Mr. Kissin explores the power of the piano at its best.
Richard Edwin Howard(rehoward@actx. | Amarillo College, Amarillo,Texas | 07/14/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Several years ago I began to hear rumblings filtering out of the old Soviet Union about a youthful pianist of unprecidented abilities. This last month I was fortunate enough to come into possession of this CD and then the others which Mr. Kissin has produced.Being a new-age classical pianist composer as well as a member of the biology teaching faculty here at Amarillo College for the last 25 years this opportunity was one that I had looked forward to for the last several years.To say the least I was left almost stammering looking for superlatives! I have heard many recordings made by those considered the finest pianists as well as having had first hand experience in hearing several of them in actual performance. All that I can truely say is that Evgeny Kissin may well be the closest thing to Franz List reborn as we are going to get in this life.He plays from the heart and is not simply a techincal wizard as are so many of todays generation of pianists. Not saying that technical perfection is bad but simply that sometimes it gets in the way of artistic expression.Also I have read the comments made by some reviewers relative to their opinions. Some are more than kind but others seem to be looking for excuses to criticize. To them I would simply say that when thay can produce music of this caliber then they have the right to such comments. Regardless of motives the evaluation of musical artistry should be left to performing artists.I genuinely look forward to being able to hear Mr. Kissin in person and continue to be enthralled by his musical excellence. He also touches the hearts of the young generating in them a great interest in the classic. That is truely a gift for which society owes him a debt of gratitude."
An inspiring young pianist
Laura Caprario | Washington, DCWashington, DC USA | 07/01/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first discovered Evgeny Kissin's music six years ago, and since then he has become one of my favorite pianists. Although I would give all of Kissin's recordings five stars, this particular one is one of my favorites. After listening to Kissin's interpretation of Gretchen am Spinnrade, I became so moved by the passion and drama of this piece that I went on a diligent search for the score. When I finally found it, I learned the piece immediately. I had never before been so moved by a recording that I would rush to learn the piece. Kissin's interpretation of Liszt's Liebestraum No.3 is beyond anything I ever imagined the piece could be. The Transcendental Etude No. 10 is thunderously and magnificently executed, and the fiendish complexities of the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 are carried off with a technical superiority that is difficult to articulate. Kissin electrifies every piece he touches with his dramatic and thrilling artistry, and he's even better live than he is on C.D. There are a number of great pianists in the world, and I have heard many of them perform; but there is something uniquely inspiring about Evgeny Kissin. I find myself listening to his recordings over and over again and wanting to shout out, "Bravo!""
Simply supurb!!!
Richard Edwin Howard(rehoward@actx. | 04/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've known Kissin, not personally but as a pianist, from his debut in Tokyo. I owned a couple of his CDs which was always in my CD shelf. Knowing he is the "pianist" of our days, I still prefered to listen to those older generation, Richter, Rubinstein, Horowitz,etc. I bought this CD not because I was crazy about Kissin but because I had a gift certificate and wanted to buy something I don't usually buy. This was the beginning of my new exciting life!!!! As always, I bought a CD but didn't listen to it right away---because I wanted to keep listening to my favorite CD of that time. One day I decided it was about time to listen to it, so I put it in my CD player in my car. WOW!!! I've never heard Prokofiev #3 Concerto like that. I have Richer, Argerich and some Korean guy, I even went to Argerich's Concert at Carnegie a couple years ago which was great but not this great!!! He does so many things which is so original. I looked at the music while I listened to the CD. He does things which is not written on the page but make so much sense. Now I'm hooked with these recordings AND Mr.Kissin himself. I've been listening to Prokofiev CD every day for last few months and I love it more. Last month I went to his concert at Lincoln Center where he played Prokofiev Concerto #2 which was written while Prokofiev was still a student. It was great, I still like #3 though. Tomorrow I'm hoping to hear him play at Carnegie Hall. Liszt-Schubert Songs I absolutely LOVE. For this, I'm still trying to decide if I like Perriah better or Kissin. This is a great CDs to listen to and to get to know Kissin's true artistry. I hope Mr. Kissin will record complete Prokofiev Sonatas."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1