Customer Reviews

Piano Concerto No 1

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great recording of Ashkenazy and Haitink, the partnership between these two stars is wonderful projected and plasmed in this recording, really for Rachmaninoff fans this can be a must have obligated because the interpretation of the Symphony No.1 and the Variation on a theme of Paganini have the right tempos (musically speaking)and the correct speed of the piano interpretation without a lot of sub enfasis, the orchestral arrangements are well defined and articulated thanks to the great Bernard Haitink, really I recommend very much this cd, you won't be disapointed.

Escuchar la rapsodia sobre un tema de Paganini, es quizas algo comun y por tanto no tan sorprendente, la virtud de incluirla en este CD es su calidad, Ashkenazy se esmera como el gran pianista que es y nos da su mejor esfuerzo para no pasar desapercibido, lo seria porque elecciones de esta obra hay muchas y por cierto de gran calidad. Asi que en una audición no muy novedosa nos alegramos de la gran interpretación.
Ahora el peso del CD se lo lleva el concierto N° 1, una novedad? quizas para un experto no, pero para aquellos que vamos a pasos lentos por el mundo de la musica clasica nos encontramos con una nueva gran belleza, es verdaderamente una pieza hermosa, sutil, un comienzo mejor de lo esperado para la fructifera y genial obra de Rachmaninov, tenemos el sobreexplotado y grabado concierto N°2 que es grandioso y el increible, portentoso y espectacular concierto N°3, asi que este un poco desplazado nos brinda una grata sorpresa, hay que decirlo nos llega en la genial interpretación de la orquesta del concertgebouw de AMsterdam bajo la batuta del mas incomparable Bernard Haitink, la fuerza y la tradición musical rusa la pone el gran pianista Ashkenazy, y la creación de un genio es el alma de este CD.

These are wonderful performances, among the best I've ever heard. The Concerto, in fact, is THE best I've heard. Tempos in the Concerto are fast yet comfortable, with a lot of flexibility. Ashkenazy brings out all the bravura, but also achieves much lyricism, which seems to elude most pianists. Haitink and the Concertgebouw accompany him beautifully. The Rhapsody goes very well, although I would not say that it is better than Entremont/Ormandy or Pennario/Fiedler, let alone the classic William Kapell/Fritz Reiner version. The only reason I have not given this CD 5 stars is the sound engineering. It is certainly clear enough, but is lacking in body. The sumptuousness one expects in Rachmaninoff's orchestrations is merely hinted at, an ailment all too familiar from early digital recordings. Nevertheless, the Concerto demands to be heard.

If from our world, the light of one moon appears greater than that of one hundred stars, than this CD opens the sky to the brilliance of 100 moons. The music of Rachmaninoff beckons attention from every heartstring, every breath, causing anticipation and amazement. This CD displays the talent of a great romantic artist, who in his music has the power to touch the soul.