12 Poemes

12 Poemes

Track Listings

1. O Triste Triste Etait Mon Ame

2. Le Balcon

3. A La Musique

4. Le Vierge, Le Vivace Et Le Bel Aujourd'Hui

5. Paroles Sur La Dune

6. Chanson De La Plus Haute Tour

7. Artemis Ou Le Ballet Des Heures

8. O Beaux Yeux Bruns

9. L'Eternite

10. Le Testament

11. Quand Vous Serez Bien Vieille

12. La Fille Qui N'A pas D'Ami

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Harpist, composer, Kirjuhel is one of contemporary fusion music's most significant exponents. Inspired by blues, flamenco, balkan and indian music, his urban, tubular improvisations reveal the echoes of world music.

12 Poemes,Kirjuhel,The Orchard,Folk,Int'l & World Music,Pop

Complete Piano Works of Scriabin
Average customer rating:

Good...

Interpretations that look forward to the 20th Century ... not back to the 19th

perhaps consider these thoughts before purchasing

Substandard

Dead cheap ... but , unfortunately , a waste of money

Complete Piano Works of Scriabin
Michael Ponti , and Scriabin
Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Scriabin: Complete Sonatas

Bartok: Complete Solo Piano Music

Horowitz Plays Scriabin

Scriabin: Complete Symphonies

The Complete Preludes and Etudes for Pianoforte Solo

ASIN: B00007J4SI
Release Date: 2002-12-10

Tracks:

Etude
Prelude
Impromptu A La Mazur
F Sharp Minor
A Major
Canon In D Minor
Fugue
Albumleaf In A Flat Major
Albumleaf In F Sharp Major
Nocturne In A Flat Major
Fantasy For 2 Pianos
Egoroff Variations
Allegro Appassionato Op. 4
Vivace
Allegretto
Vivo
Lento
Andante Cantabile
Allegro
Allegro Assai
Allegro Agitato
Andantino
Andante
Allegro Assai
Andante
Lento
Presto
Lento
Misterioso
Allegretto
Allegro Agitato
Affettuoso
Appassionato
Andante
Lento
Vivo
Presto
Waltz In G# Minor Op. Posth.
Waltz In D Flat Major Op. Posth.
Waltz In F Minor Op. 1

Tracks:

Allegro
Capriccio
Tempestoso
Piacevole
Brioso
Con Grazia
Presto Tenebroso
Lento (Tempo Rubato)
Alla Ballata
Allegro
Andante Cantabile
Patetico
Patetico (Alternative Version)
Presto
No. 2 In F# Minor
Prestissimo
Andante
Affanato
Esaltato
Agitato
Allegro
F Major
B Minor
Tempo Giusto
Allegretto Non Tanto
Allegretto
Moderato
Doloroso
Scherzando
Con Passione
Con Moto
No. 9 In G# Minor
Sotto Voce

Tracks:

Prelude In C# Minor
Nocturne In D Flat Major
No. 1 In G# Minor
No. 2 In F# Minor
No. 1 In F# Minor
No. 2 In A Major
No. 1 In F# Major
No. 2 In B Flat Minor
Maestoso
Allegro
Andante
Allegro
Allegro
Presto
No. 1 In B Major
No. 2 In F# Minor
Andante
Vivo
Allegro Assai
Andantino
Andante
Andante
Allegro
Andante Cantabile
Lento
Allegretto
Allegretto
Presto
Andante
Lento
Presto
Andante Doloroso
Allegro Assai
Allegro De Concert Op. 18

Tracks:

Polonaise Op. 21
Andante
Andante
Allegretto
Andantino
Allegro
Allegretto
Lento
Vivo
Agitato
Allegretto
Moderato
Allegretto
Mesto
Patetico In G Minor
Andante In B Major
Fantasie In B Minor Op. 28
Andante
Con Stravaganza
Presto
Lento
No. 1 In E Major
Vagamente
No. 3 In C Major
Ardito Bellicoso
No. 1 In D Flat Major
No. 2 In B Flat Major
No. 3 In C Major
Mesto
Maestoso Fiero
Andante
Irato Impetuoso
Allegro
Elevato
Languido
No. 4 In A Flat Major
Impetuoso Fiero
Poetico Con Delizio
Capricciosamente Affannato
Festivamente

Tracks:

No. 1 In F# Major
No. 2 In D Major
Poeme Tragique Op. 34
Poeme Satanique Op. 36
Poeme Op. 41
No. 1 In C Major
No. 2 In C Major
Feuillet D'Album
Poeme Fantastique
Prelude
Scherzo Op. 46
Etude
Prelude
Reverie
Waltz In A Flat Major, Op. 38
Quasi Waltz In F Major, Op. 47
Allegro In D Flat Major
Piacevole In F# Major
Fragilite
Prelude
Poeme Aile
Danse Languide
Poeme
Enigme
Poeme Languide
Prelude
Ironies
Nuances
Etude
Desir
Caresse Dansee
Albumleaf Op. 58
Poeme
Prelude
Poeme-Nocturne Op. 61
Masque
Etrangete
Allegretto
Allegretto
Andante
Presto

Customer Reviews:

Good..........2007-07-13

Michael Ponti is definitely a virtuoso, and it's pretty amazing that he played through the whole Scriabin catalog. I felt that his tempos were a little all over the place. His Etudes were kind of abrupt and rushed. Overall I think his interpretations were pretty consistent, and overall he did a great job. He's just not Horowitz or Richter.

Interpretations that look forward to the 20th Century ... not back to the 19th.......2007-07-02

The wide divergence of review comments about this CD set reflects the difference of opinion and preference for how Scriabin's music should be played. As a member of the Scriabin Society of America, I've personally seen and heard many different interpretations of many of the etutes, preludes and other pieces in this large set ... I've also heard many strong opinions voiced both pro and con these various performances.

In the end, it all comes down to whether you like your Scriabin lean and taut, or prefer him broad and expansive. I come down on the "lean" side, which is why I enjoy these performances. Michael Ponti misses some notes here and there, but when your Scriabin is almost going off the edge, that's what happens. Scriabin should never sound "pretty" in the manner of Chopin, which is where so many pianists get it wrong. Yes, he owed much to Chopin, Balakirev and other pianist-composers, but that was merely the jumping off place for Scriabin as he plunged headlong into the 20th Century. Yes, there are moments of sheer exquisiteness to savor, but ultimately Scriabin's is music that stretches the bounds of tonality and rattles the structural cage, trying to break free.

When you listen to this set, you'll discover that not all of Scriabin's compositions are top-drawer (no big surprise when you consider the massive number of works he composed over many years). And it's also true that when one single pianist is tackling it all, not every interpretation is going to be equally inspired. But once you've heard Ponti's special way with these pieces -- bright piano and all -- you'll never again be satisfied with a merely "correct" or "poised" reading. That's selling Scriabin WAY too short ... but it's what 80% of the other pianists do. (Oh yeah, but they might get all the notes correct.)

Be sure to purchase this set along with the companion 2-CD set of the complete sonatas that also includes a few late, late works. Ponti's performances of the sonatas are even more effective, IMHO.

perhaps consider these thoughts before purchasing.......2007-05-12

I've listened to this recording for 6 months now, and I have a few thoughts to share. It might help to consider this recording is NOT the complete piano music of Scriabin. Actually it is not even close to the complete recording. What is missing takes up another 2 CDs. Second, the playing is adequate, somewhat expected given the technical demands. I'll explain. Scriabin's work is full of colorful dynamics; it is also poignant, covering a broad range of emotion. Taken together, each and every song demands from the pianist in a way that can overwhelm, and, in this case, I think it did. For me, the emotional messages of pain, fear, desire, and so on were missing, and these emotional messages are at the heart of Scriabin's work. Finally, I prefer a piano sound that is not so bright. At times, when the song reached its climax, I cringed a bit at what I experienced as a unpleasant piercing sound. In the end, I still encourage you to explore this recording for yourself if you are so inclined. I think listening to many recordings by different artists helps us all refine our taste in music. A recording, in my opinion, is never a complete waste of money.

Substandard.......2007-04-16

There are two performances that stand out in this set: The Op. 71 poems. The sound quality throughout is marginal (very thin old analog that makes Horowitz's muffled Third Sonata sound great), and one reviewer even said he/she thinks the piano was out of tune, which wouldn't surprise me.

Ponti's Scriabin is sloppy and umusical in general. Only the Op. 71 poems make this set worth getting. Start with Robert Taub's sonatas, Horowitz Plays Scriabin (on RCA and Sony), and Glemser Vol. 1.

Dead cheap ... but , unfortunately , a waste of money.......2005-06-14

Recorded in the mid '70s , this 'CD' has as much hiss as piano on it . What piano there is , is slightly distorted and far too bright .
This is the complete catalogue , but , honestly , you'd be better off with midi files .
I can't believe a record company actually released this **ap .
Reminds me of those old 'classics' the tobacco companies used to sponsor in the seventies .
Except , most of the collection sounds like it was recorded on an early Phillips cassette recorder .
Cigarettes are better value than this product .

Debussy - Mélodies / Ameling · Mesplé · Command · Souzay · von Stade · Baldwin

Average customer rating:

Apart from flutter and bluster, this is divinely beautiful.
good value
Very nice sellection of pieces and artists
Fabulous compositions, moments of great performing
A Great Tribute to Debussy's Melodies

Debussy - Mélodies / Ameling · Mesplé · Command · Souzay · von Stade · Baldwin
Claude Debussy , Mady Mesplé , Gérard Souzay , Frederica von Stade , Elly Ameling , Michèle Command , and Dalton Baldwin
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Von Stade, Frederica | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Fauré - Mélodies / Souzay · Ameling · Baldwin
Poulenc - Melodies / Ameling · Gedda · W. Parker · Sénéchal · Souzay · Baldwin
Susan Graham - La Belle Époque (The Songs of Reynaldo Hahn)
The Songs of Chausson / Lott · Murray · McGreevy · Trakas · Chilingirian Quartet · G. Johnson
Forgotten Songs: Dawn Upshaw Sings Debussy

ASIN: B000002S32
Release Date: 1992-01-23

Tracks:

Claude Debussy: Nuit d'etoiles
Claude Debussy: Fleur de bies
Claude Debussy: Beau soir
Claude Debussy: Mandoline
Claude Debussy: La Belle au Bois dormant
Claude Debussy: Voici que le printemps
Claude Debussy: Paysage Sentimental
Claude Debussy: Zephyr
Claude Debussy: Rondeau 4 Chansons de jeunesse
Claude Debussy: I Pantomime
Claude Debussy: II Clair de lun, 1re Version
Claude Debussy: III Pierrot
Claude Debussy: IV Apparition
Claude Debussy: Rondel chinois
Claude Debussy: Aimons-nous et dormos
Claude Debussy: Jane
Claude Debussy: Jane
Claude Debussy: Romance
Claude Debussy: Les Cloches
Claude Debussy: Les Angelus
Claude Debussy: Dans le jardin
Claude Debussy: La Mer est plus belle
Claude Debussy: Le Son du cor s'affige
Claude Debussy: L'Echelonnement des haies Fetes galantes
Claude Debussy: I En sourdine
Claude Debussy: II Fantoches
Claude Debussy: III Clair de lune

Tracks:

Claude Debussy: I Le Balcon
Claude Debussy: II Harmonie du soir
Claude Debussy: III Le Jet d'eau
Claude Debussy: IV Recueillement (Meditation)
Claude Debussy: V La Mort des amants
Claude Debussy: I De Reve
Claude Debussy: II De Greve
Claude Debussy: III De Fleurs
Claude Debussy: IV De Soir
Claude Debussy: I C'est l'extase
Claude Debussy: II Il pleure dans mon coeur
Claude Debussy: L'Ombre des arbres dans la riviere
Claude Debussy: IV Paysages delges - Chevaux de bois
Claude Debussy: V Aquarelle n 1 Green
Claude Debussy: VI Aquarelle n 2 Spleen

Tracks:

Claude Debussy: I La Flute de Pan
Claude Debussy: II La Chevelure
Claude Debussy: III Le Tombeau des Naiades
Claude Debussy: I Les Ingenus
Claude Debussy: II Le Faune
Claude Debussy: III Colloque sentimental
Claude Debussy: I Rondel ; 'Le Temps a laissie son manteau'
Claude Debussy: II Rondel : 'Pour ce que plaisance est morte'
Claude Debussy: I Aupres de cette grotte somre
Claude Debussy: II Crois mon conseil, chere Climene
Claude Debussy: III je tremble en voyant ton visage
Claude Debussy: I Ballade de Villon a s'amye
Claude Debussy: II Ballade que Vilon feit ala
Claude Debussy: III Ballade des femmes de Paris
Claude Debussy: I Soupir
Claude Debussy: II Placet futile
Claude Debussy: III Eventail
Claude Debussy: Noel des enfants qui n'ont plus de maison

Customer Reviews:

Apart from flutter and bluster, this is divinely beautiful........2007-05-18

This 3CD recording presents a very substantial part of Debussy's vocal works. It's full of the most superb and mysterious songs you'll ever hear. Debussy had such a marvellously unique harmonic approach, and it gives the impression of mist and mystery, of the insubstantial and unearthly. This makes those songs which feature characters of the Italian commedia d'arte (Harlequin, Pierrot, Columbine, etc.) so astonishing, and his songs of the beauties of the night and the moon so very beautiful.

The songs are almost entirely of a very high standard, and show how well Debussy knew the voice. (In my opinion, he particularly knew the virtues of the typical light high French soprano voice, and I can certainly attest that the majority of his songs lie beautifully and very comfortably in the soprano coloratura voice.) Occasionally there's a song that isn't of that typical high standard (the peculiar but very early song "Rondel chinois" comes to mind - it's a lovely thing to sing, but it's not a song of any distinction), but most of these are perfect gems.

The singing on this set varies a little. On the plus side is the ever-beautiful Elly Ameling, who had perhaps the most limpidly beautiful light lyrical soprano voice the world has ever heard; the amazing Frederica von Stade, who sings divinely; Michele Command, whose more robust soprano voice is often stunning; the experienced baritone Gérard Souzay (I have to admit I do not like his voice myself - his timbre and approach are not to my taste - but he is certainly very experienced in this genre and his French is so beautiful to listen to)... and on the not-so-plus side (for me, anyway) is the coloratura soprano of Mady Mesplé. I know there are devoted fans of Ms Mesplé - I must admit I am not one of them. While I admire the glorious ease of her top notes, and the young and attractive sound of the voice's natural timbre, I LOATHE what is to me an unbearable fluttering vibrato that ruins her singing. It sounds extraordinarily under-supported and very uncomfortable - but I also admit that Ms Mesplé clearly has a deep feeling for these mélodies. She certainly knows how to phrase - and certainly the range of her voice is remarkable. If only that twitter could be magicked away... then I'd probably be very satisfied with her singing.

Overall, then, this set is a charming and well-chosen array of almost all of Debussy's vocal output. It is not complete, though. I would recommend supplementing this delightful 3CD set with the recording of Debussy songs by Sandrine Piau, the somewhat bland but extremely pretty recording of Debussy's early songs by Gillian Keith, and the recording of Debussy songs sung by Anne-Marie Rodde (again, so very pretty, and it is one of the few recordings to include Debussy's duet "Chanson espagnole" - which is otherwise represented quite hideously on a recording by a tenor and baritone).

There's also some amazingly beautiful singing of Debussy songs on an album by Christine Oelze (her timbre reminds me so much of Ameling's - just lovely, and what excellent French!).

I have not listened to Dawn Upshaw's recording of Debussy songs, as she is not one of my favourite singers, but given that I've enjoyed her French performances in the past, I do plan to add her recording entitled "Forgotten Songs" to my collection.

And with all of that lot, you, the Debussy collector, will have a truly wonderful collection of Debussy's songs to hand!

good value.......2007-01-07

Whilst this may not be the most amazing of all recordings of Debussy's works, it stands to say that it is a valuable source of listening reference for singer and indeed fans for Debussy's works. 3 discs make it a worthwhile bargain!

Very nice sellection of pieces and artists.......2006-05-01

'Melodies', a three CD collection of art songs by Claude Debussy is a far better investment than the Dawn Upshaw issue, 'Forgotten Songs' which I recently reviewed. At the very least, it seems these songs are not as forgotton as Upshaw would make us believe, as here they are on a collection headlining Elly Ameling and Frederica von Stade. I am not really up on modern classical performers, but even I know these are two major league sopranos.

If you like Debussy, you will certainly like this collection. If you are a died in the wool Upshaw fan, Miss Dawn's effort may sould a bit better to you.

I think this one definitely gives you more for the money.

Fabulous compositions, moments of great performing.......2002-08-07

This compilation is a fantastic resource for singers and colaborative pianists everywhere--and no one will argue with the beauty of Debussy's compositions.
Gerard Souzay seems like he's just going through the motions on all of his tracks; Elly Ameling has fabulous technique as always, but there is something wanting; Mady Mesple gives a great (if not heartfelt) performance. The standout performance on this disc is of the Ariettes Oubliees, as performed by Frederica von Stade. Beautiful, and the emotion is there.
I would recommend it for any singer's library. I do, however, hesitate to give it 5 stars and recommend it to everyone because the emotion just isn't there through many of the tracks--and Debussy without emotion is like bread without yeast--flat.

A Great Tribute to Debussy's Melodies.......2000-11-18

This set of cds is a must for anyone interested on performing any of Debussy's melodies. It really helps to listen to these to learn the pieces, as the singers are supurb and perform the songs with great artistic interpretation.

Average customer rating:

Fantastic!

The Very Best of José Van Dam

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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The Very Best of Boris Christoff
The Very Best of Jon Vickers
The Very Best of Régine Crespin
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ASIN: B0006VYEHS
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Le Veau D'Or Est Toujours Debout
Vous Qui Faites L'Endormie
Si Les Filles D'Arles Sont Reines
Voyons: 'Pour Hoffmann'...Dans Les Roles D'Amoureux Langoureux
Scintille, Diamant
Bien Des Jeunes Gens
Lakme, C'est Toi Qui Nous Proteges!
Tra La La...Quand La Flamme De L'Amour
Elle Ne M'Aime Pas
Ah! Malgre Toi, Poete
Parjure!
Louange A Vous
Voyez, Thebains, Voyez - Barbara Hendricks
Dors, O Cite Perverse!
Quand Apparaissent Les Etoiles - Teresa Berganza
Je Suis Le Chevalier Errant - Teresa Berganza
Ecoute, Mon Ami - Teresa Berganza

Tracks:

I. Villanelle
IV. Absence
VI. L'Ile Inconnue
Tendrement Enlaces, Ma Chere Bien-Aimee
Danse Macabre
Clair De Lune
Chanson Romanesque
Chanson Epique
Chanson A Boire
Chanson A Dulcinee
Elegie
I. La Maitresse Volage
II. Chanson A Boire
III. Madrigal
IV. Invocation Aux Parques
V. Couplets Bachiques
VI. L'Offrande
VII. La Belle Jeunesse
VIII. Serenade
Malvina
Wo Ist Er?
Wird Dir Nicht Bange?
Die Frist Ist Um
Herr, Lehre Doch Mich
Libera Me, Domine

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!.......2005-11-02

This collection represents Jose Van Dam at his best. The two arias from Faust are a little low for him but he sings them with great musicality. The aria from Mireille which is a rarity is sung brilliantly. Mr. Van Dam gets up to those high notes so easily. This collection mostly contains French Repertoire which was ideal for his voice. Several of the arias are rarely performed and I think should be performed more often. The few German selections are very effective as well. I think he was one of the finest Brahms Requiem soloists of all time.

Mr. Van Dam is still singing well at age 65. I think he is one of the finest singers and musicians because everything he sings means something to him internally. That is something that defines a great artist for me. I highly recommend this collection because it is a tool for singers to learn how to pronounce French properly. The diction is so clear that you can practically write it down.

Average customer rating:

Virtuosic and inspired playing - a pianophile's wet dream
Marc "the composer" Hamelin
Nothing Special Here
Some difficult repertoire
Astonishing listening

The Composer Pianists

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
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Marc-André Hamelin Live at Wigmore Hall
Kaleidoscope
Alkan: Symphony for solo piano
Godowsky: The Complete Studies on Chopin's Etudes
Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of J. S. Bach

ASIN: B000009PZ3
Release Date: 1998-07-14

Tracks:

Godowsky, Toccata In G flat Major
Scriabin, Poeme Tragique
Hamelin, Etude No, 9 D'apres Rossini
Hamelin, Etude No. 10 D'apres Chopin ('Pour Les Idees Noires')
Feinberg, Bach Schubler Chorale No. 6 (Transcription)
Alkan, Andante From Sym. 94 (Transcription) From Esquisses Op 63
Alkan, No 46: Le Premier Billet Doux
Alkan, No 47: Scherzetto
Busoni, Fantasia Nach J S Bach
Rachmaninov, Moment Musical In E Flat Minor
Rachmaninov, Etude-Tableau In E flat
Scriabin, Deux Poemes, Op. 71. No. 1 Fantastique
Scriabin, Deux Poemes, Op. 71. No. 2 En revant...
Feinberg, Berceuse
Medtner, Improvisation No. 1 in B flat minor
Sorabji, Pastiche On Hindu Merchant Song From Sadko
Hamelin, Prelude And Fugue

Customer Reviews:

Virtuosic and inspired playing - a pianophile's wet dream.......2007-03-07

Most of us think of blistering bravura and gravity-defying virtuosity when we think of Marc-Andre Hamelin. After all, the guy is known for launching himself into the most difficult piano repertoire in the history of piano music (although he has yet to tackle Sorabji's monstrous Opus Clavicembalisticum). In the area of conquering technical demands, Hamelin is simply one of the greats, if not THE great. However, I believe he can often be a superb interpreter, too. Look at Alkan's Souvenirs Trois Morceaux Op. 15, Medtner's sonatas, and even the Schumann Symphonic Etudes. When he is passionate and intelligent with his introspections on the pieces he plays, the addition of his indomitable virtuosity makes him a colossus of a musician.

The numerous 3-star reviews below are rather baffling. I understand that some may dislike his overwhelming focus on technical supremacy. This has been an Achilles heel at times; his Alkan Op. 39, for instance, was a complete disaster and embarrassment because he went for technical perfection instead of full-blooded passion (like Jack Gibbons). On this recording, though, Hamelin fuses both technical superiority and subtle emotional details, producing some truly inspired renditions of these pieces. And the pieces here are really all over the place; most of these were new to my ears. The main highlights here are, in my opinion, the following: Scriabin's Poeme tragique, Haydn-Alkan's Andante from the Surprise Symphony, Busoni's Fantasia on JS Bach, and Medtner's Improvisation No. 1.

I agree with another reviewer here that it's ridiculous for Hamelin to pepper his own compositions, his etudes, throughout the disc, as if they have as much merit as Scriabin or Rachmaninov. However, I actually like Hamelin's etudes. Their dense polyphonic textures and dizzying passagework makes for wonderful musical escapades. His Prelude and Fugue is a tireless dissonant storm of notes, but there is also substance of musical interest as well. But Hamelin shines best in the works of other composers. His rendition of Scriabin's Poem tragique is both spirited and brooding; his ability to make the chordal bass accompaniment echo is quite satisfying. The Alkan transcription of Haydn's Andante from the Surprise Symphony is sheer delight. Alkan's fidelity to the endearing Haydn melody is pleasing, and his daring virtuosic episodes are marvelous.

The most profound work on this recording is Busoni's Fantasia on JS Bach. It's hard to believe this haunting music of extreme pathos is from Busoni's pen; when not ensconced in contrapuntal webs, the music sounds like late Liszt. There are scarcely any moments of fanfare or volatile passagework; instead, this cerebral music gently traverses through some Bach themes and various melancholy digressions. Thus I must restate my confusion regarding some of the other reviewers who lambaste Hamelin's performance. How can one not hear Hamelin's sincere emotional outpouring here? Such a heart-felt, sublime, and discerning execution is priceless.

The other works here are just as notable, but it would be exhausting for both myself and the reader to continue with commentary. Suffice it to say, his Medtner and Rachmaninov are outstanding; the Sorabji piece is peculiarly interesting and the Feinberg Berceuse extremely eerie and mysterious. In short, all of these pieces are pianistic treats. My only problem is the placement of Hamelin's etudes. I don't think his compositions are substantial enough to be placed side-by-side with Scriabin or Sorabji. I think he might have paid a better homage by giving us Henselt, Rubinstein, Lyapunov or Tausig pieces instead.

Bottom line: For pianophiles, this is an impressive powerhouse of a recording. On it, Hamelin showcases some splendid obscurities with a mighty unbeatable virtuosity and yes, even poetic feeling. Every piece here has something memorable or even great about it, so I have to disagree with some of the naysayers about the music's worth. Busoni's Fantasia alone is worth the price of this disc.

Marc "the composer" Hamelin.......2006-11-24

Hamelin has included repertory here which other pianists won't (and technically can't) touch and which is well worth getting to know: for example the Alkan Haydn transcription (oh, for a Naxos-type comprehensive series of the complete mad-scientist Alkan transcriptions, to upstage Marco Polo's Alkan series!), and the Godowsky Toccata (Marco Polo seems to have stopped its Godowsky project too soon).
Hamelin is an important pianist and it is well to hear him document in a perfect-recording format playing that can be assumed to be his ideal. What that ideal is is quickly apparent: many notes, many voices, great speed, and much sustain pedal to make notes and voices possible when they otherwise wouldn't be. Hamelin often realizes his ideal: listen to his Alkan transcription of the Beethoven c concerto on his Wigmore album. But more often his ideal is at the expense of the music: for example, his Alkan etudes are a vapid blur of notes, rather interesting, impressionistic...but not Alkan; if you want to hear Alkan listen to Jack Gibbons' recording of the op 39. As for this recording, the best points of comparison of Hamelin with other pianists are his Rachmaninoff and Scriabin tracks. And I think anybody who loves Rach and Scrib will prefer just about any other pianist to Hamelin's smeared, facile renditions.
Hamelin has included 3 of his own piano compositions on this recording: all 3 are all full of notes and many contrapuntal voices and played at great speed with cleverly helpful sustain pedal effects; all 3 are undistinguished in any other way. So here we get Hamelin as a composer, and it's good to have a sense of Hamelin as a composer, because quite astounding claims have been made for him as a composer.
It turns out that this cd is an adjunct to the book "The Composer Pianists" by Robert Rimm in which it is claimed for Hamelin a status as composer on a par with Busoni, Alkan, Rachmaninoff and other revered "composer pianists".
The claim is grotesque. Hamelin is a middleaged concert pianist who has (as far as I can tell) in his entire life of composing, produced a set of unpublished piano studies. And now he has presented this cd to document his own status as a "composer pianist". The fact that he seems to believe that he compares favorably as even a trancriber with the likes of Samuel Feinberg, to say nothing of comparing himself as a composer with Busoni, suggests a mental pathology far more serious than vanity.
So why my generous 3-stars (and generous it is)? Because this is a sumptuous Hyperion production, and because if you can get it in the used or sale bin it's worth having as a gentle freak: Hamelin is the colorless Spider-man of the piano; some of his repertory is still unavailable on any other recording; and of course some of his repertory may never be available on any other recording.

Nothing Special Here.......2006-07-29

He is a well educated pianist who indeed has a great technical capability, however I think his music lacks color, charisma and poetry. After listening Horowitz I would not listen him again, and if techical ability is a starting point I prefer Volodos better.

Some difficult repertoire.......2006-04-29

I have bought several Hamelin CDs recently - this one, Scriabin and Liszt. All are benchmarks for technique. Perhaps the ease with which he navigates the obstacles is the problem, I just don't get the feeling that his heart is in it. And I'm tired of hearing his recurring mantra about how virtuosity is artistry in itself. I don't agree. Perhaps I just don't "get along" with his style well enough. I think he's trying too hard to be different. If you want to hear breathtaking technical performance and excellent recorded sound, then by all means, this is a great choice. Most of the selections are either rhythmically or harmonically "angular" and may not be easy to listen to for first timers. If you are up for something different, this is a good choice to consider.

Astonishing listening.......2002-01-28

Hamelin is astonishing in his readings of these works- I especially enjoy the Scriabin, Busoni, Feinberg, and Medtner. His playing delivers subtle dynamics and the pure intensity of an inspired artist.
If you truly love to hear the most difficult piano works played the way they were envisioned by their composers, listen to Hamelin.

Average customer rating:

Top ten of any performance ever!
Largely Dispensable
A Mix of Sensitive, Passionate, and Vulgar Playing...
Great value!
Simply Great!

Vladimir Horowitz: The Indispensable

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Horowitz Plays Mussorgsky, Scriabin, Prokofiev, and others
Horowitz Encores
Horowitz Live and Unedited [includes Bonus DVD]
Great Pianists on Piano Playing: Godowsky, Hofmann, Lhevinne, Paderewski and 24 Other Legendary Performers (Great Pianists: In Their Own Words)
Liszt: 10 Hungarian Rhapsodies

ASIN: B000026CV2
Release Date: 1999-11-09

Tracks:

Polonaise - Fantasie, Op. 61, In A-flat Major
Sonata, K 127, L. 186 In A - flat Major
Sonata, K. 87, L. 33, In B Minor
Sonata, K. 135, L. 224, In E Major
Humoresque, Op. 10, No. 5
Scherzo No. 1, Op. 20, In B Minor
Etude, Op. 10, No. 4, In C-sharp Minor
Etincelles, Op. 36, No. 6
Prelude, Op. 23, No. 5, in G Minor: Prelude, Op. 23, No. 5
Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 3, in B Major
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Nocturne, Op. 27, No. 1, In C - sharp Minor
Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31, In B-flat Minor
Etude, Op. 72, No. 6, In F Major
Variations On A Theme From 'Carmen'

Tracks:

Mephisto Waltz No. 1
Barcarolle, Op. 60, In F-sharp Major
Etude, Op. 2, No. 1, In C-sharp Minor
Prelude, Op. 32, No. 5, In G Major
Nocturne, Op. 72, No. 1, In E Minor
Etude, Op. 8, No. 7, In B-flat Minor
Barcarolle, Op. 10, No. 3
Polonaise, Op. 53, In A-flat Major
Rakoczy March (Hungarian Rhapsody No. 15)
Etude, Op. 8, No. 12, In D-sharp Minor
Etude, Op. 25, No. 7, In C-sharp Minor
Ballade No. 1, Op. 23, In G Minor
Etude, Op. 42, No. 5, In C-sharp Minor
The Stars And Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

Top ten of any performance ever!.......2004-07-08

We made sure our home had hardwood floors just so we could enjoy this performance at its absolute best. Listen to it at lifelike volume and enjoy the ride: it sounds like it could unravel at any moment, but it never does. So many performances of this work are technically stunning, but tremendously dull. Horowitz brings this piece to life like no other pianist. But, if you can find it, Lazar Berman's recording for CBS was stunning.

Largely Dispensable.......2004-06-12

Beginning with a rather tinny Polonaise-Fantaisie, Horowitz follows it up with three relatively stunning Scarlatti sonatas. I am terrified by his reading of the Rachmaninoff G Minor prelude, he uses practically NO pedal at all. The Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt is borderlining on out of control throughout, as is typical by Horowitz. The Chopin B Major Nocturne is one of the few highlights on this first disc.

Horowitz's Mephisto Waltz has always been horrific, blaring and, dare I say, bangy. I still can not fathom how the greatest pianist of the twentieth century could play a piece so poorly! The highlights of the second disc are certainly the Scriaban preludes. In concurrence with a previous reviewer, the Chopin Ballade is by no means acceptable. If you are looking for the best recording of this piece, Horowitz Live and Unedited, the recording of the 1965 Carnegie Hall return concert, is absolutely unsurpassable.

RCA squeaked out a three-star rating with some fine selections, but others are, simply . . . not good. If you are looking for Horowitz at his best, the previously mentioned "Live and Unedited" CD is the best of his I own, out of about 12 CD's.

A Mix of Sensitive, Passionate, and Vulgar Playing..........2003-07-07

Horowitz has always been a controversial figure in the music world, and this CD can help explain why. It abounds in obscene playing of Chopin (it's an almost painful experience to listen to the reading of the first Ballade) and contains some ridiculously eccentric Liszt (it sounds as if Horowitz plays the last two chords of the first Mephisto Waltz with his elbows). Apart from these shenanagins, however, Horowitz offers up several sparkling Scarlatti Sonatas, beautifully passionate Scriabin Etudes, and demonically exciting original transcriptions such as The Stars and Stripes Forever and the Carmen Variations. The two other Liszt selections are also very entertaining. My rating of three stars is based on the overall quality of playing on this particular album and not on my opinion of Horowitz in general. Still, this recording is worth the money for the few treats I have mentioned.

Great value!.......2003-06-08

This is a great value double-CD album. Horowitz is my top pianist. Not only do I enjoy the boundless passions of his playing, but I also find in his rich range of expressions something beyond techniques and maturity that other pianists cannot rival. This is an ideal album for anyone who wants to experience the colours and virtuosity of the renowned pianist.

Simply Great!.......2003-06-06

Complete Masterworks Recordings, 1962-1973

Average customer rating:

Horowitz: good. Amazon: good. Sony Classical: BAD.
ARE YOU CRAZY RICH OR CRAZY STUPID?
merely spectacular!
I have never regretted buying this...
The greatest 20th Cent. pianist at his best!

Complete Masterworks Recordings, 1962-1973

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
Chopin: The Piano Works
Liszt: Piano Works
Horowitz: Discovered Treasures
Horowitz Live and Unedited [includes Bonus DVD]

ASIN: B000002909
Release Date: 1993-10-05

Tracks:

Sonata In E Major, K 531 (L430): Allegro
Sonata In A Major, K322 (L483): Allegro
Sonata In G Major K455 (L209): Allegro
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': II. Adagio cantabile
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': III. Rondo. Allegro
Impromptu In G-flat Major, Op. 90 (D899) No. 3: Andante
Etude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12: Allegro con fuoco
Etude In C-sharp Minor, Op. 25 No. 7: Lento
Scherzo No. 1 In B Minor, Op. 20: Presto con fuoco
3 Preludes - From Book II: IV. Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses. Rapide et leger
3 Preludes - From Book II: V. Bruyeres. Calme
3 Preludes - From Book II: VI. General Lavine - eccentric.
Poeme In F-sharp Major, Op. 32 No. 1: Andante cantabile
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: Andante
Etude In D-Sharp Minor, Op. 8 No. 12: Patetico

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: I. Grave- Doppio movimento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: II. Scherzo
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: III. Marche funebre. Lento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: IV. Finale. Presto
Etude-Tableau In C, Op.33 No.2: Allegro
Etude-Tableau In C, Op.33 No.2: Appassionato
Arabeske In C, Op.18: Leicht und zart
Kinderszenen, Op.15 - Scenes From Childhood: 1. Von fremden Landern und Menschen
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 2. Kuriose Geschichte
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 3. Hansche-Mann
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 4. Bittendes Kind
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 5. Gluckes genug
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 6. Wichtige Begbenheit
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 7. Traumerei
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 8. Am Kamin
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 9. Ritter vom Steckenpferd
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 10. Fast zu ernst
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 11. Furchtenmachen
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 12. Kind im Einschlummern
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 13. Der Dichter spricht
Toccata In C, Op.7: Allegro
Hungarian Rhapsody No.19 In D Minor: Lento patetico (Lassan)- Vivace (Friska)

Tracks:

Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante moderato
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegretto
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante e cantabile
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante e cantabile
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante moderato
Keyboard Sonatas: Vivo
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro

Tracks:

Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: I. Preludio, quasi improvvisando. Tempo moderato
Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: II. Intermezzo. Adagio
Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: III. Fuga. Moderamente sherzando, un poco umoristico
Fantasie In C, Op.17: I. Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschalflich vorzutragen
Fantasie In C, Op.17: II. Massig. Durchaus energisch
Fantasie In C, Op.17: III. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten
Piano Sonata No.9, Op.68 'Black Mass': Moderato quasi andante-Molto meno vivo-Allegro-Piu vivo-Allegro...
Poeme In F-Sharp Major, Op.32 No.1: Andante cantibile

Tracks:

Mazurka In C-sharp Minor, Op. 30. No. 4: Allegretto
Etude In F major, Op. 10 No. 8: Allegro
Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23: Largo - Moderato - Meno mosso - Presto con fuoco
Serenade For The Doll. Allegro ma non troppo
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: Andante
Etude In A-Flat Major, Op. 72 No. 11: Presto e con leggierezza
Traumerei
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K.331: I. Tema.Andante grazioso e variazioni
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: II. Menuetto - Trio
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: III. Rondo alla Turca
Polonaise-Fantaisie In A-Flat Major, Op. 61: Allegro maestoso

Tracks:

Mazurka In B minor, Op. 33 No. 4: Mesto
Nocturne In E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1: Andante
Piano Sonata No. 10, Op. 70: Moderato - Allegro - Puissant, radieux - Allegro - Piu vivo - Presto - Moderato
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: I. Allegro
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: II. Adagio
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: III. Finale
Blumenstuck In D-Flat Major, Op. 19: Leise bewegt
L'ISLE JOYEUSE: Quasi una cadenza - Tempo.
Vallee d'Obermann: Lento assai - Piu lento - Un poco piu di moto ma sempre lento - Presto - Lento

Tracks:

Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23: Largo - Moderato - Meno mosso - Presto con fuoco
Nocturne In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1: Andante
Polonaise In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 44: Tempo di polacca - Doppio movimento, tempo di Mazurka - Tempo I
Sonata In E major, K 380 (L23): Andante commodo
Sonata In G major, K 55 (L335): Allegro
Arabeske In C Major, Op. 18: Leicht und zart
Etude In D-Sharp Minor, Op. 8 No. 12: Patetico
Traumerei
Variations On A Theme From Bizet's Opera 'Carmen'

Tracks:

Sonata In E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 2: III. Rondo
Adagio sostenuto In F Major
Sonata In B-Flat Major, Op. 25 No. 3: II. Rondo
Sonata In A Major, Op. 50 No. 1: II. Adagio
Corale Prelude 'Lch ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ'
Sonata In F-Sharp Major, K 319 (L35): Allegro
Sonata In G Major, K 260 (L124): Allegro
Sonata In C Major, HOB. XVI: 48: I. Andante con espressione
Sonata In C major, Hob. XVI:48: II. Rondo
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: I. Allegretto ma non troppo
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: II. Vivace alla Marcia
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: III. Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto - Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 'Moonlight': I. Adagio sostenuto
II. Allegretto
Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2'Moonlight': III. Presto agitato
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': I. Allegro con brio
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': II. Introduzione. Adagio molto - attacca
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': III. Rondo. Allegro moderato - Prestissimo
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': I. Allegro assai
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': II. Andante con moto -attacca
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': III. Allegro, ma non troppo - Presto

Tracks:

Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17 No. 4: Lento, ma non troppo
Etude in G-flat major, Op. 10 No. 5: Vivace
Introduction & Rondo In E-Flat Major, Op. 16: Introduzione. Andante - Rondo. Allegro vivace
Waltz in A minor, Op. 34 No. 2: Lento
Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53: Maestoso
Mazurka in F-sharp minor, Op. 59 No. 3: Vivace
Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 50 No. 3: Moderato
Mazurka in D-flat major, Op. 30 No. 3: Allegro non troppo
Mazurka in E minor, Op. 41 No. 2: Andantino
Mazurka in D major, Op. 33 No. 2: Vivace
Etude in C-sharp minor, Op. 10 No. 4: Presto
Etude in E major, Op. 10 No. 3: Lento, ma non troppo
Etude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12: Allegro con fuoco
Prelidu In B Minor, Op. 28 No. 6: Lento assai

Tracks:

Posonaise in A major, Op. 40 No. 1: Allegro con brio
Prelude in D-flat major, Op. 28 No. 15: Sostenuto
Etude in E-flat minor, Op. 10 No. 6: Andante
Etude No. 2 in A-flat major from 'Trois Nouvelles Etudes': Allegretto
Mazurka In F Minor, Op. 7 No. 3
Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64 No. 2: Tempo giusto
Variations On A Theme By Clara Wieck From Sonata No. 3 In F Minor,Op. 14: Andantino
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: I. Ausserst bewegt
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: II.Sehr innig
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: III. Sehr aufgeregt
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: IV. Sehr langsam
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: V. Sehr lebhaft
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VI. Sehr langsam
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VII. Sehr rasch
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VIII. Schnell und spielend

Tracks:

Impromptu In A-Flat Major Op. 90 (D899) No. 4: Allegretto
Impromptu In F Minor Op. 142 (D935) No. 1: Allegro moderato
Impromptu In A-Flat Major Op. 142 (935) No. 2: Allegretto
Impromptu In E-Flat Major Op. 90 (D899) No. 2: Allegro
Consolation In E Major S. 172 (R.12) No. 2
Pour les arpeges composes: Dolce e lusingando
La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune: Lent
Etude In A Minor Op. 104b No. 3: Allegro vivace
Scherzo & March S. 177 (R.20)

Tracks:

Feuillet d'album In E-Flat Major Op. 45 No. 1: Andante piacevole
Etude In F-Sharp Minor Op. 8 No. 2: A capriccio, con forza
Etude In B-Flat Minor Op. 8 No. 11: Andante cantabile
Etude In D-Flat Major Op. 8 No. 10: Allegro
Etude In A-Flat Major Op. 8 No. 8: Lento (Tempo rubato)
Etude In F-Sharp Major Op. 42 No 3: Prestissimo
Etude In F-Sharp Major Op. 42 No. 4: Andante
Etude In C-Sharp Minor Op. 42 No. 5: Affannato
Etude Op. 65 No. 3: Molto vivace
No. 1: Allegretto
2 Poemes Op. 69: No. 2: Allegretto
Vers la flamme Op. 72: Allegro moderato
Feuillet d'album Op. 58
Fairy Tale In A Major Op. 51 No. 3
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor Op. 36: I. Allegro agitato
Sonata No. 2 In B-flat, Minor, Op. 36: II. Non allegro
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 36: III. Allegro molto
Prelude In G-Sharp Minor Op. 32 No. 12: Allegro
Moment musical In B Minor Op. 16 No. 3: Andante cantabile
Etude-Tableau In E-Flat Minor Op. 33 No. 5: Non allegro - Presto
Etude-Tableau In C Major Op. 33 No. 2: Allegro
Etude-Tableau In D Major Op. 39 No. 9: Allegro moderato (Tempo di Marcia)

Amazon.com

It may surprise you to learn that, despite his untouchable reputation with the public, Vladimir Horowitz enjoyed a certain dubious reputation with the critics. For many, he was the epitome of the witless virtuoso, all technique and vulgar display, and no brains. There was some truth in this to the extent that he really could be variable on record, but by general consensus his Masterworks recordings show him at his absolute best. Aside from his famous Carnegie Hall concerts from 1965, you get stunning performances of music by Schumann, Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin, and above all, Scarlatti--the composer that Horowitz, more than anyone, put back on the map for pianists the world over. A great set. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Horowitz: good. Amazon: good. Sony Classical: BAD........2004-05-24

I bought this set in December, and because I have so many classical CD's (more than 300), it took me 5 months to realize that the set contained TWO volume 8's and NO volume 9's. Worried that it might be too late, I e-mailed Amazon. Their first reply was that the replacement was already on its way (with return shipping paid for as well). Wow, that was a relief!

When I got the new set, I decided to study it closely and make sure that everything was good. It turns out that several of the discs (in both sets) had holes through the aluminum reflective layer -- which seemed to be because it was too thin to begin with. One disc was cracked, and another looked like the aluminum was "rotting out" on the edge. You would think that for $230, Sony Classical would put more quality into their discs. So what good is "Super Bit Mapping" and "High Definition Remastering" if the discs are so cheap that the player will misread the data? And I don't have much confidence that the discs will last many years, either.

Fortunately I got to pick the best discs from the 2 sets, so I won't need to replace this one for another. But I certainly lost respect for Sony Classical.

And kudos to you Amazon; you're really looking out for your customers!

ARE YOU CRAZY RICH OR CRAZY STUPID?.......2002-08-25

Why would any one in the right mind plunk down [money] for 13 CDS by the same pianist? Is it so you can brag about owning 11 years' worth of the same old thing? Or did you get it as a gift designed to impress but not really to listened to? Now you could probably get [money] for it whether you used it or not. Columbia Masterworks should have brought along new and younger talent. For my bet I can't think of many American pianists who are currently recording. Do we have to recycle Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Scriabin, and others over and over? This is the Twenty-first Century. We should at least be thinking of Twentieth Century piano works. I can get 10 CDs by 10 pianists currently recording if I look to Europe.

merely spectacular!.......2001-03-10

I've only had this set about a week and have already indulged three complete listenings; it's a gold mine! - the power of preaching is persuasive in the Temple of Horowitz! I'm taken aback by the unity and continuity of sonics, an excellent and remarkable display of high engineering art. Everything important is here (almost! I wish some of the Scriabin Preludes had been included). There are sketches of incomparable pianism and supreme intelligence in these discs: Liszt's 'Vallee d'Obermann', and the Consolations; Debussy's 'L'isle joyeux' - so 'russian playing french'! - Scriabin's 'Vers le flamme' and the Black Mass sonata - one simply can't climb out of the volcano, it's terrifying and beautiful! - and the Scarlatti and Chopin. Only Gilels approaches Horowitz's indigenous understanding of Chopin. In the course of thirteen discs the glory can start to crash in around you, but at the last moment of endurance along comes 'Serenade of the Doll', or one of the Consolations. The Bach-Busoni is cerebral and fine. Horowitz gets rapped for the wrong romanticism - it's the romanticism of artistic intelligence that his art claims! I love that famous C clunker at the beginning of the Bach-Busoni in the Return to Carnegie Hall recital; more than that, I appreciate how Horowitz played his public pride in it, no retouches, etc. Shrewd, and very real, I think. He was a pianist of enormous humility on the inside, so completely knowing of his gifts - one of the reason his playing was something special. He possessed the often disregarded ability to stand completely outside his playing and admire it as one might a beautiful woman, with complete humility. It affords us the privilege of reaping joy after joy of a remarkable art the likes of which will surely stand true for a long time. 200 bucks is a lot of money, I probably would have thought it too much for the convenience of a collection; I'm glad someone else didn't feel that way, and gave me the set! - now I find it curiously too clever a package to be considered merely a consolidation of recordings into a 'set' - there is something indefinably congruent about these recordings. They fit together with harmonious intent, and shine and shadow the land with a marvelous music. Highest recommendation without reservation.

I have never regretted buying this..........2000-08-22

Considering that this set is devoted to a single instrument played by one artist in a 12-year period, the depth is mind-blowing. If variety is the spice of life, than this set is a very warming set indeed.

For the most part, Horowitz communicates a deep respect for the specific style of each composer: his Scarlatti is done articulately and without any smear with the pedal. His Liszt is demonic. His Rachmaninov is dazzling, with all of the "superfluous" notes (!) and Russian virtuosity in tact. Horowitz's Schumann is sensitive, passionate and Romantic.

And then there are his interpretations of Chopin. To me, Vladimir Horowitz is one of Chopin's best ambassadors. In particular, I draw attention to the Polonaise-Fantaisie in Vol. 3 and the mazurkas and etudes of Vol. 7.

For a good summary of this collection, listen to Vol. 4, "The Legendary 1968 TV Concert." Applause is omitted between selections, and the repertoire is tailored to Horowitz's pianistic gifts.

The first disc of Vol. 3 (Including the Bach-Busoni Toccata and the Schumann Fantasy) is not top-notch piano-playing... It's a little sloppy and inaccurate. I'm sure there are other minor slips elsewhere in this collection, but here they are most obviously seen.

Regardless, this collection is a MUST for Horowitz fans. Save up your money little by little and go and buy it. It is truly the most rewarding purchase of classical music I have ever made.

The greatest 20th Cent. pianist at his best!.......2000-04-15

If you were to take a set of piano music from only one performer to a desert island, this would be the set. Vladimir Horowitz was a pianist of incredible, almost unique, technical prowess capable of creating wonderful piano textures and tone colorings, and possessing his own dark, distinctive sound on a wonderful Steinway he had transported to each of his concerts or studio recording sessions. Of almost limitless ability, he suffered criticism from music critics because he severely limited his performing repertoire and stayed away from the concert stage for several prolonged periods because of his terrible insecurity and stagefright. He was especially criticized in his early years for bravura performances which were brilliant, but loud and not always tasteful. He was known for giving his enthralled audiences what they wanted, but it should be remembered that he championed Scarlatti and almost single-handedly brought him back into the performing world from near-oblivion, and it was Horowitz who premiered several important works by twentieth century composers such as Barber and Khatchaturian. He kept the works of the mysterious and exotic Alexander Scriabin from disappearing from piano benches in the conservatories, and he created some of the most imaginative and thrilling encore transcriptions ever heard in the concert hall. In later years, his repertoire expanded and he played some wonderful Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, much of which is featured in this set. The highlight of this disc collection from the early 60's through about 1973 is the historic return concert at Carnegie Hall in 1965. After a self-imposed exile from public performing for 12 years, he made this famous recital which is one of the most memorable in the history of recorded piano performance. Although he made several nerve-induced mistakes in the opening Bach piece, he settled down quickly and delivered a thrilling performance, highlighted, for me, at least, by the Chopin Ballade in G minor, which took away my breath and featured one of the most dazzling climaxes I have ever heard on a piano. His incredible performance possessed a youthful vitality which belied his 62 years. Throughout the other discs in this set one hears Horowitz at his best: still technically awesome yet more musically mature and capable of producing little miracles from pieces well-known, and less-known. No longer pandering to the expectations of the audience, he gave as his encore at the Carnegie Hall return concert, a precious, child-like Traumerei from Kinderszenen. The Schumann featured on these discs includes some of the most beautiful offerings available anywhere of this composer, including a wonderful Fantasy in C and perhaps the best performance ever on record of Kreisleriana. The Schubert impromptus are little miracles, and the Debussy that's thrown in makes us fantasize about the other French music he could have given us! His wonderful Chopin reminds us there are other views besides Rubinstein's to this most-important-of-all piano literature, and his Rachmaninoff is glorious. Performing into his eighties, he was a wonder of music and the 13 discs offered here give a personal record of a dazzling career from his very best years. It might be pointed out that several pieces are offered more than once in the set as they were recorded in several concerts and studio sessions and it is interesting to hear the differences in his performances. One might wish that his piano oeuvre had included more composers and a wider range of pieces, but this collection certainly highlights the work he was best known for, including as it does the various Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Schumann, Scarlatti, Scriabin, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Clementi, and Beethoven gems he was noted for throughout his long career. Anyone loving the piano, or just beautiful music must hear these discs!

Charles Tournemire: Douze Préludes-Poèmes

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Charles Tournemire: Douze Préludes-Poèmes

Manufacturer: Atma Classique
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0006SNFTE
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Organ Showpieces from St. Paul's Cathedral

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Organ Showpieces from St. Paul's Cathedral

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Willis Organ at Salisbury Cathedral
Michael Murray At The Cathedral Of St. John The Divine: Works By Franck, Widor, Dupré, Bach and Others
Reger: Chorale Fantasia on How Brightly Shines the Morning Star; Organ Pieces, Op. 59; Introduction and Passacaglia i
The Ruffatti Organ in Davies Symphony Hall
Great Toccatas

ASIN: B000001414
Release Date: 1995-05-01

Tracks:

Carillon
Toccata in d, Op.59, No.5
Fugue in D, Op.59, No.6
Aria, Op.51
Toccata (Douze pieces, No.3)
Benedictus, Op.59, No.9
Choral No.3 in a
La Nativite (Poemes evangeliques, No.2)
Scherzo (Dix pieces, No.8)
Hymne d'action de grace 'Te Deum' (Trois paraphrases gregoriennes)
Carillon de Westminster (Pieces de fantaisie, troisieme suite, Op.54, No.6)

Les Introuvables Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

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Incomparable

Les Introuvables Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Peter Lieberson: Neruda Songs

ASIN: B000002SCF
Release Date: 2002-08-05

Tracks:

Morgens Steh' Ich Auf - Hertha Klust
Es Treibt Mich Hin - Hertha Klust
Ich Wandelte Unter Den Baumen - Hertha Klust
Lieb' Liebchen - Hertha Klust
Schone Wiege Meiner Leiden - Hertha Klust
Warte, Warte, Wilder Schiffsmann - Hertha Klust
Berg Und Burgen Schau'n Herunter - Hertha Klust
Anfangs Wollt' Ich Fast Verzagen - Hertha Klust
Mit Myrthen Und Rosen - Hertha Klust
Du Bist Wie Eine Blume (Myrthen, Op.25 No.4) - Hertha Klust
Tragodie I, Op.64 No.3A - 'Entflieh' Mit Mir' - Hertha Klust
Tragodie II, Op.64 No.3B - 'Es Fiel Ein Reif' - Hertha Klust
Der Arme Peter I, Op.53 No.3A - 'Der Hans Und Die Gute' - Hertha Klust
Der Arme Peter II, Op.53 No.3B - 'In Meiner Brust, Da Sitzt Ein Weh' - Hertha Klust
Der Arme Peter III, Op.53 No.3C - 'Der Arme Peter Wankt Vorbei' - Hertha Klust
Mein Wagen Rollt Langsam, Op.142 No.4 (Vier Gesange, Op.142) - Hertha Klust
Abends Am Strand, Op.45 No.3 (Romanzen Und Balladen, Op.45) - Hertha Klust
Die Feindlichen Bruder, Op.49 No.2 - 'Oben Auf Des Berges Spitze' - Hertha Klust
Die Beiden Grenadiere, Op.49 No.2 - 'Nach Frankreich Zogen Zwei Grenadier' - Gerald Moore
Belsatzar, Ballade Op.57 - 'Die Mitternacht Zog Naher Schon' - Gerald Moore
In Der Fremde - Gerald Moore
Intermezzo - Gerald Moore
Waldesgesprach - Gerald Moore
Die Stille - Gerald Moore
Mondnacht - Gerald Moore
Schone Fremde - Gerald Moore
Auf Einer Burg - Gerald Moore
In Der Fremde - Gerald Moore
Wehmut - Gerald Moore
Zwielicht - Gerald Moore
Im Walde - Gerald Moore
Fruhlingsnacht - Gerald Moore

Tracks:

I. Auf Dem Hugel Sitz' Ich Spahend - Gerald Moore
II. Wo Die Berge So Blau - Gerald Moore
III. Leichte Segler In Den Hohen - Gerald Moore
IV. Diese Wolken In Den Hohen - Gerald Moore
V. Es Kehret Der Maien, Es Bluhet Die Au - Gerald Moore
VI. Nimm Sie Hin Denn, Diese Lieder - Gerald Moore
Wie Rafft Ich Mich Auf In Der Nacht, Op.32 No.1 (Von Plathen) - Hertha Klust
Nicht Mehr Zu Dir Zu Gehen, Op.32 No.5 (Von Plathen) - Hertha Klust
Ich Schleich' Umher Betrubt Und Stumm, Op.32 No.3 (Von Plathen) - Hertha Klust
Der Strom, Der Neben Mir Verrauschte, Op.32 No.4 (Von Plathen) - Hertha Klust
Du Sprichst, Dass Ich Mich Tauschte, Op.32 No.6 (Von Plathen) - Hertha Klust
Wehe, So Willst Du Mich Wieder, Op.32 No.5 (Von Plathen) - Hertha Klust
Wie Bist Du, Meine Konigin, Op.32 No.9 (Daumer) - Hertha Klust
Junge Lieder: 'Meine Liebe Ist Grun', Op.63 No.5 (Schumann) - Karl Engel
Heimkehr: 'O Brich Nicht, Steg', Op.7 No.6 (Uhland) - Karl Engel
Dein Blaues Auge, Op.59 No.8 (Groth) - Karl Engel
Wir Wandelten, Op.96 No.2 (Daumer) - Karl Engel
Serenade: 'Liebliches Kind', Op.70 No.3 (Goethe) - Karl Engel
Eine Gute, Gute Nacht, Op.59 No.6 (Groth) - Karl Engel
Der Gang Sum Liebchen: 'Es Glanzt Der Mond Nieder', Op.48 No.1 (An. Bohemien, Trad. Wenzig) - Karl Engel
Ein Sonett: 'Ach Konnt' Ich', Op.14 No.4 (Comte Thibaud; Trad. Herder) - Karl Engel
Minnelied: 'Holder Klingt Der Vogelsang', Op.71 No.5 (Holty) - Karl Engel
Sonntag: 'So Hab Ich Doch Die Ganze Woche', Op.47 No.3 (Uhland) - Karl Engel
Standchen: 'Der Mond Steht Uber Dem Berge', Op.106 No.1 (Kugler) - Karl Engel
Die Mainacht: 'Ich Schell Mein Horn Ins Jammertal', Op.43 No.2 (Holty) - Karl Engel
Botschaft: 'Wehe, Luftchen', Op.47 No.1 (Daumer, D'Apres Hafis) - Karl Engel
Geheimnis: 'O Fruhlingsabenddammerung', Op.71 No.3 (Candidus) - Karl Engel
Salamander: 'Es Sass Ein Salamander', Op.107 No.2 (Lemcke) - Karl Engel
Komm Bald: 'Warum Denn Warten', Op.97 No.5 (Groth) - Karl Engel
In Waldeseinsamkeit: 'Ich Sass Zu Deinen Fussen', Op.85 No.6 (Lemcke) - Karl Engel
Mein Wundes Herz, Op.59 No.7 (Groth) - Karl Engel
Es Traumte Mir, Op.67 No.3 (Daumer) - Karl Engel
Von Ewiger Liebe: 'Dunkel, Wie Dunkel', Op.43 No.1 (Wenzig) - Karl Engel

Tracks:

Der Schatzgraber, Op.59 No.3 (Goethe) - Gerald Moore
Tom Der Reimer (Altschottische Ballade) - Gerald Moore
Kleiner Haushalt, Op.71 (Ruckert) - Gerald Moore
Susses Begrabnis, Op.62 No.4 (Ruckert) - Gerald Moore
Herr Oluf Reitet Spat Und Weit (Von Herder) - Gerald Moore
Edward, Op.1 No.1 (Von Herder) - Gerald Moore
Der Mohrenfurst Auf Der Messe, Op.97 No.3 (Freiligrath) - Gerald Moore
Erikonig, Op.1 No.3 (Goethe) - Gerald Moore
Trauer - Hermann Reutter
Angedenken - Hermann Reutter
Ein Ton - Hermann Reutter
An Den Traum - Hermann Reutter
Treue - Hermann Reutter
Trost - Hermann Reutter
Komm, Wir Wandein Zusammen, Op.4 No.2 (Cornelius) - Hermann Reutter
Auf Ein Schlummerndes Kind, Op.5 No.2 (Hebbel) - Hermann Reutter
Auf Eine Unbekannte, Op.5 No.3 (Hebbel) - Hermann Reutter
Christbaum - Hermann Reutter
Die Hirten - Hermann Reutter
Die Konige - Hermann Reutter
Simeon - Hermann Reutter
Chritus, Der Kinderfreund - Hermann Reutter
Christkind - Hermann Reutter
Geheiligt Werde Dein Name, Op.2 No.2 (Cornelius) - Gerald Moore
Vergib Uns Uns're Schuld, Op.2 No.6 (Cornelius) - Gerald Moore

Tracks:

Thetis, Cantate - Jean-Pierre Rampal
Premiere Lecon De Tenebres, Pour Le Mercredi Saint - Aurele Nicolet
Orphee (Le Fameux De La Thrace), Cantate Pour Baryton, Flute, Violin & Basse Continue - Aurele Nicolet
'When Night Her Purple Veil', Cantate Pour Basse, Flute, Violon & Basse Continue - Aurele Nicolet
'Infirmata, Vulnerata', Cantate Pour Baryton, Flute, Violon & Basse Continue - Aurele Nicolet

Tracks:

Aria: 'Amore Traditore' - Edith Picht-Axenfeld
Recitativo: 'Voglio Provar' - Edith Picht-Axenfeld
Aria: 'Chi In Amore' - Edith Picht-Axenfeld
'Von Den Himmlischen Freuden' (Hamel), Cantate Pour Baryton & Basse Continue - Aurele Nicolet
'Erquicktes Herz, Sei Voller Freuden', Cantate Pour Baryton, Violon & Basse Continue - Aurele Nicolet
'Ihr Volker, Hort', Cantate Pour La Fete Des Rois Mages (Wilckens) - Aurele Nicolet
Aria: 'Die Hoffnung Ist Mein Leben' - Helmut Heller
Recitativo: 'Ich Bin In Allem Vergnugt' - Helmut Heller
Aria: 'Die Hoffnung Bleibt Ewig Der Trost Unseres Leben' - Helmut Heller
Trauermusik Eines Kunsterfahrenen Kanarienvogels - Heinz Kirchner

Tracks:

Wandern Lieb'Ich Fur Mein Leben - Aribert Reimann
Wenn Die Sonne Lieblich Schiene - Aribert Reimann
Bist Du Manchmal Auch Verstimmt - Aribert Reimann
Durch Feld Und Buchenhallen - Aribert Reimann
An Die Parzen - Aribert Reimann
Hyperions Schicksalslied - Aribert Reimann
Abbitte - Aribert Reimann
Geh Unter, Schone Sonne - Aribert Reimann
Bankelsanger - Aribert Reimann
Trommel - Aribert Reimann
Schwarzes Madchen - Aribert Reimann
Lied Fur Ein Dunkles Madchen - Aribert Reimann
Wenn Susanna Jones Tragt Rot - Aribert Reimann
Psalm 142 - 'Ich Schreie Zum Herrn' - Aribert Reimann
Psalm 141 - 'Herr, Ich Rufe Zu Dir' - Aribert Reimann
Psalm 121 - 'Ich Hebe Meine Augen Auf' - Aribert Reimann
Blume - Aribert Reimann
Auge Der Zeit - Aribert Reimann
Tenebrae - Aribert Reimann
Heute Und Morgen - Aribert Reimann
En Lied In Der Wuste - Aribert Reimann
No.1 - Une Sainte En Son Aureole - Gerald Moore
No.2 - Puisque L'Aube Grandit - Gerald Moore
No.3 - La Lune Blanche Luit Dans Les Bois - Gerald Moore
No.4 - J'Allais Par Des Chemins Perfides - Gerald Moore
No.5 - J'ai Presque Peur - Gerald Moore
No.6 - Avant Que Tu Ne T'En Ailles - Gerald Moore
No.7 - Donc Ce Sera Par Un Clair Jour D'Ete - Gerald Moore
No.8 - N'Est-Ce Pas? - Gerald Moore
No.9 - L'Hiver A Cesse - Gerald Moore
No.3 - Pour Ce Que Plaisance Est Morte - Hermann Reutter
No.1 - Le Temps A Laissie Son Manteau - Hermann Reutter
Lamentation (Poemes Juifs, No.8) - Hermann Reutter

Customer Reviews:

Incomparable.......2002-02-04

I have looked for the CD reissue of the original Electrola recording for years and am very glad to have finally found it.

Tracks:

Alexander Scriabin: Feuillet d'album in E-flat major, Op. 45 No.1, Andante piacevole
Alexander Scriabin: Etude in F-sharp minor, Op. 8 No. 2
Alexander Scriabin: Etude in B-flat minor, Op.8 No. 11
Alexander Scriabin: Etude in D-flat major, Op. 8 No. 8
Alexander Scriabin: Etude in F-sharp major, Op. 42 No.3
Alexander Scriabin: etude in F-sharp major, Op. 42 No. 3
Alexander Scriabin: Etude in F-sharp major, Op. 42 No.4
Alexander Scriabin: Etude in C-sharp minor, Op. 42 No. 5
Alexander Scriabin: Etude, Op.65 No.3
Alexander Scriabin: 2 Poemes, Op. 69, No. 1 - Allegretto
Alexander Scriabin: 2 Poemes, Op. 69, No. 2 - Allegretto
Alexander Scriabin: Vers la flamme (poeme), Op. 72
Alexander Scriabin: Feuillet d'album, Op.58
Nicolai Medtner: Fairy Tale in A major, Op. 51 No.3
Sergei Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor
Sergei Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor
Sergei Rachmaninov: Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor
Sergei Rachmaninov: Prelude in G-sharp minor
Sergei Rachmaninov: Moment musical in B minor
Sergei Rachmaninov: Etude- Tableau in E- flat minor
Sergei Rachmaninov: etude- Tableau in E-flat minor
Sergei Rachmaninov: Etude- Tableau in D major

Amazon.com essential recording

Russian composers brought playing from Horowitz that was invariably involved and riveting. He was personally close to Rachmaninoff and commands the sprawling B-flat Minor Sonata as few others have done. It's a conflation of the composer's 1914 original and Horowitz's 1931 alterations. Elsewhere on the disc, the Medtner Fairy Tale is a delightful romp, and Scriabin's often impenetrable mysticism is set forth with appropriately Russian brooding. Here, and in the Rachmaninoff études-tableaux, Horowitz's delicacy and power argue convincingly for music that lies close to his heart. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

One of his best.......2005-07-29

Former Horowitz student Byron Janis puts it best in the liner notes: the '60s saw the legendary pianist in inimitable form. The driven quality of his '40s recordings had been replaced with an irresistable simplicity of expression (just compare his two Chopin sonatas or Op. 42 No. 5 on this disc, for example). Horowitz's well-known connection to Rachmaninov has been frequently cited, yet it is not the rugged second sonata (recorded live, no less) on this album, but the Scriabin and Medtner that truly shine. Among recent accounts of selected etudes, Lang Lang may have youth on his side, but Horowitz's love for these works is all but palpable and remarkably wistful. A treasure.

Brilliant but lots of eccentricities.......2004-05-12

I really wanted to rate this a 4.5 but the absolute brilliance of the Scriabin etudes forced me to round upward rather than down. The Etude Op 65, No 3, is a thing of incredible beauty in the master's hands. Something unusual occurred as Horowitz evolved as an artist: His interpretations of individual works did not become static. To be sure, the size of his repertorie shrunk dramatically but those that remained he performed with a panache, newness and vibrancy that continually startle yet satisfy.

This is nowhere more present than on this CD in which he gives his beloved Scriabin yet new meanings and interpretations with all the fire, passion, detail and finesse one can muster. The clarity of the notes is secondary to the overall architecture of the small pieces. As Horowitz aged the length of his performed pieces shrunk so that he achieved an almost crystaline clarity in the few short ones he did play.

Ever the consumate artist, one really wonders what the guiding force of his interpretations was. Whether it is the lighting quick runs or the thundering chords or his almost unique ability to highlight all the inner voices of a piece, there was something almost undefinable about his approach to the piano.

The Rachmaninoff Second was extremely idiosyncratic with none of the "waves of sound" one usually associates with the composer. It is almost as if he transformed the titanic work into a collection of brilliant miniatures, each startling in its own way but by necessity only vaguely related to the others. The best rendition of the fabulous second has to be Van Cliburn's performance in Moscow where the stunning aspect (apart from the fact that he played the original setting) was the overall architecture and organiaation, the totality of the three movements and their cyclic thematic resonance. He (Van Cliburn) also brought a stately grandeur to the sonata that is sorely lacking in this rendition.

Oddly enough, the same problem holds true for the selections of Etude-Tableaux. Again we are in miniature land with brilliance and ardor but the structure again seems to have gotten lost. It is a case of not being able to see the forest for all the stunning trees. The Medtner was a fine choice and rendered with a poetic touch and much attention to detail.

Horowitz at his most masterful and tasteful.......2003-07-15

This is a must-have CD for anyone who loves the great writers of Russian romantic piano pieces. Horowitz's thunderous rendition of Rachmaninoff's incredible and difficult B-flat Sonata, done at the peak of his powers in the 1960s, is in my opinion virtually without peer in the realm of virtuoso pianism. It follows and contrasts nicely with the delicate and beautiful Medtner "Fairy Tale", a song which I had never even heard of prior to buying this CD; now it's one of my favorites as well. And there are several other nicely done selections , demonstrating the Horowitz bell-like "singing tone" that was so uniquely his own. All in all, this is a great CD that I listen to often!

Still Unequaled.......2003-06-29

Volume Nine of Sony's Horowitz reissue contains music by the pianist's fellow countrymen Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, and Mednter which show the virtuoso at the zenith of his powers.

Horowitz, who at the age of eleven met the Scriabin, once described the composer's music as "super-sensuous, super-mysterious, super-romantic. It's all a little bit overboard." The pianist was ideally suited by temperament to play that Scriabin's highly charged, nervous music. Horowitz once described Scriabin's music as "super-sensuous, super-mysterious, super-romantic. It's all a little bit overboard." There have been numerous pianists who have equaled Horowitz's Scriabin technically (most notably Marc-Andre Hamelin) but none have captured the breathless, nervous quality of this music as has Horowitz.

The Scriabin selections were recorded at Columbia's 30th Street Studio in 1972. Part of the success of Horowitz's Scriabin is his clarity, both musical and technical. The pianist adopts an almost structural approach to these works, which runs against the tendency by some others to slather them in Romantic excess. Horowitz uses less sustaining pedal than is customary in these works (as in the stunning Etude in Thirds, Op. 8, No. 10), although one would never think of calling Horowitz's Scriabin "dry." In the later more mystical works, he uses slightly more pedal, but never drowns the work in sustaining syrup as all too many pianists do. Even in Scriabin's most twisted melodic and pianistic contortions, clarity and balance are maintained. Horowitz also manages to produce a stunning fortissimo (as in Vers la Flamme) without hammering the piano to death or throwing the lines out of balance.

The Medtner Fairy Tale heard here was originally released on a Goodyear Tire promotional record in Christmas of 1969, but never attained widespread release until 1992. Horowitz's boisterous, flirtatious performance gets to the heart of the matter. Although the pianist gave all-Medtner recitals before leaving Russia in 1925, and occasionally programmed Medtner's works in the 1930s and early 1940s, his advocacy of the composer doesn't seemed to have gained any headway in his lifetime. Sadly, this is the only Horowitz Medtner recording to have been released.

Horowitz idolized Rachmaninoff, and the elder pianist/composer admired Horowitz in a kind of uncle/nephew way. The two had a close friendship from 1928 until the composer's death in 1943, and it was Rachmaninoff who sought out psychological help for Horowitz after the pianist's nervous breakdown in 1936. Rachmaninoff often had a complicated relationship with his own compositions. Such was the case with the Second Sonata which was composed in 1913, and severely revised in 1931, when the composer was placing greater value in brevity. Horowitz had played the Second Sonata (in the original version) at his conservatory graduation recital in 1920, and felt that the 1931 revision was too drastically cut. Rachmaninoff, who was never fully satisfied with either version of the piece, agreed and left it to Horowitz to put together a "compromise" version for his own performances. Unfortunately, we have no recording of his 1940 performances (the head of RCA, Charles O'Connell, no fan of either Horowitz or Rachmaninoff, scotched plans for the pianists to record the composer's Second Suite for two pianos and the two piano version of the Symphonic Dances) and therefore we have no record of the revisions Rachmaninoff approved. However, Horowitz did resurrect the work in 1968, the 25th anniversary of Rachmaninoff's death. This performance, recorded that December in Carnegie Hall, is one of the most electrifying piano recordings ever made. Horowitz, at the very top of his form, brings a lithe, pantherlike quality to this performance. He knows how to balance Rachmaninoff's thick piano writing to recreate the composer's swirling anguish, and for all the lushness of Horowitz's conception, the pianist's tone remains limber, spare, prizing clarity over histrionics. Even when all Hell breaks loose, the pianist remains solidly in control. Thirty-five years after it was recorded, it remains the definitive version Rachmaninoff's Second Sonata, and one can sense the approving spirit of the composer in the tumultuous audience response.

The shorter pieces are equally convincing. The Prelude recalls the jingling bells of a Russian Troika, while the Moment Musicaux is given an inwardly brooding performance. The Etudes-Tableaux are less melodic, more economical in texture, with an almost barbaric rhythmic thrust. Horowitz concentrates on the epic, picturesque aspects of these works, and the controlled fury of the D Major has to be heard to be believed.

This reissue is a must for all lovers of great piano music. The sound is some of the best Horowitz received in the pre-digital era, and particularly fine in the live selections.

A monumental.......2003-03-12

I heard one of classicial music fan says that Horowitz's playings of any Rachmaninoff works are incomparable. This is not a too bold statement. Listen to these Rach's Etude Tableaux, compare them to other recordings and you'll know what I mean. I don't think anyone can play them better than Horowitz. Not even Rachmaninoff himself.

Sonata 2 is also another reference point on this extremely difficult piece though I would say the best recording of the piece is Horowitz's 1980 recording ( regardless what piece's version we are referring to ). That recording is not as moving as this one but is much more powerful. Yet both of them which are totally different has confirmed how masterful Horowitz is on Rach's works.

We probably can't conclude the above statement to all the Scriabin works but not for these Etudes. Simple they are unrivaled.

Unfortunately the Great Rach's Etude Tableaux Op.39 No. 5 and Scriabin Etude Op. 8 No, 12 weren't included in this album but on another CD from the same SONY's Horowitz complete recording series. No doubt they are also the best recording of the pieces.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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