Schoenberg: The Piano Music / Maurizio Pollini [Import]

Arnold Schoenberg (Composer), Maurizio Pollini (Conductor, Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Maurizio Pollini
• Conductor: Maurizio Pollini
• Composer: Arnold Schoenberg
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Dg Imports
• ASIN: B000001G8X
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,239 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Schoenberg's Short Masterpieces, September 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Schoenberg: The Piano Music / Maurizio Pollini (Audio CD)

I am astonished by the review that gave this only 1 star. Schoenberg, even though he never played the piano, wrote masterfully for the instrument. These pieces advance piano literature by light-years, and one should not be prejudiced against them because none of them are written in his early post-Wagnerian manner. My advice: listen to each piece for 5 times consecutively. Then you will behold the poignant expressionism that many of the pieces convey. Great Works of Music. A Must for anyone interested in 20th Century Music.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrible beauty is born., February 6, 2001

By 

Daniel R. Greenfield "Dan" (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Schoenberg: The Piano Music / Maurizio Pollini (Audio CD)

What an incredibly powerful work of art this album is. A previous reviewer referred to the music as being extremely sensual and decadent; it is that and more. I would call it both erotic and demonic. It is also unbelievably intimidating at first! But such is to be expected in an intimate encounter with raw and complex genius. Pollini truly believes in the beauty and terror of this music; it is an immaculate and inspired performance, full and bursting with fiery energy and sudden, unpredictable humanity.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a staggering interpretation with 100% conviction, May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Schoenberg: The Piano Music / Maurizio Pollini (Audio CD)

Schoenberg's music can be difficult for the first time listener - that I admit. If you give it some time, though, it begins to make much more sense, and the passion and expression written into the score begin to come out. It may not happen the first or second time you listen to this record, but if you put forth an effort, it will happen. Pollini plays these pieces with 100% conviction - absolutely essential for this music to come across. I would call his music making immaculate. As for that other review of this disc and the comments on Schoenberg, that listener did not do his homework on Schoenberg or the system which he created. Schoenberg did not set out to destroy tonality, he merely took the next logical step and devised a system (which even he does not strictly follow) that is derived from natural acoustical principles (overtone series). No self-respecting musicologist or even afficionado can deny that. If your not sure, do your own reasearch and find out. As part of your reasearch, buy this album - if you approach it with an open mind, it will not displease.