with his soloist. Michelangeli's lofty, commanding way with Debussy's Book I Preludes is familiar from his 1978 DG studio recording. But I much prefer this live 1982 Royal Festival Hall taping. For one, the gorgeous engineering fully captures how the pianist's ravishing, multi-layered sound world projected in a hall. Yes, Michelangeli may tinker with Debussy's dynamic indications and strum out chords with the left hand anachronistically anticipating the right. Yet these idiosyncracies never violate the spirit of the music. A release, in sum, that no self-respecting pianophile can ignore, even if you possess other Michelangeli versions (official and otherwise) in your collection.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking, December 22, 2000

By 

Michael Whincop (GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY, QLD AUSTRALIA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Michelangeli Plays Grieg & Debussy (Audio CD)

I have always enjoyed the Grieg concerto, but found it a little lightweight -- the sort of work that made a good coupling with the Schumann, but not quite in its league. This recording has destroyed that prejudice forever. The Grieg was one of the small number of works that Michelangeli played throughout his performing career, and one of his first recordings was made with Galliera in Milan in 1942. The recording in this album is from a live performance with the New Philharmonia in 1965 with Fruhbeck de Burgos. It is without a date the most electrifying, galvanic performance of the Grieg imaginable. There are times when Michelangeli could be a cold pianist -- never boring -- but always patrician in his technical and tonal immaculacy. This performance demonstrates every facet of that monumental technique -- the cadenzas are terrifying -- without compromising his eerie perfection -- witness his entry in the slow movement and the purity of the trills. It puts his famous Milan recording with Galliera totally in the shade. Even with the comparison of his Rachmaninov IV and Ravel concerti, this is surely the most treasurable of Michelangeli's recordings, and no other pianist I have heard in the Grieg even comes close to matching him.

The Debussy is encumbered by a very onerous comparison -- Michelangeli himself. His famous DG recording is the benchmark in these works. These performances from 1982 nonetheless make an interesting comparison, although the basic lines are very similar. They are undeniably fascinating, and are ever so slightly more personal than his chiseled perfection in the studio. Michelangeli's Debussy was wholly unique, and these performances show why.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BREATHTAKING GRIEG!, January 28, 2004

By 

Richard Steiger (Murray, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Michelangeli Plays Grieg & Debussy (Audio CD)

Although the Debuusy Preludes are excellently played and well-recorded, the main appeal of this issue is Michelangeli's stunning live performace of the Grieg piano concerto. Listening to this performance is like hearing the work for the first time. He's certainly the only pianist I've ever heard who actually makes the Grieg concerto sound dangerous. The concerto usually makes pleasant rather than exciting listening, but Michelangeli changes all that, charging through this work with unbridled energy and stunning virtuosity. Just listen to him explode into the last movement. Its opening theme sounds more like Bartok than Grieg and its whirlwind final pages remind me of the dizzy waltz that ends the Prokofief Third. For once the concerto's lyrical passages sound passionate rather than placid. In every way this is the most gripping performance of the work I've ever heard. The recorded sound is mediocre. but perfectly listenable. In sum, don't miss this performance!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INCREDIBLE....MUST GET, January 1, 2003

By 

"wah_lau_eh" (Lawrence, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Michelangeli Plays Grieg & Debussy (Audio CD)

This performance of the Grieg concerto is, IMHO, one of the VERY FINEST the world has EVER heard. Of course, we have heard many great masters tackle this piece, from the early Solomon and Moiseiwitsch to the pianists of our age, especially Murray Perahia. However, Michelangeli is in a class of his own. his playing is an incredible mix of immaculate precision and demonic virtuosity, of heartfelt sensitivity and extroverted flair. Some of my friends feel it's too aggresive for their taste, but i disagree. it's this kind of almost lisztian virtuosity that really ignites this piece. also, check out his very special way of phrasing the music, it has almost become his signature. do yourself a favor and get this CD. you'll be glad you did.