Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 / The Nutcracker Suite (for two pianos)

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (Composer), Claudio Abbado (Conductor), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Martha Argerich (Performer), Nicolas Economou (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Martha Argerich, Nicolas Economou
• Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Claudio Abbado
• Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
• Audio CD (October 15, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GS4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,996 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #61 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910) > General

Editorial Reviews

ARGERICH / ABBADO / BERLIN P. O. TCHAIKOVSKY: PIANO CONCERTO N. 1

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nearly great Tchaikovsky First and a totally delightful Nutcracker Stuie, January 19, 2006

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 / The Nutcracker Suite (for two pianos) (Audio CD)

Most listeners will come for the Tchaikovsky First Concerto and stay for the two-piano version of the Nutrcracker Suite. I think it should be the other way around. Argerich is a great devotee of piano duets, of course, and has had many partners over the years. In this 1983 performance she found the best of all in Nicolas Economou, the gifted Cypriot pianist and composer who died tragically in a car accident. Their partnership sounds as if one inspired musician were playing, which is the highest praise one can give a duo. It's a unique, celebratory reading.

The piano concerto, recorded live in 1994, begins with the most thrilling first movement I ever hope to hear--not only is Argerich at her spontaneous best, but Abbado joins her in a rip-roaring orchestral accompaniment with the Berlin Phil. It really is a sahme that DG's sonics are cramped and clattery, but they hardly matter. The last two movements I would say are decidedly lower in inspiration, and the finale in particular seems to find Argerich doing nothing special beyond, of course, playing in first-rate style. Still, I will return many times to this Nutcracker (too bad there's only 20 min. of it!).

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Nutcracker suite sounds better on 2-pianos!, February 13, 2000

By 

Nicolas Constantinou (Cyprus) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 / The Nutcracker Suite (for two pianos) (Audio CD)

You just wouldn't believe how this 2-piano version of this magnificent piece is performed. Personally I have not yet heard an orchestra play this piece with such energy and tenderness at the same time. Nicolas Economou proved to be a great transcriber. It should be mentioned that Deutsche Gramophone chose not to reproduce the original cd, featuring this work along with the Rachmaninov Symphonic dances, Op. 45, so it is a collector's item. The first concerto I am afraid is not the best I have heard from Martha. I personally prefer the first version of it with Abbado. But still some wonderful moments are to be heard from the most loved woman-pianist of the century.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best musical performances., October 8, 1999

By 

Fernando J. Orozco "JohanFer" (El Monte, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 / The Nutcracker Suite (for two pianos) (Audio CD)

There is no doubt, this is one of the very best musical performances of the Nutcracker suite. You will hardly find a version of The Nutcracker in piano solo. I am just facinated with this title, since the version of the Piano Concerto No.1 by Tchaikovsky is lovely, and The Nutcracker is out of this world. I recoment this title to everyone who loves the Nutcracker Suite since the opus 71a is just GREAT!!!