Pletnev Live at Carnegie Hall

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Frederic Chopin (Composer), Sergey Rachmaninov (Composer), Alexander Scriabin (Composer), Domenico Scarlatti (Composer), Moritz Moszkowski (Composer), Mily Balakirev (Composer), Mikhail Pletnev (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Mikhail Pletnev
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Sergey Rachmaninov, Alexander Scriabin, et al.
• Audio CD (January 30, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000056PRG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,414 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #7 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Composers > Scriabin, Alexander
  • #67 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Fantasies
  • #79 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910) > Composers > Rachmaninov, Sergei

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Virtuosism and Musicality in a perfect balance, February 5, 2001

By 

condoraji - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pletnev Live at Carnegie Hall (Audio CD)

One of my musical highlights last year was attending Mikhael Pletnev's recital at Carnegie Hall, and I must say that it is extremely appropriate for this concert to have been recorded. The quality of the music is at its fullest. Pletnev manages at all times to show a very high level of virtuosism, but never for a second abandoning the musical maturity of a great musician. The combination never fails to give us daring, interesting, impressive and new results.

The Chacone is an extremely tough piece that challenges the pianist in every way conceivable during the full fifteen minutes of its length. In it, Pletnev plays with an interesting approach that is full of sonority. The huge chords just resonate in the air and together create a wonderful ambiance for the harmonies and melody to unfold. Beethoven's last piano Sonata is such an interesting work because each pianist does such a different thing with it. Pletnev plays it with with a huge range of emotions and does a supberb version of it. Its definitely closer, for example, to Pogorelich's interpretation than Arrau's. Its bold and yet, subtle and sublime.

Chopin's Scherzos are also pieces that allow virtuosism to overflow. However, to play them well requires a lot more than just that. What Pletnev does with them it exquisite. I cannot forget the experience of the second scherzo (the one that can almost make you sick if it isn't played really well) being a total surprise for me. In the slow section Pletnev makes the piano sing melodies that I had never heard before, melodies of great musical depth. The playing is, in my opionion, a lot more profound and stimulating than Rubinstein's. A most extraordinary effort by Pletnev.

This was the official ending of the concert. However, after came an exquisite set of five encores where Pletnev proved even further how his attitude is of service to music. The order of the encores in the CD is actually the order in which he played them. It was very surprising to hear him start the Islamey after having given four other encores. A major work like this is usually part of the program, and with what mastery he plays it.

This CD is a set of master interpretations put together of some of the greatest works around. Additionally, live recordings always have that extra flavor to them, and it certainly is very present here. Bravo for Deutsche Gramophon and for Pletnev!

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Pletnev Concert, March 6, 2001

By 

Alex Serrano (Perrysburg, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pletnev Live at Carnegie Hall (Audio CD)

As well as another reviewer for this double cd, i was also at the concert and am very happy this recital was taped including the encores. Pletnev plays the 4 Chopin scherzos in a daredevil act following the footsteps of Sviatoslav Richter's Carnegie Hall debut more than 30 years ago. It pays off with outstanding bravura, lyricism, and sober planning and laying out of the works. The Bach-Busoni Chaconne is a viruosic approach, however never neglecting the dark angst of the original violin solo. The encores include Balakiriev's Islamey which truly brought the house down - amazing speed and clarity. But at the concert, those of us fortunate to remember even without this disc, the most memorable moments came in the Beethoven sonata #32 - i remember the deep respect of the public, the spaciousness of the hall, and that loud silence which very rarely a performer is granted in recognition by the public. Get this cd if you went to the concert - but more important if you missed it, you will be able to understand the enthrallment shared by us who were there.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pletnev caught on the wing., March 6, 2001

By 

Alexander Leach (Shipley, West Yorkshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pletnev Live at Carnegie Hall (Audio CD)

I've never heard Pletnev playing the piano, only conducting, but I'd like to on the strength of this recording. The Beethoven sonata op.111 comes of best, I think: the first movement is a struggle, as it should be, while the Arietta is beautifully played, if not sounding quite as valedictory as on Barenboim's EMI version from the 1960s which is my benchmark.

Pletnev's Chopin Scherzi are dazzling, with the occasional quirk or mannerism. Here and there I prefer Pogorelich, also on DG, but those are studio recordings, and to play with such awesome fluency in a live concert is a remarkable achievement.

Appplause is included throughout the disc, and Pletnev's habit of starting a piece when the applause for the previous one has barely died down is a little disconcerting, but it does transmit the continuity and excitement of the occasion.

The second CD enshrines Pletnev's interpretation on Balakirev's Islamey (rather a long work for an encore), which is fast and furious, although (as in the Chopin) his cantabile playing in the central section is beautiful. Occasionally he runs away with himself virtuosity-wise (some of the Rachmaninov Etude-tableau sound a bit choppy, and the closing bars of Islamey become more of a maelstrom of sound rather than a genuine denouement), but altogether this is a fine release.

Excellent sound: the piano is vivid without being too close, and the ambience is ideal for this type of playing.