|
|
|
|
|
|
HomeMusicClassicalInstrumentsKeyboard |
|
|  | | | Customer Reviews: | | | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
 Excellent Aug 26, 2008
What stands out about this disc is how scrupulous Cliburn is in avoiding any scratches. I cant find anything close to an error, in either piece. It's a marvel of a recording. Not only that, the clarity of his playing per se is a marvel to behold. The pedal never blurs anything together. Runs were articulate. The orchestra was also crisp and sharp.
The only extremely minor thing I could find wrong with this piece is that sometimes Cliburn slows down during fast passages, when a more brusque approach would have worked. Perhaps a more impersonal, mechanical, or machine-like approach would have made the fast passages more fluent, more in tempo. These slowdowns can be found in the first movement of Tchaikovsky.
The Rachmaninoff was also clean but slow.
My first Van Album Jun 19, 2008
I can't call myself an aficionado so take this for what it is worth. The Rachmaninoff Concerto is played during some ad (that I can't remember) and this spoils it for me. Okay so I'm a Philistine But it is a good recording and the Tchaikovsky is great. Refer to the experts (ha-ha) here for technical details. I am glad to have this recording in my library.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Great Tchaikovsky better Rachmaninoff Elsewhere Apr 14, 2008
This is arguably one of the finest Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto recordings of all time. Unfortunately its not matched with a comparable performance of the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto - the tempi are ponderous and Mr. Cliburn slogs through the 'alla marcia" in the first movement as if he were wearing fly-fishing waders. He peaked in his early years and there was no further artistic growth. Having heard him bungle his live concerto performances at Tanglewood, I know why he insists his live performances not be broadcast - his reputation is based on recording engineers and retakes. His victory in Moscow was political, he made a musical career out of it.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 Over-rated Mar 05, 2008
It's really weird to see the many raving reviews of this recording. I was skeptical, so I borrowed this CD from the library to hear if it was as good as people say. The orchestra was no match for Van Cliburn, which makes the whole thing unbalanced. Also, I think other soloists (Richter, Gilels) have more subtlety and shade in their playing. So anyway, do compare this recording with others and see for yourself.
 Hard to beat Jan 24, 2008
The two greatest piano concertos of all times played by the master. What more could one ask?
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
