Search - Alberto Ginastera, Alberto Portugheis :: Alberto Ginastera: The Complete Piano Music, Vol. 1

Alberto Ginastera: The Complete Piano Music, Vol. 1
Alberto Ginastera, Alberto Portugheis
Alberto Ginastera: The Complete Piano Music, Vol. 1
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Pop, Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (26) - Disc #1


     
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CD Reviews

Lacks energy and rhythm
11/19/1999
(1 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD mostly because I wanted a good recording of the first Piano Sonata. I was disappointed. Portugheis seems to have misunderstood what Ginastera's music is all about-rhythmic vitality. In most of Ginastera's music, rhythmic drive is of primary importance and pitch (though still important) is secondary. Portugheis romanticizes the heck out of it. Often, the rhythms he plays are the result of technical (as opposed to musical) rubato, i.e. he doesn't have the technical command to play the damn thing. He stumbles through almost the entire piece. He turns 5/8 measures in 6/8's. A strict tempo rarely exists for long. When the rhythmic vitality is lost, the energy of the piece goes down the drain. If you want to hear a guy play Ginastera well, Santiago Rodriguez is your man. His level of energy will blow you away."
I agree with the other reviewers!
John Thomas | Washington, NC | 07/29/2002
(2 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this album along with volume 2, and I have to agree with the other reviewers that it is a pretty disappointing album. I became interested in Ginastera's piano music when I heard GREAT recordings of the piano sonata no. 1 and the argentine dances. Not being a pianist myself, I still manage to notice the defectiveness in the music, mainly that it lacks the rhythmic vitality and speed that I believe the music requires to be exciting. However, I do think some of the recordings are not bad, such as the pequena danza and the american preludes. Overall, however, this isn't a great disc to buy of Ginastera. That is not to say that Portugheis is a bad pianist, I'm sure he does great with other music, just not this!"
Better than its current reputation
antongodfired | Newport Beach,Ca USA | 12/29/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)

"Portugheis plays slower than the competition. The musical substance doesn't suffer from this,however,because of the excellent,full bodied ASV recording.Ginastera's piano music represents more than a vehicle for virtuosic display of gaucho rhythms. For this reason, I find very fast tempi(Santiago Rodriguez)less idiomatic. With the addition of the Cello sonata and the Pampeana no.2 this disc offers two gems of modern chamber music, that you certainly do not want to miss. Gorgeous cello sound and playing ! If you hesitate about this disc, buy it for these two chamber music pieces."