Search - Scriabin, Eric Le Van :: The Neglected Scriabin: The Complete Mazurkas

Myriam L. from ANAHEIM, CA
Reviewed on 1/13/2009...

"It is not an easy task to be competitive with the greatest Scriabin pianists of the past such as Vladimir Sofronitsky, Samuel Feinberg, Sviatoslav,
Roberto Szidon, Vladimir Horowitz, and Scriabin himself.
Le Van deserves to be placed in this exalted company."
Don Satz, Music-Web International

" Each year I review two or three releases that might be models for producers of CDs to emulate. This is one. Only positive criticism can be applied here."
David Mulbury in THE AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE, March/April 2004

"Pianist Eric Le Van provides in this disc a perfect mirror for the composer's development... His performances are direct, unforced... with a spontaneity [and] miscroscopic gradations of color and timing reminiscient of Josef HOFFMAN at his Chopin best."
CLAVIER MAGAZINE, April 2005

"... wistful poetics and volatile emotions... There's also a freshness and lustre to Eric Le Van's tone - captured in one of the most natural sounding piano recordings I've heard in some time - that is seductive in its own right."
5 star BBC Music Magazine, April 2004

"Le Van's playing on this disc is uncannily sensitive to Scriabin's nuances of phrase and harmonic subtleties. This is artistry of the highest order."
FANFARE Magazine, May/June 2004. Article by Jerry Dubins.

Wonderful, sensuous playing. A must buy.

01/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If there is any recording of these pieces you should have, this is the one. Sheer magic under Le Van's hands, these performances are utterly heart-wrenching. Le Van is a master of nuance and inflection, indispensable to a great Scriabin performance. Here one finds an all-too-rare understanding of Scriabin's unique multifarious sound-world, and the interpreter milks these long-neglected gems for all of their poetry and emotional urgency. Compared to this version of the Mazurkas, all others sound pedestrian, with the exception of Samuel Feinberg; but Feinberg only recorded a selection from op.3, whereas here you have the whole set. This is an absolutely must for any record collection."

Some of the best Scriabin playing I've heard in years!

01/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently acquired this Music & Arts disc and was completely taken in by the incredible beauty of this version of the Mazurkas-pieces I had up until now considered as relatively minor works in Scriabin's output. The sound is gorgeous and never agressive, yet the music never drags or becomes merely pretty. There is depth and heartfelt emotion on every page-and the colors virtually jump out at you. Scriabin was truly a genius-a magician who invites you to enter into his fascinating visions of other worlds. Pianist Le Van obviously understands this-the playing here is simply magical. Without a doubt,this is some of the best Scriabin playing I've heard in years."