Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Retrospective Series, Vol. 1

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Steven De Groote, a pianist from South Africa, won the Gold Medal at the 1977 Van Cliburn Competition. He died in 1989, at 36, from the lingering effects of a 1985 plane crash. Not even the Cliburn award propelled him to a major career, but in these prizewinning performances we can hear that De Groote was a very special artist. His Haydn has wit and charm, his Schubert almost overwhelming emotional force. He makes the shifting moods of the Chopin completely convincing. There was some controversy at the Cliburn Competition when De Groote beat a more exciting pianist, Alexander Toradze, for the gold, but De Groote's Prokofiev Sonata shows he could whip up excitement with the best of them. A beautiful memorial to a great artist. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Sonata In D Major, Hob. XVI : 24: I. Allegro
Sonata In D Major, Hob. XVI : 24: II. Adagio
Sonata In D Major, Hob. XVI : 24: III. Finale - Presto
Sonata In A Minor, Op. 143: I. Allegro giusto
Sonata In A Minor, Op. 143: II. Andante
Sonata In A Minor, Op. 143: III. Allegro vivace
Polonaise fantasy in A Minor, Op. 53
Sonota No. 8 In B - Flat Major, Op. 84: I. Andante dolce
Sonota No. 8 In B - Flat Major, Op. 84: II. Andante sognando
Sonota No. 8 In B - Flat Major, Op. 84: III. Vivace

Amazon.com

Steven De Groote, a pianist from South Africa, won the Gold Medal at the 1977 Van Cliburn Competition. He died in 1989, at 36, from the lingering effects of a 1985 plane crash. Not even the Cliburn award propelled him to a major career, but in these prizewinning performances we can hear that De Groote was a very special artist. His Haydn has wit and charm, his Schubert almost overwhelming emotional force. He makes the shifting moods of the Chopin completely convincing. There was some controversy at the Cliburn Competition when De Groote beat a more exciting pianist, Alexander Toradze, for the gold, but De Groote's Prokofiev Sonata shows he could whip up excitement with the best of them. A beautiful memorial to a great artist. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

The Piano The Tinkling of the Ivories.......2002-02-03

Several years ago when I was a wee lad (in comparison to the aging despair that has befallen me these days), I watched on the local PBS affiliate a documentary on the Van Cliburn Piano Competition: I was hooked. I bought a compilation such as this onto the CD format and have never looked back.

The Piano is a beautiful instrument intonating the wide range of notes that the human ear can comprehend. Harmonia Mundi from the genesis has brought this enjoyment to the public via the compact disc medium.

Vai Audio has brought this particular CD to the public stage. I applaud their efforts.

I would recommend this CD to my worst enemy (I have many). Notwithstanding that you will love this release. Peace via the piano.

Music Review: