William Kapell Edition Vol 4: Prokofiev: Piano concerto no. 3 / Khachaturian: Piano concerto / Shostakovich: Preludes for piano [Original recording remastered]

Aram Khachaturian (Composer), Sergey Prokofiev (Composer), Dmitry Shostakovich (Composer), Antal Dorati (Conductor), Sergey Koussevitzky (Conductor), Boston Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Dallas Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), William Kapell (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: William Kapell
• Orchestra: Boston Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Antal Dorati, Sergey Koussevitzky
• Composer: Aram Khachaturian, Sergey Prokofiev, Dmitry Shostakovich
• Audio CD (February 8, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000040JED
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,643 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #99 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Preludes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Kachaturian Piano Concerto belongs to William Kapell!, October 26, 2004

By 

Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Kapell Edition Vol 4: Prokofiev: Piano concerto no. 3 / Khachaturian: Piano concerto / Shostakovich: Preludes for piano (Audio CD)

Please do not waste your time and money searching another other performance of Kachaturian . This is by far , the supreme jewel in the musical universe since its first release in 1945 in vynil .

Kapell simply was far beyond of being inspired , he threw over the concert and literally explored every little detail , you will feel the anxiety , the nostalgia , the delirium , the caucasion moods , the unbetable rage and the most passionated lyricism ever made in this concert .

And despite Koussevitzky with The Boston Symphony makes a great team . This orchestra , gifted with such tonal color , his strings and brass ; cellos and counterbass , winds and metals were simply a real tour de force .

The rapport was inmediat and this recording became in the hitherto of the Kachaturian Piano Concerto .

Believe me I ve heard this work since 1973 and not least than three hundred times . Its frenetic intensity , its febrile majesty and vibrating erotism is absolutely overpowered .

The Prokoviev is very interesting though I find it too fast in the first movement and somehow this hyperkinetism may work out if you do not know for instance the Samson Francois version in which S.F. articulates lyricism and powerful .

But despite this last commentary about the Third , the record is fundamental for you to acquire the essential and more astonishing performance of this Concerto .

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars uncomparable, February 13, 2007

By 

Robert Ryczek "historical record collector" (Poland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Kapell Edition Vol 4: Prokofiev: Piano concerto no. 3 / Khachaturian: Piano concerto / Shostakovich: Preludes for piano (Audio CD)

The bravura, power, strenth, energy, virtuosity of the pianio in Khachaturian concerto is simply unbeliveble. Surprisingly to me, there are also moments full of poetry and nostalgia in second part.
And the orchesta with the Kusewicki - this is really strong support, and - despite the age of the recording - the details are quite well audible (I know Naxos edition, they made wonders!)
Simply amazing!
One of the greatest piano concerto recording I have ever heard (not the same with the concerto). Two great artists inspired to its heights by each other!
To comparision I know only another version of the piece - with Kapell again - the one with Ormady. The orchestra is not as marvelous as Boston.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius, June 4, 2004

By 

Miles Massicotte "thedevilsadvocate" (Bristol, CT, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Kapell Edition Vol 4: Prokofiev: Piano concerto no. 3 / Khachaturian: Piano concerto / Shostakovich: Preludes for piano (Audio CD)

William Kapell on this CD played with an incomparible fire. Both piano concertos are beautifull pieces and were fully realized on this album as great works of music.