Customer Reviews

Rachmaninov, Villa-Lobos, Chopin, Schulz-Evler

5 star:		(4)
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For too long, this was the only real source of Hamelin playing standard composition(s) -- at least in comparison to the rest of his repertoire! And what performances he delivers! It is very easy, when listening to the Rachmaninov to compare it to Horowitz or Browning, and when listening to the Chopin, to Rachmaninov and Kapell, and to the Blue Danube (which he plays complete), though lacking some of what is in Lhevinne's, you'll hear a collosal performance you probably won't hear matched for many years to come. A thoroughly excellent disc, almost entirely definitive!

Despite being a Hamelin admirer for some years, I didn't even know this disc existed until very recently. It really is fabulous. In my view, every piece on the disc would gain considerable support for the accolade of best ever recording of that piece. It is that good.

I have this CD as Isba Classic (Koch International)ISB-CD-5016 from 1993 so it should be available elsewhere.

It is good to hear Hamelin playing some more familiar works. Another good source of Hamelin recordings is the Danacord series 'Rarities of Piano Music at "Schloss vor Husum"' which has Hamelin on every second release.

I recently discovered that the manufacturer hasn't sent out this product to its distributors, even though it is officially released. I just thought I would let you know. This was written Sunday Oct. 31 so remember that!