Schubert: Piano Sonata in B-flat; Schubert-Liszt: Four Songs; Liszt: Mephisto

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It's hard not to be impressed by Kissin's immaculate pianism here, his lovely singing tone captivates while the finger-popping pyrotechnics of the Mephisto Waltz are dazzling. Kissin's interpretation of Schubert's great B-flat Sonata stresses the lyricism without understating its tragic elements. The opening theme, pocked with little pauses and left-hand ominous rumblings, is wistfully stated, and the clarity of the first climax testifies to Kissin's masterful technique. In some hands the first two movements can sound unvaried but here they're differentiated in tempo and mood. Kissin doesn't flinch from the music's daringly slow tread--the pair take almost 35 minutes, or almost as long as some performances of the entire work, yet Schubert's "heavenly lengths" never outstay their welcome. The song transcriptions are drop-dead gorgeous, not to be missed. But the Sonata is the main show and while Kissin's performance is highly recommendable, don't miss those of Arrau, Rubinstein, or Kempff, among the great older masters who have tackled this work on disc. --Dan Davis END

Tracks:

Brandenbutg Concerto No.3 In G First Movement
Overture No.3 In D Second Movement
Violin Concerto In E First Movement
Prelude In C minor
Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Chorus From Cantata No.147)
Overture No.2 In B minor Minuet And Badinerie
Oboe Concerto In D minor Second Movement
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Third Movement
Musical Offering - Fuga canonica
Easter Oratorio - Overture
Minuet In D minor
Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel herunter(From Choral Prelude BWV 650
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Second Movement
Art Of The Fugue - Contrapunctus 9
Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord And Strings. Triple Concerto - Third Movement
Overture No.4 In D - Réjouissance
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Water Music - Alla Hornpipe
Xerxes - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo)
Messiah - And The Glory Of The Lord
Concerto Grosso In A Minor, Op. 6, No. 4 - Larghetto Affettuoso
Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 4 Allegro
Water Music - Air
Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Concerto Grosso In B flat, Op. 3, No. 2 - Largo
Salomon - Sinfonia, Act 3
The Choice Of Hercules - While For Thy Arms
Water Music - Allegro (Suite No. 1)
Suite No. 5 In E - Air With Variations
Jephtha - How Dark, O Lord
Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 5 Alla Siciliana - Presto
Mi Palpita Il Cor (Solo Cantata) S'un Di M'adora
Water Music - Andante Allegro Da Capo
Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat: First Movement
Symphony No. 94 in G: Surprise Symphony-second movement
Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D: Third Movement
Flute Trio No. 31 in G: Second Movement
Symphony No. 31 in D: Hornsignal-First Movement
String Quartet No. 17 in F, Op. 3, no. 5: Serenade Quartet-Second Movement
Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra-Third Movement
Concerto for 2 Horns & Orchestra in E-flat: Second Movement
Symphony No. 88 in G: Fourth Movement
String Quartet No. 77 in C: Kaiser Quartet-Poco adagio cantabile
Notturno No. 1 in C: Second Movement
Symphony No. 98 in B: Londoner No. 4-Fourth Movement
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - first movement
Piano Concerto in A - second movement
Flute Concerto in D - Rondeau
Serenade - Minuet
Violin Concerto - first movement
Symphony No. 40 in G minor - first movement
Clarinet Concerto - second movement
Turkish March
Divertimento - Minuet
Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat - first movement
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67-First Movement
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, no. 2: Moonlight Sonata-First Movement
Overture
O welche Lust (Prisoners' Chorus)
Ha, welch ein Augenblick (Pizarros's Aria)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Second Movement
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 61: Third Movement
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13: Pathétique-Second Movement
Sympony No. 6 in F, Op. 68: Pastorale-First Movement
Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80: Choral Fantasy - Finale
German Dance No. 1 In C
Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 In G-Flat
Heidenroslein
Ave Maria
Der Lindenbaum
Quintet In A 'Trout Quintet' - Andante
Mass No. 6 In E-Flat - Kyrie
Die Schone Mullerin Des Mullers Blumen
German Dance No. 2 In G
Piano Sonata In B-Flat
Nachtgesang Im Walde
Winterreise - No. 15: Die Krahe
German Mass - Zum Sanctus (Heilit, Heilig Ist Der Herr)
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished' - Second Movement
Waltz No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 18 Grande Valse brillante
Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, no. 2
Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, no. 5
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21-Second Movement
Mazurka in D minor, Op. 33, no. 2
Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, no. 15 Raindrop
Etude in C, Op. 10, no. 1
Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2
Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 Fantasy Impromptu
Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35-Third Movement
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - Third Movement
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - first movement 113.String Seranade - Waltz
Violin Concerto - second movement
The Sleeping Beauty - Waltz
Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
Swan Lake - Waltz
Eugene Onegin - Polonaise
The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers
Orchestral Suite No. 4 - Mozartiana - Third Movement
Swan Lake - Dance of the Swans
Symphony No. 6 in B minor - Pathétique - Third Movement
Hungarian Dance No.5
Lullaby
Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Third Movement
Intermezzo in E-flat, Op.117, no. 1
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 77 - Third Movement
Waltz, Op. 39, no. 15
Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83 - Second Movement
String Quintet in G, Op. 111 - Second Movement
Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Third Movement
Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, no. 7
Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor
German Requiem Selig sind die Toten (Final Chorus)
Die Fledermaus - Overture
Kaiser Waltz, Op.437
Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
Roses From The South Waltz, Op. 388
AnnenPolka, Op. 117
Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354
Eljen A Magyar Polka, Op. 332
Wine, Women and Song Waltz, Op. 333
On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 134
Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg - Overture
Tannhauser - Die Pilger sind's (Pilgims' Chorus)
Tannhauser - O du mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram's Aria)
Lohengrin - Act 3 Prelude and Bridal Chorus
The Flying Dutchman - Jo-ho-he Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta's Ballad)
The Flying Dutchman - Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)
Die Walkure - Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund's Aria)
Die Walkure - Ride of the Valkyries
Siegfried Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede mein Hammer (Siegfried's Forging Song)
Tristan und Isolde - Liebestod
Thus sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
Don Juan, Op. 20
Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, I.Nacht
Don Quixote, Op.35, first movement: Introduction
Salome, Op. 54, Dance Of The Seven Veils
Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, Finale: Hab' mir's gelobt ihn lieb zu haben
Piano Concerto 2 In C minor, Op. 18 - First Movement
Vocalise, Op.34, No. 14
Prelude In G Sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor, Op. 40 - Third Movement
Symphony No. 2 In E minor, Op. 27 - Third Movement
Piano Concerto No. 1 In F sharp minor, Op. 1 - Second Movement
Rhapsody, Op. 43 On A Theme By Paganini
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat
Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat - third movement
Angelus
Mephisto Waltz No.1 (Dance in a Village Tavern)
Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
Dante Symphony - Finale. - Purgatorio - Magnificat
Les Préludes
Boléro
Daphnis et Chloé first movement: Nocturne
Rhapsodie Espagnole
Shéhérazade - first movement: Asie
Ma Mère l'Oye - fourth movement: La Belle et la Bête
Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
La Valse
Slavic Dance No. 1 in C, Op. 46, no.1
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' - second movement
Humoresque, Op. 101
Slavic Dance No. 8 in G minor, Op. 46, no. 8
Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 22 - second movement
Romance for Violin and Orchestra In F minor, Op. 11
Symphony No. 7 in D minor - third movement
Melodie (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
Carneval Overture, Op. 92
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104 - third movement
Symphony No.4 In A, Op. 90. Italian - First Movement
Frühlingslied In A, Op. 62, No. 6
Wedding March (From A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61)
Duetto In F, Op.30, No.6 (From Songs Without Words)
String Symphony No.9 In C. Schweitzer Symphony - Third Movement
Concerto For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra No. 1 In D minor - Second Movement
Symphony No.3 In A minor, Op.56 Scottish - Third Movement"
Notturno (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
String Symphony No. 12 In G minor - First Movement
Venetian Gondola Song In F Sharp minor, Op.30, No.6
Scherzo (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
Violin Concerto In E minor, Op.64 - Third Movement
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - Morgenstimmung
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - I. Prelude. Allegro vivace
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - IV. Air. Andante religioso
Arietta, Op. 12, no. 1
Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Solveig's Song
Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Op. 65, no. 6
The Last Spring, Op. 34, no. 2
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op 46 - Anitra's Dance
Nordic Melody Op. 63
Notturno, Op. 54, no. 4
Elegie, Op. 47, no. 5
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Arabic Dance
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - Allegro
Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 - Rhenish - first movement
Traumerai (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
Mondnacht (from Eichendorff-Liederkreis, Op. 39)
Aufschwung (from Fantasietucke, Op. 12)
Triolett, Op. 114, no. 2
Tanzlied (No. 1 from Duets, Op. 78)
Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - second movement
Frühlingsgruss
Abschied (from Waldszenen Op. 82)
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wunderschonen Monat Mai
Manfred Overture, Op. 115
Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, no. 2
Die Rose stand im Tau
Liebesgarten (from Four Duets, Op. 34)
Warum? (from Fantasiestucke, Op. 12)
Kennst du das Land, Op.79, no. 29 (from Lieder der Mignon, Op. 98a)
Von fremden Landern und Menschen (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Album Description

An extraordinary 20-CD collection of great works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg and Liszt. It also features worldrenowned artists such as Sir Neville Marriner, Martha Argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Hermann Prey, Reiner Goldberg, Sylvia Sass, Jochen Kowalski, Peter Schreler and many more. This exquisite, copper metallic, deluxe boxed set is the perfect gift for the classical music neophyte.

Customer Reviews:

Mill. Classical review.......2007-05-13

This is a great set of recordings for the money, the only problem was I've had to clean some of the CD's before they played correctly.

classical music for the unitiated.......2007-04-01

This set is a good way to start listening to classical music. It's very well produced and easy to listen to. I purchased it to use as part of my world history high school class. It would have been nice to have some bio information on the composers. However, the product is exactly as advertised and good value for the money. The students were intrigued by how many of the excerpts they had heard before.

Some little gems there that I had forgotten!.......2007-03-30

Although I studied classical music at school, I had all but forgotten it until I bought this set. I heard several tracks I haven't heard for over 30 years, and I had been humming Brahms's 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' for years without ever knowing what it was and it was on the disc, so that was nice.

I found it to be a very good selection overall, but I felt too much had already been heard on TV, which of course is what lots of newcomers to classical music might appreciate. I managed to find about 2 hours of tracks that I wanted to keep, which works out quite expensive per disc, but I did find some wonderful music I had completely forgotten about, so it was worth it. All in all, it represents good value, and I have only knocked one star off as so much of it had been used in adverts.

It is definitely a good introduction to classical music, and it has made me want to listen to more of it, so I don't regret this 'expensive' purchase one bit!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

A very helpful collection.......2007-03-24

I define this set as an excellent way to find out who you like, and who you don't, among 20 of the important composers. It opens the door to purchasing more complete pieces by composers you do like, and can save a lot of time and money in the process.
To criticize the set for not containing more composers, or more than just snippets of those who are in the set, is missing the point: it is a helpful introduction to finding your way in the huge maze of classical music. It succeeds admirably in this.
Sound quality is uniformly very good on an audiophile system.
Highly recommended.

Excellent!.......2007-03-08

A great way to start a classical music collection. It's nice to have a full CD of each composer. It makes it easy to keep track of selections/composers I already have and what composers I still need to puchase to complete my collection.

Schubert: Piano Sonata in B-flat; Schubert-Liszt: Four Songs; Liszt: Mephisto

Average customer rating:

Only 1\2 bad
Very mixed bag, but the Liszt is astounding
Kissin as a Pianist
Another "one day" classic from Kissin
Terrible

Schubert: Piano Sonata in B-flat; Schubert-Liszt: Four Songs; Liszt: Mephisto

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Evgeny Kissin: Beethoven, Franck, Brahms
Chopin: The Four Ballades, Berceuse, Barcarolle, Scherzo No. 4
Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op. 28; Sonata for Piano No. 2, Op. 35; Polonaise, Op. 53
Carnegie Hall Debut Concert

ASIN: B0001XAN8U
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Tracks:

Molto Moderato
Andante Sostenuto
Scherzo: Allegro Vivace Con Delicatezza
Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
Standchen, S560 No.7
Das Wandern, S565 No.1
Wohin? S565 No.5
Aufenthalt, S560 No.3
Mephisto Waltz No.1, S514

Amazon.com

It's hard not to be impressed by Kissin's immaculate pianism here, his lovely singing tone captivates while the finger-popping pyrotechnics of the Mephisto Waltz are dazzling. Kissin's interpretation of Schubert's great B-flat Sonata stresses the lyricism without understating its tragic elements. The opening theme, pocked with little pauses and left-hand ominous rumblings, is wistfully stated, and the clarity of the first climax testifies to Kissin's masterful technique. In some hands the first two movements can sound unvaried but here they're differentiated in tempo and mood. Kissin doesn't flinch from the music's daringly slow tread--the pair take almost 35 minutes, or almost as long as some performances of the entire work, yet Schubert's "heavenly lengths" never outstay their welcome. The song transcriptions are drop-dead gorgeous, not to be missed. But the Sonata is the main show and while Kissin's performance is highly recommendable, don't miss those of Arrau, Rubinstein, or Kempff, among the great older masters who have tackled this work on disc. --Dan Davis END

Customer Reviews:

Only 1\2 bad.......2005-11-11

It seems that everyone(a very small group of everyone in reality since no one cares about this kind of music anymore) is complaing about the tempo of the first movmt of Schub's final testament played by kissin. Tempo seems to be the ultimate focus of the amateur critic. I mean, the guy several blogs below(or above) wrote a paper with no issues beyond he played it this long while she played it that long.
Kissin does play this piece at a horrible pace, and the main problem with that, the reason Richter and kempff pull off their very different versions(in terms of length) is because they, while playing it at their chosen speeds, let the piece grow, because this piece, more than any other sonata I know, lives and dies with the players ability to make it an organic journey. kissin fails at this almost from the first step. It just doesnt seem to go anywhere, and I am a great admirer of Kissin, and do feel he has become the anti pianist to prof critics anywhere. This is not a young man's sonata. There is something, i do not know what it is, that a pianist needs to learn about life before he should, not can, should play this. Maybe it is because, like almsot every review here suggests, they believe that a slow tempo, or that playing anything slow, gives it more depth, piety, or that it somehow means more if you have more time to listen and think over it.
The main reason I do not enjoy Kissin's view of this piece is not the first mvmt, which seems to be everyones focus, but the second, which is the real gem of the piece. Really listen to it next time, man you will really hear something if you have never paid attention to this before. I was shocked when he completely destroyed the foundation he had built with the first mvmt going into the second. It was like listening to two different pianists, with two clashing views, again. this is not the music for a young man.
However, the Met Waltz1 is out of this world, really, out of this universe. He out horowitzs horowitz. this is the definitive version of this piece now, and the schubert-liszt trans are jewels of the lit and i am so pleased pianists are starting to record them more lately. Volodos, and Perahia both have released great discs with them and these are just as good if not better. For those looking to hear more there is a revelatory disc of Sofronitzky playing about six of them with several of the impromptus that is a ten star. I hope Kissin will record the Liszt Sonata soon, that is a good piece for a middle aged man, before they lose their chops, but have developed into something beyond a young man; Kissin is there in almost every sense of the word, but he is not even close to the D960.

Very mixed bag, but the Liszt is astounding.......2005-09-30

Despite the lengthy and fervent defense in the above review, Kissin's B flat Sonata starts off with a 22 min. first movement that collapses into a formless mess, in no way reflecting Schubert's molto moderato marking and allowing no contrast with the slow movement to follow.

After that, however, things improve greatly. The rest of the Schubert sonata is played with lovely lightness and extraordinary phrasing. The Schubert-Liszt song transcriptions are not as free and spontaneous as on some earlier Kissin CDs but are still masterful. And the CD is crowned with a Liszt Mephisto Waltz played with such stunning virtuosity that one doubts if any ohter living pianiist could equal it. Worth the price of the whole CD by itself.

Having offered this much praise, I must sitll echo others who have voiced their worry that Kissin has lost some of the artistic subtlety and depth he had ten years ago. We shall just have to wait and see what the future brings to this great pianist.

Kissin as a Pianist.......2004-12-17

Though Kissin is accomplished for his age, he is still a fledgling performer which was manifested in these performances. I do believe he gets progressively more profound in every release. However, Schubert's sublime masterpieces are a joy to listen to no matter who conveys them.

Another "one day" classic from Kissin.......2004-07-10

Reviewers of Kissin seem to have lost their collective minds, as sometimes happens when one comes untethered from reality. Oh so many reviewers refuse to reflect, reassess and admit that those they love simply aren't as great as they made them out to be: a crack here, a blemish there, a pervading dullness everywhere. Richter plays the first movement of Schubert's final sonata as if frozen in amber (25 minutes +), yet when he does so, Richter shows philosophical insight. When Kissin plays it, slowly yet spritely in comparison, critics remark his playing is so distended and ponderous that the first two movements have lost their arc.
Kissin gives a fresh, innovative reading of a piece and it's denounced as garish. Perrahia gives thoroughly modern, cold, distasteful interpretations of Chopin and everyone hails the ineffable qualities of his recordings.
Kissin exercises restraint and reviewers wonder aloud, "Where has the joie de vivre gone in his playing?" Yet when he pushes the envelope, Kissin becomes a portentous potentate with pulverising command but, by implication, not a shred of understanding of what he's playing. Richter unleashes fury when not called for, and his doing so serves to edify and break new musical ground.

And so forth. . .

I like both Perrahia and Richter (and also Kempff, Gilels, Arrau and company), but I have not fallen to hero worship as many critics have. Whereas critics make an attempt to understand pianists such as Perrahia and Richter on their own terms, no such attempt is made when reviewing Kissin's music - charitability is forgotten, lost, or discarded, and contempt, longing for what never was, and delusion merrily march in its stead.

The criticisms of his Schubert playing serve to prove mathematically that Kissin has unfairly become the red-headed step child of critics everywhere. As mentioned earlier, critics have chastised Kissin for his putatively distended, ponderous account of the first movement of the Schubert sonata. But his timing on the first movement is firmly in line with more recent recordings. Pollini, Perrahia, and Lupu play it in 18 to 19 minutes. Uchida and Sokolov top 20 minutes. Another popular criticism is that because he plays the first movement so slowly the sonata architectonically collapses under the oppressive weight of Kissin's artistic vision, since the second movement no longer stands in relief to the overly slow first movement as it should. This "structural" criticism is an interesting one, primarily because of how far off base it is. First, one could criticize all of the other performers listed in this post in the same way: Uchida, Sokolov, Richter, and Perrahia, to name a few, but no one dares mention that other vaunted pianists - whose performances of the piece have been positively reviewed - have played it at a similar tempo. Second, Kissin's playing of the second movement actually differentiates it from the first movement. He plays the second movement more slowly than nearly everyone else does, something he did for the express reason of contrasting the two movements and thus preserving the piece's structure and something the other pianists listed in this paragraph did not do, which - one would think - should have led reviewers everywhere to have apoplectic fits over the way in which these performers had single handedly caused the structure of Schubert's monumental sonata to come crashing down, but they didn't. Instead these nattering naybobs of negativism saved their criticisms for Kissin. But that's enough of defending Kissin: Kissin is more or less someone you love or love to hate; unfortunately for him, the latter is more often true than the former when it comes to his critics.

Having had a chance to witness Kissin perform this disc's collection at Carnegie Hall, I can't help but feel lucky. The Waltz is other-worldly. Sharp, beautifully phrased, wonderfully articulated, and skillfully narrated. The telling of the charming of Faust has never been so captivating.

After first hearing the third movement of Schubert's final sonata played by Kissin, it was weeks before I stopped replaying it for myself in my mind: glittering, ephemeral playing that speaks of the piece's surprising emotion and sadness - this was Schubert writing at the brink of death; all of this comes through. The first, third and fourth movements are all brilliant and I prefer Kissin's account, not by a long shot, but by a substantial amount, to other excellent recordings by the likes of Perrahia and Uchida.

The transcriptions are wonderful and having not heard other recordings I'll refrain from lavishing praise on them, but they really are outstanding.

This disc surely will not be recognized as an instant classic, but that doesn't stop me from believing it one day will, when a future generation of critics finally happen upon this disc's singular, definitive recordings of the Mephisto Waltz and Schubert's final sonata.

Terrible.......2004-06-20

When I went to Borders, I had no intention of buying a Kissin CD, but when I saw he had recorded the Mephisto Waltz, it instantly went into my shopping bag. I smirked, and thought, this will be terrible.

Previously, I had heard Van Cliburn and Vladimir Horowitz play the Mephisto Waltz. Van Cliburn gives an extraordinary performance of a mix between the original and the Busoni transcription. Horowitz, gives a horrid performance of his "own retouching of the Busoni transcription". Kissin's recording ranks in between these. He uses rubato and ritardando's in all of the wrong places. He reads things into the score that should never have been done, and hopefully will never be repeated. He never decides on a tempo to use. The 2/4 bars are horribly slow. There is a specific tempo ratio given in the score relating the 3/8 to the 2/4, and Kissin ignores this entirely. There is then a set of measures of 3/8 again, and it returns to 2/4. At this point, the tempo marking is "presto". Even Horowitz isn't eccentric enough to mess this part up by playing it too quickly. Kissin COMPLETELY ignores every single bit of musicality he could possibly have and plays this well over 200 beats per minute. With a bit more terrible pianism, Kissin finishes off the piece at breakneck speed.

Needless to say, my premonition turned out to be true.

Kissin's Schubert fares no better. A disconcertingly slow tempo and exagerrated "musical ideas" come across as shallow and immature. Overall, it's a poor recording of the work, not understanding the emotional depth of such a piece. If you're looking for a recording of this, go to Schnabel or Horowitz.

Average customer rating:

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Piano Classics

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Gavottes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Barcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Caprices | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Tracks:

Pno Son in C, K.545: I. Allegro - Marta Deyanova
Pno Son in C, K.545: II. Andante - Marta Deyanova
Pno Son in C, K.545: III. Rondo: Allegretto - Marta Deyanova
Pno Son in A, K.331/300j: I. Andante Grazioso - Marta Deyanova
Pno Son in A, K.331/300j: II. Menuetto & Trio - Marta Deyanova
Pno Son in A, K.331/300j: III. Alla Turca: Allegretto - Marta Deyanova
Pno Son in F, K.332/300k: I. Allegro - Marta Deyanova
Pno Son in F, K.332/300k: II. Adagio - Marta Deyanova
Pno Son in F, K.332/300k: III. Allegro Assai - Marta Deyanova
Fant in c, K.475: Adagio - Allegro - Andantino - Marta Deyanova

Tracks:

Son No.8 in C, Op.13 'Pathetique': Grave - Allegro Di Molto Con Brio - Bernard Roberts
Son No.8 in C, Op.13 'Pathetique': Adagio Cantabile - Bernard Roberts
Son No.8 in C, Op.13 'Pathetique': Rondo - Allegro - Bernard Roberts
Son No.14 in c#, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Adagio Sostenuto - Bernard Roberts
Son No.14 in c#, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Allegretto - Bernard Roberts
Son No.14 in c#, Op.27 No.2 'Moonlight': Presto Agitato - Bernard Roberts
Son No.21 in C, Op.53 'Waldstein': Allegro Con Brio - Bernard Roberts
Son No.21 in C, Op.53 'Waldstein': Intro: Adagio Molto - Rondo: Allegretto Moderato - Bernard Roberts
Son No.26 in E flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': Das Lebewohl: Adagio - Bernard Roberts
Son No.26 in E flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': Abwesenheit: Andante Espressivo - Bernard Roberts
Son No.26 in E flat, Op.81a 'Les Adieux': Das Widersehen: Vivacissimamente - Bernard Roberts

Tracks:

Impromptus, Op.142 D.935: No.1 in f: Allegro Moderato - Marta Deyanova
Impromptus, Op.142 D.935: No.2 in A flat: Allegretto - Marta Deyanova
Impromptus, Op.142 D.935: No.3 in B flat: Andante (Theme And Vars) - Marta Deyanova
Impromptus, Op.142 D.935: No.4 in f: Allegro Scherzando - Marta Deyanova
Six Moments Musicaux, Op.94 D.780: No.1 in C: Moderato - Marta Deyanova
Six Moments Musicaux, Op.94 D.780: No.2 in a flat: Andantino - Marta Deyanova
Six Moments Musicaux, Op.94 D.780: No.3 in f: Allegretto Moderato - Marta Deyanova
Six Moments Musicaux, Op.94 D.780: No.4 in c#: Moderato - Marta Deyanova
Six Moments Musicaux, Op.94 D.780: No.5 in f: Allegro Vivace - Marta Deyanova
Six Moments Musicaux, Op.94 D.780: No.6 in A flat: Allegretto - Marta Deyanova
Impromptu, Op.90 D.899: No.3 in G flat: Andante - Marta Deyanova

Tracks:

Caprice in a, Op.33 No.1 - Martin Jones
Andante And Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14 - Martin Jones
Prld and Fugue in e, Op.35 No.1: Allegro Con Fuoco - Martin Jones
Prld and Fugue in e, Op.35 No.1: Andante Espressivo - Martin Jones
Study No.2 in F: Allegro Con Moto - Martin Jones
Prld And Fugue in f, Op.35 No.5: Andante Lento - Martin Jones
Prld And Fugue in f, Op.35 No.5: Allegro Con Fuoco - Martin Jones
Fant in e, Op.16 No.2: II. Scherzo-Presto - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book I, Op.19: No.1 in E: Andante Con Moto - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book I, Op.19: No.3 in A: Molto Allegro E Vivace (Hunting Song) - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book I, Op.19: No.6 in g: Andante Sostenuto (Venetian Gondola Song) - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book II, Op.30: No.4 in b: Agitato E Con Fuoco - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book IV, Op.53: No.4 in F: Adagio - Martin Jones
Vars Serieuses in d, Op.54 - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book V, Op.62: No.5 in a: Andante Con Moto - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book V, Op.62: No.6 in A: Allegretto Grazioso (Spring Song) - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book VI, Op.67: No.4 in C: Presto (Spinning Song) - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book VII, Op.85: No.1 in F: Andante Espressivo - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book VIII, Op.102: No.3 in C: Presto - Martin Jones
Songs Without Words: Book VIII, Op.102: No.4 in g: Un Poco Agitato, Ma Andante - Martin Jones
Seven Characteristic Pieces, Op.7: No.7 in E: Presto - Martin Jones
Klavierstucke: No.2 in g - Martin Jones

Tracks:

Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Theme - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude I - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude II - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude III - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude IV - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude V - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude VI - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude VII - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude VIII - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude IX - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude X - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude XI - Shura Cherkassky
Etudes Symphoniques, Op.13: Etude XII - Shura Cherkassky
Carnaval, Op.9: Preamble (Quasi Maestoso) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Pierrot (Moderato) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Arlequin (Vivo) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Valse Noble (Un Poco Maestoso) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Eusebius (Adagio) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Florestan (Passionato) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Coquette (Vivo) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Replique (L'istesso Tempo) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Papillons (Prestissimo) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: A.S.C.H.-S.C.H.A. Lettres Dansantes (Presto) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Chiarina (Passionato) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Chopin (Agitato) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Estrella (Con Affetto) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Reconnaissance (Animato) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Pantalon Et Colombine (Presto) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Valse Allemande (Molto Vivace)/Paganini: Intermezzo (Presto) - Tempo I - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Aveu (Passionato) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Promenade (Comodo) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: Pause (Vivo) - Marta Deyanova
Carnaval, Op.9: March Des Davidbundler Contre Les Philistins (Non Allegro) - Marta Deyanova
Toccata in C, Op.7: Allegro - Mark Anderson

Tracks:

Vars On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.35: Book I - Martin Jones
Vars On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.35: Book II - Martin Jones
Hungarian Dances: No.1 Allegro - Martin Jones
Hungarian Dances: No.3 Allegretto - Martin Jones
Hungarian Dances: No.5 Allegro - Martin Jones
Hungarian Dances: No.10 Presto - Martin Jones
Gavotte - Martin Jones
Rhap in B, Op.79 No.1 - Martin Jones
Ballade in D, Op.79 No.1 - Martin Jones
Intermezzo in E flat, Op.117 No.1 - Martin Jones
Romanze in F, Op.118 No.5 - Martin Jones
Intermezzo in e flat, Op.118 No.6 - Martin Jones
Intermezzo in b, Op.119 No.1 - Martin Jones
Rhap in E flat, Op.119 No.4 - Martin Jones

Tracks:

Scherzo No.3 in c#, Op.39 - Vlado Perlemuter
Berceuse in D flat, Op.57 - Vlado Perlemuter
Ballade No.2 in F, Op.38 - Vlado Perlemuter
Etude in E, Op.10, No.3 'Tristesse' - Vlado Perlemuter
Etude in G flat, Op.10, No.5 'Black Key' - Vlado Perlemuter
Etude in c, Op.10, No.12 'Revolutionary' - Vlado Perlemuter
Etude in G flat, Op.25, No.9 'Butterfly' - Vlado Perlemuter
Etude in a, Op.25, No.11 'Winter Wind' - Vlado Perlemuter
Nocturne in c, Op.48 No.1 - Vlado Perlemuter
Nocturne in D flat, Op.27 No.2 - Vlado Perlemuter
Son No.2 in b flat, Op.35: Marche Funebre - Vlado Perlemuter
Prld in D flat, Op.29 No.15 'Raindrop' - Vlado Perlemuter
Prld in c, Op.28 No.20 - Vlado Perlemuter
Prld in A, Op.28 No.7 - Vlado Perlemuter
Prld in c#, Op.45 - Vlado Perlemuter
Barcarolle in F#, Op.60 - Vlado Perlemuter

Tracks:

Rhap Espagnole (Folies D'Espagne Et Jota Aragonesa) - Mark Anderson
Zwei Konzertetuden: Walderauschen - Mark Anderson
Zwei Konzertetuden: Gnomenreigen - Mark Anderson
Annees De Pelerinage - Troisieme Annee: Les Jeux D'eau A La Villa D'Este - Mark Anderson
Legendes: St. Francois D'Assise 'La Predication Aus Oiseau' - Mark Anderson
Legendes: St. Francois De Paule Marchant Sur Les Flots - Mark Anderson
3. Mephisto - Waltzer - Mark Anderson
Vier Kleine Klavierstucke: I. Sehr Langsam (Adagio) - Mark Anderson
Vier Kleine Klavierstucke: II. Moderato - Mark Anderson
Vier Kleine Klavierstucke: III. Sehr Langsam (Adagio) - Mark Anderson
Vier Kleine Klavierstucke: IV. Andantino - Mark Anderson
Annees De Pelerinage - Deuxieme Annee: Sonetto 104 Del Petrarca - Mark Anderson

Customer Reviews:

Big Music-Little Money.......2001-05-28

Most amount of songs for the least amount of money...its great...i still haven't listened to all of them because there is so much music on these cd's...its great...get this!! its a must have for the collector of classical music...

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Raag Digitaal [Import]

Spring Equinox: Moon's Milk [EP] [Import]

Serge Gainsbourg [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Sunday Love [Enhanced]

Real World (UK Import) [CD-single] [Import]

Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet

Story of the Jazz: Chet Baker [Import]

Romanticas de los Joao: Coleccion de Oro [Box set]

RB Music Presenta Merengue Encendido

Hélène Grimaud ~ Gershwin · Ravel - Piano Concertos

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