Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 3, 4

Sergey Prokofiev (Composer), Antoni Wit (Conductor), Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Kun Woo Paik (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Kun Woo Paik
• Orchestra: Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Antoni Wit
• Composer: Sergey Prokofiev
• Audio CD (February 15, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B0000013U1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #220,221 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passionate intelligent playing., June 19, 2005

By 

T. R. SCHAEFER (Madison, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 3, 4 (Audio CD)

I went to Barnes & Noble anticipating that I'd purchase the Previn/Ashkenazy recordings of the 5 Prokofiev Piano Concertos. After all, those 5 are packaged as a single set, and everyone speaks highly of the performances. I'm so very glad that I did NOT settle for those recording!! There was a certain clinical, dispassionate quality to the Previn/Ashkenazy recordings. In contrast, Kun Woo Paik truly feels this music, and has a dazzling technique. For me, these recordings of the 5 Prokofiev Piano Concertos are the recordings to own!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful performances and an unknown gem at budget price!, March 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 3, 4 (Audio CD)

This CD has really excellent performances of some of the most exhilarating and most consoling music written by one of the master composers of the twentieth century. The price would be worth it alone to discover the virtually forgotten and seldom performed masterwork of the Fourth concerto. Anyone who enjoys the jazz influences, and especially the slow movement,of Ravel's G major concerto will love this concerto with its beautiful nocturne andante movement. (The concerto was rejected by its intended original performer Paul Wittgenstein.)
Prokofiev's scintillating first concerto student work is given a bright and bold reading by Kun Woo Paik and the third concerto is given a performance which is as satisfying and assured as Argerich. This CD is one I listen to almost every day and never tire of. I'd recommend it to anyone as at bargain price it gives three of the finest 20th Century piano concertos in an excellent recording with a fine orchestral contribution and a brilliant soloist! And the music is therapeutic! What more could you want!?

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strikingly good, December 10, 2000

By 

"endoguy2" (Green village, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 3, 4 (Audio CD)

These recordings of the Prokofiev 1st, 2nd and 3rd piano concertos, along with the other Naxos recording of the 2nd and 5th concertos, are remarkably high quality, not just for a budget label but in absolute terms. The sound quality is excellent and has a rich, high-fidelity 3-D quailty to it. The interpretations of all five concertos across the two CDs give full justification to the works. To my ears the interpretations are slightly different and unorthorthodox, making me look at the recordings in a slightly different, but refreshing way. They bring out details that I didn't notice in the 2-3 other recordings that I have of these concertos. Both the pianism and the orchestra are excellent, and they smoothly compliment each other. It's good, it's a little different, it's refreshing, it's cheap...I like it.