16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Byron Janis: A DVD to Cherish, September 5, 2007
This review is from: Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3 In C Major; Rachmaninov: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini (DVD)
Byron Janis
This DVD is a treasure and a poignant reminder of loss. It provides an opportunity to hear two great American pianists both of whom had abbreviated performing careers. Besides the headlined Byron Janis, a student of Horowitz, playing the Prokofiev Third Piano Concerto with great power and excitement and the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, in a lyrical and moving performance, there's a bonus film of Julius Katchen playing his specialty Brahms, in this case two Hungarian Dances and the Second Sonata. It's wonderful to have the opportunity to see these two artists at the height of their powers. The films were originally made for French television.
Janis made a number of superb recordings of the works of Rachmaninoff among others before the psoriatic arthritis, which plagued him for many years, forced him to quit concertizing and recording. He was finally able to perform and record again in recent years, though not at his earlier level of virtuosity and power. I was fortunate in being able to see him perform at Pick Steiger Hall on the Northwestern University campus a number of years ago when he played a musically challenging recital, and for most of us mortals, a technically demanding one as well. His musicianship came through beautifully, but he continued to be limited by his physical problems. Check Google links to learn more about this persevering and inspiring artist and how he has dealt with and compensated for his disability.
Julius Katchen was an important artist in the 1940s and until his untimely death from cancer at age forty-two in 1969. We are fortunate to have a fairly large number of recordings from him, including all the Brahms piano works, solo, chamber and with orchestra, as well as the works of many other composers.
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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing piano history, July 10, 2006
This review is from: Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3 In C Major; Rachmaninov: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini (DVD)
Incredible piano playing of my favourite piece of Classical music.The DVD depicts the amazing artistry of Byron Janis,which I had never been able to see until now.It is a "must" for any Classical music lover.I have bought another to give away as a gift.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Pianism, November 23, 2008
This review is from: Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3 In C Major; Rachmaninov: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini (DVD)
A previous reviewer, either on this site or another one (I can't simultaneously access other reviews and write this one)correctly pointed to the bonus tracks on this DVD being the real treasures. I concur enthusiastically. While Byron Janis's dynamic approach to these warhorses is well represented, though not especially well-preserved or edited (why does the camera peer, voyeur-like, at some inactive wind players picking their noses and rearranging their private while Janis is busting his knuckles on some double octaves, for example?), the bonus of Julius Katchen, who died too young, playing his specialty, Brahms, is most welcome. I know of no other DVD performances of Katchen. It would be worth the time and effort to search some archives for lost videos of him and ignore such contemporary wannbees like Lang Lang. Interestingly enough, though the Katchen performances were recorded earlier (the Brahms 2nd Sonata and a pair of Hungarian Dances)their visual and tonal quality are much superior to the Janis recordings of a few years later.
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