Search - Leopold Godowsky, Carlo Grante :: Leopold Godowsky: Studien über die Etüden von Chopin, Vol. 3: Nos. 44-48; Passacaglia; Waltzes

A Modern Orpheus Conquers All

Phillip J. Rodgers | West Central GA USA | 02/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The indefatigable Carlo Grante completes his heroic survey of Leopold Godowsky's terrifying Chopin studies. Few pianists in history have had the guts to even attempt selections from this trap filled collection, much less play them all. Mr. Grante not only plays them all in the three volume set (of which this is the concluding volume), but plays them better than anyone I have ever heard. The music itself is fascinating. Godowsky has a dream-like, art deco quality to his compositions that makes them unique. Godowsky marries a Bachian love of counterpoint to a Chopinesque sense of the piano. The result is music of hilarious complexity (as when the pianist is expected to play both G flat studies simultaneously). This entire set is highly recommended to the piano lover, or the simply bored with standard repertoire. You won't go wrong here."

(No title)

offeck | New York, NY -- United States of America | 01/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great album. The finger-work, passage-work, and artistic/musician craftsmanship, here, is absolutely top-notch and unbeatable. In this music, Grante has no rival(s). I have an advanced release of Hamelin's Godowsky/Chopin coming out in March, it has its highlights, and many wonderful moments, even, like all other Hamelin albums, but, over-all, there's no comparison. Hobson also had some wonderful moments on his disc, though not the complete collection, bringing out parts one never really noticed before. The Saperton is quite good, again not complete, just not worth the price of importing. As for the Madge, this doesn't seem to be his realm. This, the third and final installment into his Chopin studies is priceless. The sound is a bit muddy/thick in the Passacaglia, but the Fugue and Cadenza, for anybody who knows and loves this piece, they're just awesome. Each track on this album, individually, is/are worth cost of the album."

(this is the same review I used for Vols 1&2)

offeck | New York, NY -- United States of America | 12/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Godowsky's magnum opus, the 53 Studies on 26 of Chopin's Etudes is probably the piano repetoire's peak of poetic and pyrotechnical decadence. Sometimes I wonder how Chopin would have responded to Chopin's fantastic elaborations, but I'm sure, both as firm-held creative pianistic genuises, it wouldn't have involved much temper, especially considering the drawing on possibilities, extending the originals' already formidable technical demands into a realm of polyphonic, rhythmic, and dynamic utopia. Personally, I consider Godowsky's efforts an enormous compliment, or at least so it seems from the hands of this phenomenal (and very personable) pianist, who captures every breath-taking shade and nuance of Godowsky's crippling wit, mischeviousness, insouciance, and audacity. Although sadly not in the best recorded sound, Grante brings an earthy, unruffled, almost aristocratic ease to the fiendish and outlandish difficulties throughout the entire set. Although--as is common among pianists playing this impossible music, the fast ones are a little slow and the slow ones are a little fast, Grante seems to surpass what has been required with flying colors. He really does have a perfect demand of every bright-and-shinging and dark-and-tumultous element in the music, and with a gloriously rich and full tone. Essential! -- I have it on good word of the pianist and the president of Music and Arts that he/they will be releasing newly recorded versions of this set. GOD SPEED!"