Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn: First Piano Concertos

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Barely out of his teens on this recording, Lang Lang demonstrates plenty of virtuoso finger dexterity, but also places his personal stamp on the music. In the Tchaikovsky, a barn-burner of a piece that some pianists use to show how fast and loud they can play, Lang stresses the layers of intimacy alongside its more extroverted passages, which he plays with plenty of pianistic pyrotechnics. If his first movement seems disjointed, more a fantasia than a cohesive entity, he makes a virtue out of necessity through sharp accents that highlight its episodic character. Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony's brilliantly played accompaniments are in synch with Lang's approach. The Mendelssohn is a work that replaces bombast with elegant sparkle well suited to Lang's strengths. Lang is in his element here, sprinkling notes without breaking a sweat. There's stiff competition from classic performances by Argerich and Cliburn among many others in the Tchaikovsky, and Serkin, Schiff, and Thibaudet in the Mendelssohn, but Lang is well worth hearing. --Dan Davis

Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn: First Piano Concertos, Music, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Felix Mendelssohn, Lang Lang, Daniel Barenboim, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Concerto, Orchestral & Symphonic, Piano Concerto

Average customer rating:

well...

Alternative interpretations by a talented artist

EFMendelson

a new force to be reckoned with.

F for all accounts

Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn: First Piano Concertos
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky , Felix Mendelssohn , Lang Lang , Daniel Barenboim , and Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000094HLE
Release Date: 2003-07-15

Tracks:

Allegro Non Troppo E Molto Maestoso-Allegro Con Spririto
Andantino Semplice-Prestissimo-Tempo I
Allegro Con Fuoco
Molto Allegro Con Fuoco
Andante
Presto-Molto Allegro E Vivace

Amazon.com

Barely out of his teens on this recording, Lang Lang demonstrates plenty of virtuoso finger dexterity, but also places his personal stamp on the music. In the Tchaikovsky, a barn-burner of a piece that some pianists use to show how fast and loud they can play, Lang stresses the layers of intimacy alongside its more extroverted passages, which he plays with plenty of pianistic pyrotechnics. If his first movement seems disjointed, more a fantasia than a cohesive entity, he makes a virtue out of necessity through sharp accents that highlight its episodic character. Barenboim and the Chicago Symphony's brilliantly played accompaniments are in synch with Lang's approach. The Mendelssohn is a work that replaces bombast with elegant sparkle well suited to Lang's strengths. Lang is in his element here, sprinkling notes without breaking a sweat. There's stiff competition from classic performances by Argerich and Cliburn among many others in the Tchaikovsky, and Serkin, Schiff, and Thibaudet in the Mendelssohn, but Lang is well worth hearing. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

well..........2007-04-05

One day, a friend of mine who is a great pianist/musician played two different performer playing Tchaikovsky's Concerto without tellling me who's playing. After hearing them, I said "you played one best, one worst probably...?" He replied me back almost instantly "you got it!" The best one was by Horowitz and the other one is the one you are looking at it right now. Sorry to say this but I'm just telling you my experience. I personally think that somehow, Lang Lang is a bit over reputated by media.

Alternative interpretations by a talented artist.......2007-01-01

I regret that there is so much controversy over Lang Lang's performances. I for one am glad that various artists present their personal interpretations of various works. If every performer played exactly the same way and rigidly followed every note, marking, and tempo of each written score with no personal expression I would find musical performances not only boring but also, in many cases, unsatisfying. For example, I prefer some pieces of music played more slowly and lyrically than written while I prefer more robust interpretations of other music. Variety of interpretation allows me and other listeners to find one or more performances of a given piece of music which satisfy our individual tastes even though others may find the same performances unsatisfactory or even objectionable. Lang Lang is a very talented pianist with a unigue perspective which often results in alternative interpretations of classical standards. I enjoy hearing Lang Lang's interpretations, and find them interesting, even though they may not be my favorite ones. I cannot say whether you will or will not like this CD -- that depends upon your personal taste -- but you will find the performances competently played and not boring.

EFMendelson.......2006-11-23

Quite possibly the most pedantic and uninspired performances of the Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky concerti you could find. In the right hands, the opening movement of the Mendelssohn G Minor (e.g. as played by Rudolf Serkin or Murray Perahia) is one of the most exciting of all the romantic piano concertos. Unfortunately, as played by Lang Lang it devolves into a slipshod exercise of mediocrity. Lang's phrasings in the opening passages of the first movement are atrocious. I would have thought it an impossibility to eliminate the propulsive tension Mendelssohn created with this work but Lang Lang proves otherwise. The 2nd and 3rd movements suffer a similar mauling. As for the Tchaikovsky 1st, you can probably hear a better performance by the average senior piano major at your local state college and it won't cost you as much as this CD.

a new force to be reckoned with. .......2006-08-14

listen all you conservative classical music listeners. the days of conservative playing are gone. lang lang is the force behind the NEW classical music. he's trying to encourage all those young pop music lovers as well as classical music lovers to enjoy classical music. give him some credit. do you really think critics would rave about him if he was so bad as most people here says he is? he tops the charts everytime a cd comes out. would he able to do that if he was THAT BAD. you know. if you want to listen to argerich or janis for tchaikovsky or rachmaninov because lang lang's so bad, go ahead. no one's stopping you.
lang lang is the best pianist of this generation. he will revolutionize classical music.

F for all accounts.......2006-01-03

This guy is hyped by DG to gain entracne into Chinese market. Either he does not know the reportoir, or he is faking.

I give minus five, that is -5, for listening experience and -100 for spending money. Stay away from this dude. DG is trying to make money of a bogus guy.

Sound is no good when playing by CSO under outgoing Barenboim is worthless.

Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn: First Piano Concertos [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn: First Piano Concertos [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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ASIN: B0000A5BWW
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

1. Allegro Non Troppo E Molto Maestoso - Allegro Con Spirito
2. Andantino Semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I
3. Allegro Con Fuoco
1. Molto Allegro Con Fuoco
2. Andante
3. Presto - Molto Allegro E Vivace

Tchaikovsky / Mendelssohn: First Piano Concertos - Lang Lang - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Barenboim

Average customer rating:

Tchaikovsky / Mendelssohn: First Piano Concertos - Lang Lang - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Barenboim

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon / BMG
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B000GZRS90

Product Description

Tracks 1. - 3. are Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 In B Flat minor, Op. 23. Tracks 4. - 6. are Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1. In G Minor, op. 25.

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