Fiddle-Faddle | Redlands, CA United States | 03/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Moravec draws you intimately inside the veil with impeccable technique, a broad range of coloration, intelligently wrought tempi, the best voicing I have ever heard, and a good sense of style that seems to fit Beethoven snugly. I love this man's playing. This gentleman possesses virtuosity without pretension. This is the true art of music making."
Sensitive Performance
B. J. Simon | 08/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I heard one of these sonatas at a recital and asked the pianist to recommend a recording. He recommended Ivan Moravec, saying he wasn't very well known in the states, but did the best performance of this work. Boy was he right. Graceful, sensitive, expressive - I've never heard the piano sound so human. He also said that Ivan Moravec's Chopin Nocturnes are wonderful too - that will be my next purchase."
"Ivan Moravec has been regarded as one of the most brilliant pianists of the century but in what concerns to Beethoven's repertoire his name has not achieved the well deserved acclaim.
His sound reveals not only a deep empathy with the score, but besides a conceptual density and intellectual commitment as I have heard in artists of the caliber of Kempff, Schnabel, Badura Skoda, Nat or Gulda.Concise, austere,lyrical and imaginative.
A must-have in your invaluable collection.
"
Breathtaking!
Misha Weidman | San Francisco, CA USA | 12/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first and third movements of the Appassionata are astonishing in their drama and technique. Moravec's Moonlight, which I know very very well, is my favorite version, full of evocative mystery.
Moravec is known as the connoisseur's pianist. One need go no further than this CD to understand why. But be prepared to set aside preconceived notions of tempi; Moravec's can sometimes seem extreme, but they are always absolutely convincing."
Oops!
Robert L. Berkowitz | Natick, MA United States | 08/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I intended to review the "Moravec plays Beethoven, vol. 2" CD that includes the Moonlight, Pathetique, Appassionata and Les Adieux sonatas, but instead I placed my comments under this CD.I was unable to erase the review, so I'll use this opportunity to point you to the other Moravec CD which contains some of the same music as this CD. The recording of Op.90 found on this CD can be found, along with fourth piano concerto, on "Moravec plays Beethoven, vol. 1".My 5 stars are for those performances that are duplicated on the volume 2 CD. Please read that review to obtain more information."