Customer Reviews

The Yellow River Concerto

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Yellow River Concerto was performed admirably by the Slovak Radio Symphony along with the talented pianist Mr. Yin Chengzong. The first movement started with a brilliant crescendo symbolizing the very power and the strength of the yellow river, and soon the theme is introduced and repeated by the piano 4 times before continuing on. The 2nd movement, titled "Ode to the Yellow River", introduced by cellos, shows the beauty and the grandness of the yellow river. However, unlike most 2nd movements, the music soon erupts into several climaxes before finally dying down. The 3rd movement starts calmly with flutes and dies down. Suddenly, the piano rushes in with a second theme, and the music becomes dramatic, full of pathos and suppressed anger. Finally a third theme is introduced, clam yet powerful, and the movement ends. Like the first movement, the 4th movements starts out with another crescendo, yet this time it is carried out by the piano. Soon, a repetitive theme is introduced, somewhat like a chant. It is also interesting to note that the chromatic climbs carried out by strings illustrates the very waves of the yellow river. Finally the crescendo used in the beginning is used again to introduce the theme from "The East is Red", which is probably used to honor Mao and the independence of the PRC. With the final theme of "The East is Red" played out, the pianist makes one final crescendo before the piece ends brilliantly.

The articulation carried out by Mr. Yin Chengzong is near impeccable, great balance between the hands, and the dynamics dramatic and effective. This indeed is a great buy considering its below average price with its above average quality.

*Edit* In response to user 'None-whatsoever's post below: Yes, we're all entitled to our own opinion of how a nature-inspired piece of symphonic composition ought to sound. Perhaps you're referring to famous symphonic poem Die Moldau, with its stirring themes depicting the streams trickling into the river, and the mighty forces that build up throughout the process. Correct, but you must factor in that this composition is not merely about nature, but more so the pride and culture of the Chinese people. And no, this isn't 'die-hard communism' or any distorted Western conception of a biased and comical view of communism. China, at the time of the composition, was facing the threat of extinction - the extinction of a national people!! Music, especially nationalistic music, was the sole departure point of the resistance's rallying call, so of course it has to be bombastic! Else, the Chinese people, with its 5000 years of history, would have perished! This is music to rouse the people into fighting, and not into admiring and appreciating the feelings associated with nature. And so what if it lacked the 20th century harmonic innovations that other composers have employed? If you gave the masses a piece of hybrid 12-tone Schoenbergian concerto .. it would certainly original, but it won't be understood by the masses. The Chinese composers of WWII era did not have the luxury to experiment.. because had the resistance not succeed, there would be nothing to experiment with afterwards.

Yes, its always fun to take a different and unconventional point.. when I was a teenager I did that too. But do your research, and not try to be critical when you have no basis to be.

I've heard The Yellow River Cantata for long time before I got this CD, this CD would be a very nice CD on your collection. And when I came to Yellow River (Hoang He) in the summer and spring, I knew this concerto said the trust: The river is always changing, savage and quiet. There is enough Asian spirit on this CD. As you know, every old chinese word and song are based on a story (called Gu dian, means classical) and if you know much about chinese stories you will feel completly this CD. One of famous Gu Dian is the fighting of Chinese people against the flood every year at the river's banks, for thousand years. You can find more information and "Gu dian" about this river in Chinese histories or stories.

This is an excellent album that worth adding to your collection. Moreover, such great music for such low price, there is no reason you shouldn't buy it.

I have been listening to a bootleg (most likely) version this concerto for many years. I bought this CD because I wanted better sound quality. When I got it, I was pleasantly surprised that the filler tunes, after Yellow River, were quite good. The Yellow River concerto itself is magnificent, of course. All those 5-star ratings say it all. I will not give it any less than 5 stars. It is, simply, a beautiful piece of musical composition. My impression was that the concerto was a new creation. Some say this is a combination of a number Chinese folk melodies. I am Chinese and I did not detect any familiar folk tunes (in the concerto). May be it's because I am a southerner. I hear that the north's folk music is very different from the south's.

An excellent recording made of this timeless classic produced when the People's Republic were trying to show that they had the panache, style and talent to pull off a Western style piano concerto.
This listener feels they were very successful - balancing western romantic sound (think Rachmaninoff and Gershwin) with Chinese folk melodies. I only wish I knew some of those songs so that my experience would be richer in the listening.
The piano playing is electrifying and articulate. I get the impression that the pianist felt totally immersed and emotionally involved with this piece - with a wonderful result.
Considering the excellent price, this is a no-brainer addition to anyone's CD collection!

I owned this disc for more than 12 years already. The CD cover was already the third one.
Lang Lang recently made a new recording of this piece with DG.
I heard master Yin play this piece (in Lang Lang's stead) last evening in Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and he moved me to tears.
Yin Cheng-zong is over 60 years old now. He lived through the various turmoils of China. It requires life experience and patriotism to interpret this piece, so very sorry, I haven't heard any foreign pianist playing this piece yet, let alone on record.
HOWEVER, Yin Cheng-zong did made a recording of this piece with Claudio Abbado, but the recording has never been released by the PRC official broadcasting agency. Yin himself claims that this was one of the most memorable performances he had of this piece - Abbado understands the piece so well that Yin was highly amazed!
The foremost player and interpretor of this piece remains Yin Cheng-zong, but I must say that ALSO hearing Lang Lang playing this piece a couple of days ago (also in Hong Kong), Lang's playing of this piece is vastly improving.

The most important thing about this CD is its beautiful solo piano music from classical Chinese literature. You'll be amazed and delighted.

Great performance by Chinese Pianist Yin Cheng-zhong. The recording is good but not the best, thus four stars.