Search - Simon Barere :: Performs Liszt Chopin Russian Repertoire & Encores

Fans of Horowitz, Lhevinne, & Gilels should check this out.

Mark Tabla | St. George, UT USA | 10/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I learned about this one from the Penguin Guide after I got bored with my CD of Bolet's version of Liszt's Concert Etude #2, "Le Leggierezza", so I decided to give Barere a try. Wow!! Like the reviewers say, Barare had the metabolism of a humming bird and was equal to if not superior to Horowitz in technique. I have listened to the Liszt etude #2 (which I think has the Leschetitzky ending), the Schumann Toccota, and Balakirev's Islamey over and over and am still amazed every time I hear them played by Barere. Also, check out the Blumenfeld etude where Barere's cadenzas, octaves, and accompaniments are all the more amazing when you realize he's playing only with his left hand."

Barere: Pianist Extraordinaire

Elias-Axel Pettersson | Maryland | 11/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Barere is quite an incredible phenomenon in the musical world. His unfortunate death WHILE performing the Grieg Piano Concerto in Carnegie Hall makes this mysterious figure even more elusive. As a technician, I really believe that nobody can touch him in select repertoire, not even Horowitz, Cziffra, or Lhevinne (though they can also produce incredible and individual feats themselves). For those of you that want to be blown away by Islamey (here in two versions), listen to Barere and his effortlessness. Having played the peice myself, I know what must be accomplished and he does it with such ease, but also with an over-arching sense of the greater picture. He was also famous for his incredible touch and tonal command.

The etudes presented here are some of the best ever recorded. I can personally attest to the difficulties in the Blumenfeld Etude. How Barere can manage to make this sound like a beautiful work of art regardless of its technical difficulties is incredible (it makes a fitting tribute to Blumenfeld, one of Barere's teachers, and the teacher of Horowitz as well). Barere's Schumann Toccata must be heard to be believed. His gossamer-like "La leggierezza," one of his main "calling cards," caused fights between two of the best Russian teachers at the Moscow Conservatory as to who would get the privilege to teach Barere.

The only downside to the CD set is the recording quality, which is certainly understandable given the years when the works were recorded. In addition, though Barere is a great technician and possesses an incredible tonal palette (comparable to Horowitz), he is not the deepest musician (like Rubinstein or Arrau); but for sheer pleasure and enjoyment, this CD set is hard to beat."