Murray Perahia

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Murray Perahia isn't about flash and, as this diverse collection of music reveals, the pianist's true brilliance is his dedication to the integrity of each composition. Scarlatti's Sonata in B Minor leads things off and reveals Perahia's recent love for baroque music (check out his excellent recording of Bach's English Suites Nos. 1, 3, & 6). Chopin's Ballade No. 1 seemingly unfolds itself in the pianist's hands. Perahia plays close attention to the composition's details but never loses sight of its free-spirited nature. Of course, nothing is quite so free-spirited here as Bartók's Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs, where Perahia showcases his faultless technique on the dissonant and adventurous work. Another highlight is found on disc 2, where Perahia leads the English Chamber Orchestra in fine form through Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25. --Jason Verlinde

Tracks:

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1: Morning Mood
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1: Ase's Death
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1: Anitra's Dance
Peer Gynt Suite No.1: In The Hall Of The Mountain King (Peer Gynt Suite #1)
Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op. 16: I Allegro molto moderato
Norwegian Dance, Op. 35 No. 2
Sigurd Jorsalfar: Homage March
Jeg elsker dig, Op. 5: Jeg elsker dig, Op. 5 (Ich liebe dich)
Lyric Suite, Op. 54: No. 3: Norwegian March
Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34: No. 1: Heartwounds
Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34: No. 2: The Last Spring
Lyric Suite, Op. 54: No. 4: March of the Trolls
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2: I The Abduction of the Bride - Ingrid's Lament (Peer Gynt Suite No. 2
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2: II Arabian Dance
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2: III Solvejg's Lullaby
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2: IV Peer Gynt's Return Home

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!!!.......2007-05-14

I bought this for my husband but fell in love with it myself. I had never heard of it but now consider Edvard Grieg my favorite composer. It is magnificent.

Relaxes your mind........2005-12-30

The peer gynt suite is very delicate and it relaxes me. Whenever I hear the first movement of Peer Gynt, I feel as if I am walking along the forest at dawn with sunshine passing through the tall trees. It calms me and I usually close my eyes to imagine Grieg's creative masterpiece. What also interests me the fourth movement. It starts with slow and quiet and then slowly the music accelerates with power. Like the title, "Mountain King," says itself, you can feel the grandness of the music toward the end.

The piano concerto in a minor is my favorite. This music seem to convey the full spectrum from quiet and delicate or gracious feel of music to more powerful and magnificent all proportionally adequately. It is very enjoyable. Whenever I listen to this music, I feel as if I am resting in the high mountainn looking at the full panorama. Anyway, that's just my imagination I feel from his music and of course, yours can be very different from mine.

As for the CD quality, I hear no distraction sound and it is recorded well, I think. The little cover booklet can be informative about Grieg. Also nice price from Amazon.

Relaxing music from a great composer.......2005-08-02

I absolutely loved the string music on Track 3. I remembered it from an old PC RPG called Quest for Glory IV. I was disappointed to find out that Track 4 was only a minute and a half long, because I grew up loving that song from the various places I heard it (Fantasia and a kid Detective PC game from the late 80's).
Overall, though, Grieg's greatest hits is a must-have for collectors of classical music. Grieg is revered as Norway's greatest composer of all time and he certainly has a knack for creating imagery of bustling fjords and majestic mountainsides with interlaced river ravines.

Better than just an introduction.......2004-04-28

This CD goes beyond just introducing Grieg. It is a truly beautiful and for me, invaluable collection of this excellent composer. Grieg had an inimitable gift for exploring emotion, often sadness and nostalgia. However, he also had a large touch of the virtuoso, as demonstrated by the famous Piano Concerto. True, the last 2 movements are not included here; however, the first is still stunning. The Peer Gynt Suites are wonderfully played, and Ase's Death and Heartwounds are especially noteworthy - the lush orchestral sounds of these gorgeous pieces unfold exquisitely. Homage March is a nice change of pace, upbeat and with a memorable theme, and Leonard Bernstein moves at a devilish pace in March of the Trolls. This CD will not disappoint you - buy it today!

Great CD.......2002-01-29

For an intro to Greig, this is great. The "hall of the mountain king" is done very well.

Immortal Beloved / Sir Georg Solti (film 1994)

Average customer rating:

Below Average Beethoven Performances
Immortal beloved film
Living Perfection
A wonderful tribute to the artist
Very emotional and moving!!

Immortal Beloved / Sir Georg Solti (film 1994)
Ludwig van Beethoven , Georg Solti , Renée Fleming , Yo-Yo Ma , Murray Perahia , Emanuel Ax , Pamela Frank , Thomas Frost , Gidon Kremer , Vinson Cole , London Symphony Orchestra , and London Voices
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Immortal Beloved
More Immortal Beloved
Amadeus: The Complete Original Soundtrack Recording
Amadeus: Original Soundtrack Recording
Amadeus: More Music From The Original Soundtrack Of The Film Amadeus

ASIN: B000002AQD
Release Date: 1994-12-06

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op.67: Napoleon Shells Vienna
Fur Elise: Childhood Dreams
Symphony No. 3 In E-flat Major, Op. 55: Ludwig And Julia At Schonbrunn Palace Gardens
Piano Sonata No. 14 (Quasi Una Fantasia) In C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 'Moonlight': Julia And Her Father Secretly Watch
Symphony No. 6 In F Major, Op.68 'Pastoral': Ludwig And Caspar Fight
Piano Trio No. 4 In D Major, Op. 70 No. 1 'Ghost': Ludwig Consols Anna Marie
Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 61: The Beethoven Brothers In Baden
Piano Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': A Concert For Lichnowsky
Piano Concerto No. 5 In E-Flat Major, Op. 73 'Emperor': The Letter
Missa Solemnis In D Major, Op.123: The Funeral
Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: Karl At The Ruins
Violin Sonata In A Major, Op. 47 'Kreutzer': The Carriage Stuck In The Mud
Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: The Night Of The Premiere

Customer Reviews:

Below Average Beethoven Performances.......2007-03-10

It is unfortunate that they chose Solti's direction for the symphonic pieces in this soundtrack as he is simply one of the worst conductors for Beethoven. His direction is so slow one would think he is leading a funeral procession instead of music inspired by the French Revolution.

Of all old school directors such as Karajan, Toscanini, etc., Solti's performances are simply morbidly slow to the point of killing the grieving attendants with boredom. The cacophony of the oversized orchestra doesn't help either. Solti's interpretations are even too slow for a requiem. You think a regular interpretation of the 7th's second movement is slow? Wait 'til you hear this one; you're going to need a massage you'll be so stiff. The 9th symphony march is supposed to be a brisk revolutionary march calling the citizens to arms and to join the militia marching through a town. With Solti you imagine only a funeral procession coming through the town. In the Fifth the whole orchestra is almost struggling to slow down to match the strings. Karajan's interpretations are not particularly fast either but at least he breathes some life into them and the orchestra. I personally like Toscanini in terms of the old 20th century symphonic conductors and Gardiner's traditional interpretations that are at least at a correct speed and give the listener the impression they are marching off as part of a revolutionary batallion to bring liberty to the oppressed instead of being rolled to the morgue. Beethoven was a revolutionary anti-monarchist and strongly supported the idea of political change. Although Periah is a great pianist for Beethoven's concertos, there are simply better performances by him that fortunately aren't conducted by Solti such as on Sony with Bernard Haitink and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The same goes for the performances with Axe and Yo-Yo Ma. Gidon Kramer's performance for the Violin Concerto in D is also mediocre at best: there are better violinists out there than Kremer for Beethoven.

This is just not the best CD to get quality performances of Beethoven's works. Overall, Solti's interpretations are simply too sluggish and indecipherable to represent the ideals of Beethoven's music. Solti would definitely be my last choice for anything. You won't lose anything by not buying this soundtrack that's for sure: Solti's interpretations are so slow they will simply fossilize you.

Immortal beloved film.......2007-02-06

having watched a recording of Immortal beloved for a number of years the tape was past its best. now that i have the chance of ordering on line i did , and a good move it was. It was nice to see the film and things so clear, i had not see before, the writing on the love letter at the begining and tears that was shed. Iam very pleased with the dvd.

Living Perfection.......2007-01-14

This is one of the most perfect CDs I own, it's one I come back to time and time again. The recording quality is excellent - even on the cassette, which I've finally replaced after 12 years - but even better, the musical interpretation is splendid. Anyone who thinks that classical music is no longer relevant in our culture needs to buy this CD.

A wonderful tribute to the artist.......2005-05-25

This CD is perfect in my opinion. The recording is perfect, the pitch is perfect, the tempo is perfect, and the track selections are perfect. I think the album samples Beethoven's most remarkable pieces of work from his early years to his death. I have heard many recordings of the Ninth symphony that was just executed poorly; which is a shame because it is such a powerful piece. However, this album does it superbly. Sir Georg Solti and Murray Perahia did an amazing job with this album.

The album just flows really well from one piece to the next evoking a vast array of emotions along the way. Beethoven is timeless and forever will be. There is no comparison even to this day. This a wonderful tribute to the artist.

Very emotional and moving!!.......2005-05-23

I am a big fan of classical music. Beethoven, in my opinion, was one of the best composers, Mozart 1st, Beethoven 2nd, etc. This album is very moving and filled with emotion. I am currently listening to Adagio Cantabile-from Piano Sonata No. 8-from the film album. This piece is so moving and emotional. Another piece was Moonlight Sonata which I especially liked. Beethoven loads this piece with love and emotion for his one true love. In my opinion, Beethoven was the best at writing emotional and moving music. Whenever I listen to his music, I am immersed in a world of emotion and feeling. His music is truly beautiful. Back to the album, Sir Georg Solti really captured Beethoven's genius and devotion to his music in this album. This album really accents the film. You cannot have one, you must have both the film and the soundtrack. This is a must have for classical music/Beethoven fanatics and people who want to get a great summary of Beethoven's genius. BUY THIS!!!!

Average customer rating:

One of my favorite composers
A Legendary Recording
Marvelous Mendelssohn
pure
Must have for any classical collection

Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Schumann: Complete Piano Trios

ASIN: B0000026GB
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Concerto No.1 for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 25: I - Molto allegro con fuoco
Concerto No.1 for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 25: II - Andante
Concerto No.1 for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 25: III - Presto; Molto allegro e vivace
Concerto No.2 for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 40: I - Allegro appassionato
Concerto No.2 for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 40: II - Adagio
Concerto No.2 for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 40: III - Finale: Presto scherzando
Prelude & fugue, Op. 35, No. 1
Variations Serieuses, Op. 54
Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14

Customer Reviews:

One of my favorite composers.......2007-02-07

TRULY AN HOUR OR SO OF REAL ENJOYMENT

A Legendary Recording.......2005-11-05

There are so many things that could be said about this recording. It deserves a spot on any top 50 classical recordings list. The piece and the performance are both 5 stars. Mendelssohn is an undeservingly neglected composer. He is ususally thought of as an orchestral composer, since his command of the orchestra is parallel to Mozart's. But in his own time, he was as great a pianist as anyone else. Even many pianists these days neglect or don't know much about his piano works. This is partly because his piano works are less "catchy" than what the romantic piano is often known for, (the piano concerto no. 1 is an exception). They are longer, more traditional, and require more patience, as compared to Chopin's short pieces, Schubert's Impromtus, etc. But they are just as good.

The piano concerto no. 1 in my opinion ties Tchaikovsky's piano concerto no. 1 as the greatest romantic piano concerto. If you've never heard it, it's absolutely mesmorizing. You won't get it out of your head for a week. And it's not performed very often. It captures your attention right away with a sense that something huge is imminent. Then it waists no time in quickly developing into a great, strong, but fairly simple theme. Then it hammers the theme with double octaves, and mixes it in with arpeggios. The whole effect creates a very classic, "nothing else like it" effect, much like Beethoven's 5th. As a piano concerto, Mendelssohn being a master of the orchestra avoids one of the potential pitfalls of focusing on the piano so much that the quality of the orchestral writing is comprimised. Like Mozart's late piano concertos, he manages to pull off a great balance with the orchestra, not a domination. The strings shadow the piano perfectly, with the brass supplying foundation, and the woodwinds adding color and having neat little solos. Few composers can pull off such a feat so perfectly. The piano concerto no. 2 is also very good, with a strong theme that develops after 45 seconds during the first movement, but it is not quite like the first. The three piano pieces at the end are very good, but they are overshadowed by the orchestral greatness of the concertos. As stated before, they require some patience.

Murray Perahia is as good as any other pianist at performing Mendelssohn, and Sir Neville Marriner conducts very well. Perahia always performs very lively and never lets down. The whole thing comes out beautifully. As great as these pieces are, I've heard other recordings of them, and they didn't sound nearly as good. They sounded flat and lacked energy. This is the definitive recording for these truly great concertos.

One last comment, this is one of those rare special pieces of music that captivates people of all musical styles, not just classical listeners. People start to become facinated with it right away, similar to Beethoven's 5th. Very few pieces have that power. Bach's harpsichord concertos and organ music, Haydn's Great masses, Mozart's late piano concertos, Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Chopin's fantasie-impromtu and 2nd piano sonata, and Tchaikovsky's 1st piano concerto and 1812 overture all are examples. I have a friend who's a school music teacher, who showed this recording to kids who mainly listen to pop, rock, and rap, and many of them liked it. I've also seen many adults who listen to jazz, 80's, or nothing-in-particular like it as well. If you're looking to give a non-classical listener a taste of what they're missing, this Cd would make an excellent choice.

Marvelous Mendelssohn.......2005-07-27

A marvelous recording of this dynamic and masterful Mendelssohn piano concerto. The music is vibrant and lush, and captures the lyricism as well as the powerful energy of this inventive Mendelssohn composition.

pure.......2005-05-12

Perahia is truly a great pianist (if not one of the greatest) and Marriner keeps his throne as the king he is. Mendelssohn wrote several keyboard and chamber music, and this is the definitive way to let this selection of music speak and sing!

Must have for any classical collection.......2001-07-23

This CD is pretty close to perfect. The concertos are beautiful, and there's really nothing like them. The orchestra never drowns out the piano (due to the fabulous conducting of Marriner), and Perahia can really bring out the beauty of any song and any piano.

The solo pieces on this CD are pretty good. Perahia brings out the melody very well on the Prelude and Fugue. And the Variations Serieuses are wonderful to listen to. However, the only reason I didn't give this CD 5 stars is the Rondo Capriccioso. At the opening Andante section, Perahia doesn't really play it fast enough, so the first two minutes of the piece sound like a beautiful dirge. The Rondo section, however, is absolutely perfect. His speed is precise and consistant, and his octaves at the end really add a great "bang" ending to the song, and for that matter, the CD. Not only was Mendelssohn a master, but so were Perahia and Marriner. This is a must have for any classical lover!

Bach: Goldberg Variations
Average customer rating:

Bach at his best - Murray Perahia at his best

Sheer Elegance!

Superb

Lots to Recommend It

Precise & Artistic

Bach: Goldberg Variations
Johann Sebastian Bach , and Murray Perahia
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bach: English Suites Nos. 1, 3 & 6

ASIN: B00004Z3PV
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Tracks:

Aria
Var 1
Var 2
Var 3: Canon On The Unison
Var 4
Var 5
Var 6: Canon On The Second
Var 7
Var 8
Var 9: Canon On The Third
Var 10: Fughetta
Var 11
Var 12: Canon On The Fourth
Var 13
Var 14
Var 15: Canon On The Fifth
Var 16: Ov
Var 17
Var 18: Canon On The Sixth
Var 19
Var 20
Var 21: Canon On The Seventh
Var 22
Var 23
Var 24: Canon On The Octave
Var 25
Var 26
Var 27: Canon On The Ninth
Var 28
Var 29
Var 30: Quodlibet
Aria Da Capo

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

Thanks to the Bach anniversary year, we've enjoyed a bonanza of interpretations of the master. One of the most honestly compelling--Murray Perahia's account of the Goldberg Variations--uniquely underscored the fundamental subtext behind all the celebration: the wondrous inexhaustibility of Bach's creative imagination. Perahia has come to a new understanding of Bach in the full prime of his career, and his first recording of this monument communicates the wealth of his insights with color, depth, and subtly charged poetry. --Thomas May

Amazon.com

Listen to the music first! Perahia's booklet essay is a dry musicological treatise concerned with technical aspects of Bach's music. His performance, on the other hand, is filled with life and excitement. The kind of overt virtuosity heard in some of these variations has been a rarity in Perahia's recordings, but it shows how wide a range he intends to cover in his playing of this masterpiece. Unlike Glenn Gould, who is most listeners' touchstone for piano performances of the Goldbergs, Perahia takes Bach's necessary repeats and uses them as occasions for adventure, varying not only the emphases, but also the actual notes. This kind of embellishment in repeats was expected in Bach's time, but it's rare in ours. Also, taking the repeats doubles the length of the piece, making it a larger and more affecting experience--as long as the performer manages to keep those repeats alive, which Perahia certainly does. His playing of the famous 25th variation is deeply affecting without the faintest trace of sentimentality. The way he varies Bach's moods from moment to moment is extremely effective. This is, in short, one of the great recordings of Bach's "Goldberg" Variations. With Vladimir Feltsman's similarly revelatory performance currently out of the catalogs, Perahia's is probably the best piano version available. It's also one of his best recordings. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Bach at his best - Murray Perahia at his best.......2007-06-27

The wonder of the time in which we live is being able to hear the best compositions of all time performed by the best of the best performers of our time. J. S. Bach's Goldberg Variations & Murray Periah formulates an example of such a marriage between composer and performer.

Sheer Elegance!.......2007-01-23

I was introduced to the Goldberg Variations through Perahia. I then went back to the Gould interpretations which I found to be skillful, but rather heavy and rushed in comparison. Murray Perahia is a poet of the piano.

Superb.......2006-11-27

It's almost impossible to fault Murray Perahia's rendition of the Goldbergs. It's simply a superb performance that unfolds with a natural sense of inevitability while taking in almost every facet of the wonderful score. Utterly musicianly and completely compelling, the beauty of the music is almost overwhelming, and Perahia is given a sound recording of demonstration level. For a performance to live, with choose this one.

Lots to Recommend It.......2006-11-08

Of the many Goldberg Variation recordings that exist, what sets this one apart is the sense that Perahia has approached the cycle as a whole. This is not to say that there are not abundant piano affects and details--the playing is superb (in particular the occasional fluttering of trills here and there like butterflies is especially wonderful), and the tone of the piano is continuously warm and pleasant to listen to.

If you are already a fan of the Goldberg Variations, you probably own this. For those unfamiliar with the work, this is an almost perfect place to start to become familiarized with one of the greatest cycles of keyboard music ever composed. (It was written for harpsichord, but is particularly well-suited for performance on piano. To the extent that Bach liked to re-arrange his own music for different instruments, one suspects he would not have objected to hearing his Variations on the piano.)

As other reviews have noted, Perahia strikes a very apt balance between the kind of percussiveness one finds on Gould's recording, the technical correctness of Hewitt, and the slushiness (sorry for that word) of more Romantic interpreters. While this is certainly a strength of the disc, it is also sometimes a liability, inasmuch as one occasionally wants some Gouldian wig-out, or some of Tureck's protracted introspectiveness, or some of Gavrilov's theatrical brilliance. The impression is that, by Perahia's focus on the overall cycle of the music, there has been less attention devoted to stylistically rendering individual pieces. In other words, Perahia's vision of the work as a whole has muted the kind of remarkable contrasts one finds in other recordings; Nikolaeva's sometimes similarly belies something of this "defect" since she too seems to be particularly aware of the architectural wholeness and progression of the pieces.

To say this may imply that there is a kind of homogeneity that overshadows individual pieces--that it feels "all of a piece" rather than a series of pieces. This creates a certain tension, to be sure, as I am waiting for the cycle to break out of itself ... which never happens, of course. It may be for this reason that one of the most noticeable features of this recording, as also a major point of attention for Perahia himself, are the differences he adds or subtracts when playing the repeats. This homogeneity does not mean that there is no variation amongst the pieces, of course, and yet ... What I'm really getting at is that I find it hard to listen to this disc all the way through in one sitting.

This is definitely a recording of the Goldberg Variations worth owning. All of the technical aspects of the recording are almost precisely as one could hope. Ultimately, however, I prefer to graze and nibble individual performances (selecting different ones at different times) than to listen to the whole disc straight through--the journey is not as compelling for me as Perahia seems to have found it. Or perhaps it is that Perahia provides me only one carriage to ride in for the whole journey. With Gould, occasionally I'm walking, sometimes running to keep up, sometimes turning about in a daze, but I'm more engaged in getting there. And even more so with Gavrilov's fantastic recording, which makes the journey back to the aria an adventure told by a raconteur.

Precise & Artistic.......2006-10-13

Parahia is no doubt one of the ultimate and authoritative interpretors of Bach's keyboard works. This recording is a good exmaple of his precision (Teutonically so!) and artistry in a beautiful blend. This is the "Mercedes" of the Goldberg! Highly recommend it to anyone who likes Bach, keyboard, or baroque music.

Mozart: Sonata for 2 Pianos in D Major, K. 448; Schubert: Fantasia for Piano, 4 Hands in F Minor, D 940

Average customer rating:

Classic(al)
The Full Keyboard - More Mozart and Schubert!
Highly rated

Mozart: Sonata for 2 Pianos in D Major, K. 448; Schubert: Fantasia for Piano, 4 Hands in F Minor, D 940

Manufacturer: Sony
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Binding: Audio CD

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Brahms: Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79; Piano Pieces, Opp. 117-119

ASIN: B0000CF330
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Tracks:

I. Allegro Con Spirito
II. Andante
III. Allegro Molto
Allegro Molto Moderato-Largo-Allegro Vivace-Con Delicatezza
I. Allegro Ritenuto
II. Andante
III. Allegro Ritenuto
Andante
Variation I
Variation II
Variation III
Variation IV
Variation V

Customer Reviews:

Classic(al).......2007-05-09

Fabulous music performed by fabulous musicians. Mozart is one of my favorite composers. His music is genius. And Murray Perahia and Radu Lupu are two of the greatest pianists of our time.

The Full Keyboard - More Mozart and Schubert!.......2006-07-14

The credentials of both of the two soloists here - Murray Perahia and Radu Lupu - are impeccable as individual interpreters of the works of both Mozart and Schubert and so it should come as no surprise that as they sit at the same keyboard the result is nothing less than satisfying.

For this listener the highlight of this recording is the splendid composition by Schubert - the 'Fantasia for piano, 4 hands in F minor', D. 94. The work contains some of his most haunting melodies in his oeuvre and Perahia and Lupu find that degree of harmony that makes the piece truly sing.

The Mozart works (Sonata for 2 Pianos in D Major, K 375), the Fantasia for mechanical organ in F minor, K. 608 and Variations on an original theme for piano, 4 hands in G major, K. 501) are of interest not only because they are rarely heard, but also because of the intelligent music making Perahia and Lupu bring to their interpretations. Without a score in hand it is difficult to know which exposed parts are being played by which soloist and that is as it should be. The two pianists mirror each other and respect the performances in a way that is a welcome unified sound.

Works for extended piano keyboard, whether that be on the same keyboard or on two pianos, are too infrequently performed for obvious reasons. But here we have two of our finest pianists on a CD that is available at the press of a button. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, July 06

Highly rated.......2005-07-22

A superb collaboration of two great pianists recently remastered for better sound quality. Masterful music but perhaps a divergent coupling. This performance was given high marks by major reviewers (Gramophone). See original CD issue for more reviews on Amazon.

Average customer rating:

Mozart done right
remastered classic performances
The best complete set out there.
An Indispensible classic, plain and simple

Mozart: The Complete Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Liszt: Piano Works

ASIN: B000GLKLCK
Release Date: 2006-08-22

Customer Reviews:

Mozart done right.......2007-06-10

I have been listening to Perahia since the early 80s thanks to CBS Master Works Mozart Concerto lps. He has probably come close to recording these concertos twice. The biggest change I have seen in Perahia is that he has gone from looking totally mod (if that still is a word, especially the hair), to looking like a New York banker. Would life not be more fun if we went from the New York Banker look to totally mod as we neared our AARP years (that is what my dad did)? The music is still very enjoyable. I will just ditto the other 5 star comments.

Since Amazon does not provide a track listing, it is worth pointing out that none of the concertos are split over 2 cds. I know this is a niggly for some who find it irritating to have to change the disc to hear the remainder of the concerto. After the first couple of discs, there are 2 concertos per disc except the last that has PC #27 and Rondos K382 & K386. If they had done the splits there would be a few less discs in this set.

remastered classic performances.......2007-05-08

The performances on this 12 disc set have been praised since they were orginally issued in the late 1970s and through the 1980s. I have other complete sets and individual discs of these works, and I find myself returning to Perahia as my favorites. He has astounding tone and sense of rhythm, and the English Chamber Orchestra is in lock step with him throughout I am sure in part due to the fact that Perahia conducted them from the keyboard.

What makes this 2006 reissue even more special? First, Sony remastered all of the recordings using their Direct Stream Digital process and SBM direct. What this means is that the sound sparkles with a realism that was lacking before. In addition, the set is packaged in sturdy envelopes and a cardboard case that takes a little over an inch of shelf space. It saves you money, and takes up much less space that traditional jewel case require.

A legendary set, with recent technical improvements, at a great price.

Highest of recommendations!

The best complete set out there........2006-11-22

Sure, there are better performances of individual concertos - after all, Perahia is competing against a century of recorded legacy by legends such as Maria Yudina, Rudolf Serkin, Clifford Curzon, Robert Casadesus, and the immaculate Clara Haskil.
But what makes this set truly outstanding is the harmony between Perahia and the English Chamber Orchestra. In this aspect only, this is one of the most beautiful concerto playing I have ever heard.
And of course, you have Perahia's pianism. Some may criticize him for lack of emotional content - but even his detractors can't deny that his cultivated tone is unrivaled. And come on, Perahia's playing does not lack emotional content or interpretive genius. I can't believe anyone would even try to level that argument against Perahia. Just listen to his performances on, for example, Schumann's Symphonic Etudes. His performance captures the sense of melancholy like no other.
I do agree, however, that on this Mozart concerto set one may find a lack of variance. This is the only problem I have with Perahia.. his tone is always so beautiful that it's analogous to Ella Fitzgerald - sometimes she had a hard time making us feel dirty or sad. Needless to say, there are poignant moments - but perhaps Alfred Brendel beats Perahia in sacrificing tone for interpretive brilliance.
Overall, however, this set is the best representation of Mozart's Piano concertos. Brendel's is, apart from being expensive, more inconsistent. I find Brendel more of a Beethoven pianist. Perahia, however, manages to leave behind 12 cd's that undoubtedly will remain one of the most divine, beautiful accounts of Mozart concertos for days to come.

An Indispensible classic, plain and simple.......2006-08-31

This new remastered edition gives this the best sound quality ever for these classic recordings . A must have at a resonable price.
Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

The Best Music CD I've Ever Seen (or heard!).....
A wonderful program of delightful and important music
Perahia plays Bach - no other recommendation needed
Lyrical Masterpieces Played with Wonderful Discernment
Without words, but with soul...

Songs Without Words

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Handel/Scarlatti: Murray Perahia Plays Handel & Scarlatti
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ASIN: B000034CYW
Release Date: 1999-11-16

Amazon.com

The heart of this collection is 15 of Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, those eternally lovely miniatures, well selected and played by Perahia with the lyrical sense the music needs. Too bad he didn't record them all. The disc opens with four of Busoni's Bach transcriptions, all organ chorale preludes based on sung hymns (hence the connection and the title). These, too, are well done, very clear and fleet and with impressive agility in "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein." The conclusion is four of Liszt's brilliant arrangements of Schubert songs, again played with wonderful lyricism and some high drama that indicates Perahia knows the original songs and their texts very well. Despite the title, the album isn't totally congruent, but everything on it is well worth hearing. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

The Best Music CD I've Ever Seen (or heard!)............2002-07-17

Murray Perahia is at his best in this classic. His playing of Mendelssohn's compositions is absolutely mouth-dropping. Some of them seem a little fast (example: Op. 19, No. 3) but it all incredible. Mendessohn is my personal favorite composer not only for his work but also for his excellent Christian faith in his music. Liszt, Bach, and Schubert are very wonderful composers in this as well. I guess I got carried away about the Mendelssohn...!! This is a must if you love classical/romantic period music.

A wonderful program of delightful and important music.......2002-06-16

This disk is a bit of a rarity in modern recording. It isn't a disk of a single work or series of works. It isn't the WHOLE of the Mendelssohn "Songs Without Words". Instead it opens with four of the wonderful Busoni transcriptions of Bach organ preludes. Perahia played these four here in Ann Arbor along with the Bach "Goldberg Variations" and it was a GREAT night. His playing here is at its most poetic and is full of colors (don't mistake this for being colorful in the sense of being eccentric - think rather in terms of a rich palette of sounds).

The middle section has 15 of the best of the Mendelssohn "Songs Without Words". I know that many think him not one of the great ones and that Mendelssohn's reputation has slipped in the past thirty years. But I think this is very wrong. I urge you to get to know his music and to try and hear it with fresh ears. These pieces are a very nice place to start. There is a great deal to love in these pieces and if you can play the piano dust off this music and play them. They are much fun and reward the effort.

The disk ends with four Liszt transcriptions of Schubert Lieder. Well, I know and love these pieces and have peformed the "Staendchen" several times. It is WONDERFUL. These performances of these transcriptions show off the genius of three wonderful musicians - Schubert and Liszt and Perahia. "Auf dem Wasser zu singen" is one of my favorite songs.

You might want to pick up the first volume of the Ian Bostridge recordings of the Schubert songs to here the originals of some of these and to read the words. Very moving and Liszt does a lot to tell their story with his transcriptions. It isn't just for show show, even if it does add to the original. But this was authentic nineteenth century performance practice.

Perahia is never a showy pianist, but he always seems to have all the virtuosity he needs. He never seems to be walking a tightrope and teasing us that he might fall. Instead he overwhelms us with his poetic heart and lyrical playing. He has power, but like all great pianists he makes us feel he has more in reserve (he may not, but he never sounds like he is hitting the wall). And he doesn't ever make ugly sounds on the piano. I love his playing. I have been fortunate to hear him play live several times over the past couple of decades and it has always been a complete delight. Just like this wonderful disk.

Perahia plays Bach - no other recommendation needed.......2001-11-16

After the first 4 tracks, where Murray Perahia plays 4 Bach transcriptions of organ preludes to cantatas, the rest of the CD is just a bonus.

Perahia plays Bach with as much feeling and love as anyone alive or dead, in my opinion. The first two pieces are played with quiet dignity. The third track shows Perahia's dexterity and finger speed - I'd like to hear that on the organ! Back to peace and tranquility on the fourth track - and I haven't gotten to Mendelssohn yet, since I keep 'rewinding' the CD!

Lyrical Masterpieces Played with Wonderful Discernment.......2001-02-25

I didn't know what to expect when I bought this recording, since I had only heard one of the twenty three selections presented here before. Overall I found it to be a true revelation, and I've listened to it many times since with growing pleasure. In selecting these pieces, it seems that Perahia has given himself a well-deserved break from taking on heavyweight interpretations of Handel and Bach, and a relaxed, unselfconscious pleasure shines through in his playing. With his understated elegance and crystalline tone, you couldn't ask for a better interpreter.

Although the recording is named after the selections from the Mendelssohn pieces of the same name, the real highlights for me are the Bach and Schubert transcriptions done by Busoni and Liszt respectively. With the Bach you have some glorious organ works infused with subtle touches of late-nineteenth century romanticism, which fleshes them out just a little without diminishing their highly refined qualities. All four selections are serene masterpieces, beautifully executed. The Schubert transcriptions however, are a wonder, pure and simple. I don't know Schubert's songs, but have most of his Sonatas and all of his Impromptus and Moments Musicaux. With these four pieces, I feel like I've discovered another set of Impromptus, because they have all the unbounded lyricism and deceptive mood changes that make the Impromptus such masterpieces. It seems to me that Liszt remained very faithful to the spirit and sublime simplicity of Schubert's melodies here, eschewing the romantic flourishes and breathtaking technical demands that characterize his own compositions. Once I heard these pieces, I was reminded too that Perahia is a superb exponent of Schubert, with his recording of the Impromptus being among the very best. The Mendelssohn complements the other selections very well, and I'm glad this recording introduced me to them, but they are comparatively light compared to the Bach and Schubert transcriptions. They seem to fall somewhere between Chopin's Nocturnes and some of his Etudes and Preludes, but on the whole they don't have the same kind of atmospheric drama that Chopin could conjure forth in the space of a few minutes. Still, I can't really fault Mendelssohn here simply because he's not quite a Bach, a Schubert, or a Chopin. So buy this recording--it's incredibly soothing and meditative without being in any way superficial, and it'll bring a lot of listening pleasure.

Without words, but with soul..........2000-05-18

Excellent effort from one of today's greatest pianists. For me the true findings of this record are the Bach/Busoni transcriptions, elegant, beautiful and simple at the same time. They alone are worth the price, but the Mendelssohn pieces are extremelly well played also, and the Liszt pieces remind us once again of the supreme master of this art.

Average customer rating:

Perahia is magical, but buy the new reissue on BMG
Dead On!
Great Schubertian Sound
Quite possibly, the definitive "Schubert Impromptus" album
Schubert's best work ?

Schubert: Impromptus For Piano

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000025N5
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Four Impromptus For Piano, D 899 (Op.90): No.1 In C Minor (Allegro molto moderato)
Four Impromptus For Piano, D 899 (Op.90): No. 2 In E-Flat Major (Allegro)
Four Impromptus For Piano, D 899 (Op.90): No. 3 In G-Flat Major (Andante)
Four Impromptus For Piano, D 899 (Op.90): No. 4 In A-Flat Major (Allegretto)
Four Impromptus For Piano, D 935 (Op.142): No. 1 In F Minor (Allegro moderato)
Four Impromptus For Piano, D 935 (Op.142): No.2 In A-Flat Major (Allegretto - Trio)
Four Impromptus For Piano, D 935 (Op.142): No. 3 In B-Flat Major (Thema. Andante - Var. l-V)
Four Impromptus For Piano, D 935 (Op.142): No. 4 In F Minor (Allegro scherzando)

Customer Reviews:

Perahia is magical, but buy the new reissue on BMG.......2006-07-24

It gets a bit confusing now that Sony and BMG are merged--these recordings of the eight Schubert Impromptus originaly apeared on Sony in 1990. They were greeted rapturously by critics, and one can immediately hear why. Murray Perhaia was at the absolute peak of his art, giving us a magical blend of alert rhythms, inner bitalaity, sparkling fingerwork, and an instinctive feeling for Schubert's melodies.

Now you can get these performances ar mid-price on BMG, and the CD is generously filled out (76 min.) with Schubert song transcriptions by Liszt. Those are later recordings, by hwich time Perahia had become tamer an more cautious, but they are still beautifully done.

Dead On!.......2006-01-09

I own five other versions but this recording, more than the others, posseses from first note to last a sense of rightness that overshadows the competition. Pehaps Perahia's best single recording.

Great Schubertian Sound.......2003-08-01

Perahia has a great touch, wonderful sound and exquisite phrasing. Brendel's version though not as versatile as Perahia's has an extra flavour, more mature perhaps, more 'Viennese'.

Quite possibly, the definitive "Schubert Impromptus" album.......2001-12-28

Murray Perahia is one of the most lyrical pianists of our time. In his hands, the "Schubert Impromptus" album is quite possibly the definitive interpretation of these equally lyrical piano works by Franz Schubert. His delicate playing of the shifting minor and major keys and modulations makes the listener pause to absorb every nuance and phrasing.

Listen to how he plays the middle part of the Impromptu Op. 90 No. 1 in C-minor and the more popular Impromptu Op. 90 No. 4 in A-Flat. The piano sings at his touch and how! Then there's the Impromptu in G-Flat, my personal favorite and one which I have endeavored hard to play. This is one of the highlights of the album, and Perahia's playing is fantastic. The delicate tone which he coaxes out of the piano is one of sheer beauty.

In my books, Murray Perahia is in the same class as Artur Rubinstein, the definitive interpreter of Chopin. This collection of Schubert Impromptus is a gift from Mr. Perahia to those who know how to appreciate beautiful piano music. I am proud to have this album in my collection.

Schubert's best work ?.......2001-11-14

I am going to review the music and not the performance. Unless you're Rubinstein or rachmaninov I find it pointless to criticize a pianist, particularly one as good as Murray Perahia.
I am somewhat biased because i have played these impromptus for a long time, but I've found few other pieces which combine the grace, romance, introspection and simplicity of the impromptus. Op. 90, no. 3 is my favorite. It modulates - and ondulates - from major to minor keys with beautiful bass accents expressing an overall melancholy mood that reminds me of the Andante from Mozart's Piano concerto no. 21 (also available by Perahia) and a Chopin Nocturne, though perhaps expressing more depth than the latter. Schubert unfortunately died in Beethoven's shadow though his music is no less important. Enjoy these hidden treasures of music. i also recommend Schubert's Fantasia for 2 hands (made famous ny the film Sunshine). Wunderschon!

Bach: Keyboard Concertos Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7

Average customer rating:

Bach with eyes wide open
Awesome interpretations
MASTER PIANIST
Bach Bach Bach YO YO
Murray Perahia's Bach

Bach: Keyboard Concertos Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7
Johann Sebastian Bach , Murray Perahia , and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006310M
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Tracks:

Keyboard Concerto No.3 In D Major: I. (Allegro)
Keyboard Concerto No.3 In D Major: II. Adagio E Piano Sempre
Keyboard Concerto No.3 In D Major: III. Allegro
Keyboard Concerto No.5 In F Minor: I. (Allegro)
Keyboard Concerto No.5 In F Minor: II. Largo
Keyboard Concerto No.5 In F Minor: III. Presto
Keyboard Concerto No.6 In F Major: I. (Without Tempo Indication)
Keyboard Concerto No.6 In F Major: II. Andante
Keyboard Concerto No.6 In F Major: III. Allegro Assai
Keyboard Concerto No.7 In G Minor: I. (Allegro)
Keyboard Concerto No.7 In G Minor: II. Andante
Keyboard Concerto No.7 In G Minor: III. Allegro Assai

Amazon.com

Listening to Murray Perahia's second volume of Bach Keyboard Concertos is akin to viewing favorite paintings that have been restored with subtle care. The music's surface remains familiar to the casual ear, yet myriad details of phrasing, color, and dynamics are aligned and calibrated anew, helped by Sony's gorgeous, vibrant sonics. Notice the pinpointed unanimity of phrasing with which the pianist and chamber orchestra imbue the main theme in the D Major concerto's third movement, and follow Perahia's cannily varied articulation of chords both here and in the G Minor concerto's outer movements. A robust and dramatic F Minor concerto features tasty embellishments from the theorbo, and Perahia's energetic, winged trills and whirling passagework galvanize the F Major (transcribed from the G Major Fourth Brandenburg Concerto) into joyful submission. In sum, Perahia and company stand as reference versions for those who desire these works on the concert grand. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Bach with eyes wide open.......2006-11-18

Some Bach keyboard interpretations feel like they're lagging an infinitely small amount behind the intended tempo, and are like nails on a blackboard. This disk felt comfortable and rich -- received it as a gift and love it.

Awesome interpretations .......2004-10-26

To hear Perahia's interpretations of Bach's keyboard concertos is shear joy for me. I love Bach's music so much that it goes right to my heart. During segments of the 3rd movement of concerto #7 on this cd I became emotionally overwhelmed. I plan on buying all of Perahia cd.

MASTER PIANIST.......2004-06-28

The older he gets, the better he gets. He must be a very passionate man.

Bach Bach Bach YO YO.......2002-10-17

Bach is still alive. This is superb.

Murray Perahia's Bach.......2002-06-06

The first thing one notices about Murray Perahia's latest recording of Bach keyboard concertos is the brisk tempo, the ebullient phrasing, and rhythmically incisive orchestral playing that carries the listener along from note to note in breathless anticipation. At the helm of the impeccable Academy of St. Martins in the Field, Murray Perahia's conducting skills are as impressively arrayed here as his keyboard virtuosity. Which brings us to the second thing: Murray Perahia as soloist, and the dawning awareness that we may quite possibly be hearing the greatest Bach interpreter of our day.

Both as piano soloist and conductor, Perahia deals elegantly with issues of balance that inevitably arise when performing early music on modern instruments. Concertos written for harpsichord take on a very different texture when played on a modern concert grand; the ringing tone and sheer volume of the piano can easily dominate the strings in ways not envisioned by the composer. But in these performances the relationship of strings to keyboard solo has been deftly re-calibrated. The piano and orchestra become equal partners, parts of an integrated whole, woven together as seamlessly as if this were chamber music.

As well, Perahia has edited the score with subtlety and wit. The moment that knocks me off my chair arrives in the finale of the Concerto No. 5 in F minor when the propulsive opening phrase, scored for keyboard and the full compliment of strings, is answered by a two note descending figure in the strings alone. Ordinarily these two notes are bowed, but on this disc they are played with a robust pizzicato, standing out in sharp relief against a momentary background of silence. The sound is so startling, so fresh and unexpected, one's ears are put on full alert. This device is used to great effect throughout the movement; many of the normally bowed phrasings are rendered as pizzicato, making the rhythms and texture of the piece sound newly minted. After repeated hearings, I began to wonder if this might not be a sly nod to the absent harpsichord, an instrument whose strings are plucked as the keys are depressed. Here, in a textural turn-about, the orchestra's plucked strings serve as counterpoint to the full, round, sustained tones of the Steinway concert grand.

Another suggestion of the harpsichord's coloration can be heard in the addition of a theorbo, a kind of 16th century bass lute, to the orchestra. At strategic moments its gentle, harpsichord-like twang provides a delicate crease at the edges of the tonal fabric that I haven't heard on any other recording of this music.

I like this disc even better than Perahia's pervious, and highly praised recording of Bach's keyboard concertos Nos. 1, 2, and 4 with the same orchestra. As good as that recording is, I find the playing on the new disc is freer and more invigorating. The collaboration between soloist and orchestra sounds here even more assured, more intimate, almost as if they had merged into one instrument. The sound on this recording is also more immediate, more alive.

The gold standard for these concertos - as played on a modern piano - has for decades been Glenn Gould's groundbreaking recordings of the late 1950's. Gould's Bach performances were a revelation. He blew the dust off scores nearly a quarter of a millennium old and made them sound - well - sexy. For the generation of listeners who cut their teeth on his recordings, Gould's iconoclastic interpretations, to say nothing of his personal eccentricities, raised him to the level of a cult hero whose mystique has barely diminished.

But Perahia has upped the ante. His performances have all the clarity of line, all the visceral excitement of Gould's, but with an added dimension of warmth and nuance. Gould's recordings are highly cerebral. With Perahia, we get not just the brain, but the whole body.

Tracks:

Keyboard Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, BWV 1052: I. Allegro
Keyboard Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, BWV 1052: II. Adagio
Keyboard Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, BWV 1052: III. Allegro
Keyboard Concerto No. 2 In E Major, BWV 1053: I. { }
Keyboard Concerto No. 2 In E Major, BWV 1053: II. Siciliano
Keyboard Concerto No. 2 In E Major, BWV 1053: III. Allegro
Keyboard Concerto No. 4 In A Major, BWV 1055: I. Allegro
Keyboard Concerto No. 4 In A Major, BWV 1055: II. Larghetto
Keyboard Concerto No. 4 In A Major, BWV 1055: III. Allegro ma non tanto

Amazon.com

This disc may not prove as indispensable as Perahia's splendid Goldberg Variations. The most trivial reason is that it doesn't have as much music on it (only 53:04). But the appeal may also be not as wide. The Goldberg performance encompasses as wide a range of expression as the music does--which is really saying something! This concerto disc is more uniform in style, thoroughly modern and generally rather hard-driving. Perhaps the tension was generated by the interplay of pianist-conductor and orchestra, but it's palpable throughout. This does keep your attention riveted on the music, although it leaves some aspects of Bach unexpressed. If you're willing to go along for the ride, though, the disc does have a lot to offer. Perahia's execution is superb, and he decorates the text with his own trills and embellishments in a very convincing way. The orchestra keeps things moving right along. This may be a somewhat one-sided approach to Bach, but it certainly is stimulating. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Masterful.......2007-01-20

Like all the other reviewers below, this recording has me singing its praise. Perahia's playing is stunning and St Martin in the Fields delivers a beautiful sound. This cd (and the second set) is well worth your money. Also, if you enjoy Bach's Brandenberg Concertos, listen to his 6th Keyboard Concerto - it is the 4th Brandenberg Concerto for piano.

this is very-very good.......2003-02-20

First of all, it is a speechless joint effort of the creator of the music and the presenter of the product from 100s of years ago, which sounds like it will glow forever.
Last of all
I cannot say any thing more but listen.
emil
from Middle East

Sparkling Wit.......2002-07-04

Of course Perhaia is a great pianist and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields is a great ensemble. But here I believe we get more than just the sum of the two. I was fortunate to hear a concert of Perhaia and St. Martin in the Fields here in Ann Arbor and they performed the first of these concertos. I have to tell you that the piece is so full of wit and fun that I chuckled out loud (softly).

You know that you have great musicians performing when they have so much command and understanding of what they are playing that they are willing to tell the musical jokes (witty jokes) with subtlety and grace. This is wonderful stuff.

The playing is tight, with the players listening to each other in ways that are too often ignored in larger ensemble pieces. Imitations and joint phrases are actually pulled off like they are in a string quartet. Yes, the Academy is a smaller orchestra that usually performs without a conductor so they are used to ensemble playing. This is just proof that they have accomplished what they set out to do. An chamber orchestra that plays as if it were a single musical instrument with almost endless musical colors and capabilities.

The other two concertos are just as great and fun as the first. There is also a companion disk with 3,5,6, and 7. So, there is even more to enjoy!

Wonderful, but don't forget Hae-won Chang.......2002-05-28

Mr Perahia is never short of wonderful, but those of us who love music but baulk at full price should consider the two Hae-won Chang discs of Bach keyboard concertos on Naxos. Miss Chang is always inventive, always musical - she plays like an angel - and the eastern European orchestra is supportive and fresh. Mr Perahia is, simply, one of the great pianists but Hae-won's Bach is just fabulous (too).

Another stunning Perahia/Bach disc.......2002-05-25

This is one of the worlds greatest pianists and togheter with Academy of St. Martin in the fields and good sound-engineering this keybord concertos sounds lively, fresh, lyrical and it comes without any ego-mannerism.

Perahia shows on this disc(and his other Bach discs) why he has won grammys, been nominated a couple of times too and more imprtent than a grammy, musically speaking :-) get last years Grammophone award for best instrumental album.

My only complain about this SET/DISC (not about the music) is that it could been more filled up (it is a bit short only ca 53-54 minutes) otherwise music, performance, sound is stunning.

This one with Perahia et al he played conertos by modern Steinway piano instrument and my choise for harpsichord/clavecin, having concerto no. 1, BMW 1052 on it, is Pirre Hantai and le concert francais on record company Astrée/naive 1994 (remastred 2001 -excellent sound). Hantais superb versions also contains BMW 1054 from Perahia Bach keybord concertos including no.3, no.5-7.

On this well performed disc Sony engineers could have tuned up that theorbo (bass lute) a little more and not put it so much in the background but it is a minor because othervise it is a very well engineered disc.

Highest recomendation. In my opinion Perahia is a more lyrical choise about this music than any other.

Music Review: