Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Sergey Rachmaninov, Robert Schumann :: Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3; Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 1 [Hybrid SACD]

Sunny

Scott D. Scheule | Arlington, VA | 02/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I consider myself supremely unqualified to rate any musical item. I am more than happy to criticize literature. Ironically, I have a degree in music and no such thing in literature. But, then again, my literature professor never smacked my hands with a ruler and told me to stop despoiling his piano with my clumsy touch. I wonder if there was anyway to write that last sentence without the suggestion of piano-human sex.



So take this with the salt it deserves--this album is top-notch.



There is something about Janis's playing that I can't put my finger on: somehow, no matter the piece, there is a feeling of cheerfulness. One would expect this in the Prokofiev, but we find it even in the melancholy Rachmaninoff, even slivers of it in the morose Schumann excerpt. It's no cause for complaint: one still gets all the emotion these works deserve. Somehow, still, everything seems so bright and sunny in Janis's hands.



His playing is above any criticism.



This is, perhaps, not my favorite recording of the Rach 1, but that may simply be because I'm used to a more somber sound. Nonetheless, it is a remarkable rendition, clear as a bell. The Prokofiev 3rd is breathtaking, the typical sarcasm and snide humor of the composer.



The Op. 11 Tocatta must be heard to be believed.



The Pinto pieces are charming little bits of dessert.



My only complaint, and this goes not to Janis, is that the album is somewhat old and thus suffers from a kind of dusty grain in the sound. That detracts not a bit from the music itself, however."

The Recording Angel

Mr. Jack Lawson | 08/10/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sound recording is one of the most civilised applications of technology. This CD captures an extraordinary pianist in two works, readily available on CD, but not performed like this. Tragically, illness intervened but by a humble CD we do not need to imagine the legend: Janis is in our room at the touch of a button. The Hybrid CD/SACD does an excellent job of remastering compared to various earlier formats (US and UK vinyl and 16-bit CD) but despite the legendary Mercury living presence (sorry, that's RCA's slogan) it is far from state-of-the art sound. The astounding artistry soon immerses you in the music and you'll need a box of Kleenex to mop your brow regularly."