Bartók: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Stravinsky: 3 Movements from Petrushka

Bela Bartok (Composer), Igor Stravinsky (Composer), Claudio Abbado (Conductor), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Maurizio Pollini (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Maurizio Pollini
• Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Claudio Abbado
• Composer: Bela Bartok, Igor Stravinsky
• Audio CD (January 14, 2003)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B00005RRXY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #423,205 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars still the best, May 12, 2004

By	Matthew D. White "mdwhite" (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This disc is a re-packaging of the original DG release that did not include the Stravinsky as filler. I am not sure if it has been remastered, but this is still one of the best classical analog recordings I have ever heard, and a pretty good case for analog recording loyalty.

That said, in comparison with other versions of these concertos (Frisay, Ashkenazy), these are far and away the best, most powerful Bartok concerto performances, and Pollini seems to be *the* modern master, here at the peak of his powers.

In Concerto #2, pay special attention to the cadenza near the end of the first movement, which shows Pollini displaying an astounding level of digital control; a veritable X-ray of the piano part, where I can clearly hear the strettos and cross-rhythms. The cadenza contains a joking false start, then a build up of a four-note fragment passed hand to hand; at its peak point there is a pause where Pollini can be heard emitting a clearly audible exhaling grunt, then he dives into a statement of the main theme with such reckless virtuosity and feeling that I often feel compelled to listen to this one moment over and over before I can get my fill of its sheer ecstatic joy. For anyone who thinks Bartok's music is too heavy on abstraction, this moment is overflowing with the human element.

That is just one single moment on this amazing disc. I'd have to say that this CD is an absolute must in any classical collection, and certainly in the top three for any Bartok enthusiast. It has yet to be topped.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The same old Pollini with no new twists, February 28, 2007

By	Theophilus "Andy" (Ohio, U.S.) - See all my reviews

Pollini plays everything the same way. It is done with impeccable computer-like precision, and a coldness that makes me wonder where his heart is, if he has one. Regardless, Pollini holds onto his minimalist style offering no new steps forward in the artistic realm.

The orchestra accompaniment is well-done but it is cold, cold, playing with no heart or feeling. I realize that Bartok himself was accused of being "inhuman" in his day, but still Pollini has to recreate himself or improve his aesthetic sensibility to hold my attention. He holds onto an *outdated aesthetic* that was created in the 60s and 70s. Is it International style or Minimalist? I dont know. Regardless. He bores me a little.