Search - Awadagin Pratt, Johannes Brahms :: Live From South Africa

What A Refreshing Performance

09/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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 honestly say is that, Awadagin Pratt 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 technical wizard as are so many of today's generation of pianists. His interpretation and artistic expression are warm, passionate and sophisticated. Also, I have read the comments made by some reviewers relative to their opinions. Some of them are more than kind but others seem to be looking for excuses to criticize. To them I would simply say that, when they 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."

A Truly Wonderful Performance

nhchen | Union City, CA USA | 08/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The incomparable Awadagin Pratt did it again! This is truly a performance that leaves you slack-jawed in wonder. His incredible power and beautiful tone highlight the overall perfection of just about everything he plays. His fervent yet delicate emotions illustrate his obviously strong sense of the music's logic and meaning. All in all, it confirms this excellent impression: here is an artist who is not only enormously talented and creative, but also much more matured than his twenty-eight years age suggests. Pratt's rightful place in the vanguard of the world's greatest musicians is assured with every such magical performance."

Beautiful, but......

Ryan P. Murphy | Pittsburgh, PA | 02/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is my first experience with Mr. Pratt's playing. I more than thoroughly enjoyed it. His interpretations are vivid and his playing is emotionally moving and powerful. The pieces of music you will hear are unusual for concert repertoire, especially the Franck. He plays this magically, making this organ piece sound like it was written for piano. The Rachmaninov G-sharp minor Prelude moved me so much I listened to twice in succession when I first heard it. This is an excellent CD, but the sound is too harsh. This is probably due to poor microphone placement. (Perhaps the microphones were too close to the instrument-you can hear Mr. Pratt breathing and humming at times) I also would have preferred a more mellow-sounding tone for the pieces being performed. But aside from these qualms, I still would recommend this recording to almost anyone."