Search - Anton Stepanovich Arensky, Serge Bortkiewicz, Jerzy Maksymiuk :: Arensky: Piano Concerto in F Minor, Op. 2; Fantasia, Op. 48 / Bortkiewicz: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat, Op. 16

Romantic Obscura

Daniel G. Berk | West Bloomfield, Michigan | 04/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you enjoy a romantic piano concerto but feel, sadly, that you have exhausted the venue, take heart and take a listen to the two included on this CD. The Arensky concerto was composed while he was a student at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and clearly owes a debt to Tchaikovsky.This is the first recording of the complete Bortkiewicz concerto. He too studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, but he also studied at the Leipzig Conservatory, where he came under the influence of the conservative German tradition.The two piano concerti are worth visiting. Arensky's fantasia is extra icing.This CD provides ample evidence that there are many little known composers whose work is very worthy of examination."

Great Melodies, Lush Orchestration

ZenVortex | Vancouver, WA | 12/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Bortkiewicz concerto is one of great treasures of the late Romantic period. Wonderful, soul-stirring music with beautiful melodies and lush, dramatic orchestration. The concerto has a big, powerful sound like Rachmaninov #2 with lots of brass and complex sequences of passionately emotive piano chords. The Arensky concerto is also first rate and it is obvious that pianist Steven Combs and the orchestra poured their hearts and souls into this excellent recording. Highly recommended."

It is something refreshing

F. Wang | Staten Island, NY | 05/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a CD that you cannot find easily in the store. But Anton Arensky's paino concerto really brings us something refreshing. I like the Fantasia on Russian Folk Songs very much and I think this is truly a remarkable piece of Romantic music."