Prokofiev-Piano Concertos 1, 4 & 5

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Prokofiev's works have been categorized as barbaric, eclectic, ironic, romantic, post-romantic and anti-romantic, neoclassical, sarcastic, cosmopolitan, cold, industrial, lyrical, full of adrenaline, epic, schizophrenic... It looks like he cannot perfectly match any box our musicologists have been attempting to put him into. It is interesting, that Prokofiev never was paid mechanical royalties by American publishers and record labels during his lifetime, being discriminated against as a Soviet citizen.

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Flat Major, Op. 10: 1. Allegro brioso
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Flat Major, Op. 10: 2. Andante assai-
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Flat Major, Op. 10: 3. Allegro scherzando
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major, Op. 53: 1. Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major, Op. 53: 2. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major, Op. 53: 3. Moderato
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major, Op. 53: 4. Vivace
Piaon Concerto No. 5 In G Major, Op. 55: 1. Allegro con brio
Piaon Concerto No. 5 In G Major, Op. 55: 2. Moderato ben accentuato
Piaon Concerto No. 5 In G Major, Op. 55: 3. Toccata: Allegro con fuoco
Piaon Concerto No. 5 In G Major, Op. 55: 4. Larghetto
Piaon Concerto No. 5 In G Major, Op. 55: 5. Vivo

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 16: 1. Andantino
Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 16: 2. Scherzo: Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 16: 3. Intermezzo: Allegro moderato
Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 16: 4. Allegro tempestoso
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Major, Op. 26: 1. Andante -- Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Major, Op. 26: 2. Terna con variazioni
3. Allegro, ma non troppo

Amazon.com

During the 1970s, Vladimir Ashkenazy recorded virtually the entire standard piano repertoire, largely successfully. Then he turned to conducting, at which he's steadily become more successful. Although his initial efforts on the podium were not greeted with universal acclaim, you've got to respect the fact that he moved onto something new rather than attempting to revisit the same music again and risk not doing it nearly as well. Among his complete editions was this set of Prokofiev piano concertos, and they are among the best things that he did. At two discs for the price of one, it's a fine way to acquire all of these exciting works. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant sonics and fine, assured playing.......2006-07-13

By any standard this is very good Prokofiev playing. Ashkenazy strikes me as one of the most Westernized of Russian pianists, and his approach here, seconded by Previn's conducting, avoids rawness and astringency in favor of combined lyricism and strength. Perhaps because Decca's sound is so natural, the piano remains limpid and sparkling throughout--don't expect volcanos and thunder a la Argerich and Richter.

The only real shortcoming is that these works can use a lot of what Ashkenazy leaves out: bite, wit, irony, and brash attack. Concerto #2 is a specialty of this pianist and comes off beautifully--its lyricism suits him. Concerto #1 seems too middle-of-the-road, which can also be said of the left-hand concerto #4, but the most familiar work, Concerto #3, is authoritative and strong throughout. Previn seems more alert in this work, too.

I should mention that although Ashkenazy's approach is much less wild than Argerich and Richter, the Gramophone described these recordings as overflowing with 'panache, swagger and firebrand audacity.' I guess it all depends on where you're coming from.

Monochrome austerity.......2006-06-15

Although the remastering job done by Decca was terrible, Ashkenazy comes through with fine playing. He plays all 5 concerti well, although 1 and 2 stand out as the best for me. As one would expect, Ashkenazy plays his compatriot's piece with generous sympathy. He plays in a Prokofievian style avoiding any sort of color or singing tone. It is nevertheless ravishing playing.

In addition to the fine rubatos here and there, it is played on an even level, without a singing tone. It is by far a monochromatic reading with no color or excessive dynamics. Austerity is paramount also with no voluptuousness.

I love the second concerto most, and Ashkenazy's fine, sensible tempi stand out. It is not hurried or rushed playing with no lethargy either.

Music fan/July2/2003 and John Coughlin's revviews.......2006-03-11

I totally agree with these 2 reviews

I believe the fault here lies more with Previn, and thus holds back Ashkenazy "somewhat", as Ashkenazy is not stellar as one would expect.
, There are some high points, but overall I strongly agree with A Music Fans recommend of Krainev, the finest set on record.Yes I've heard all avaliable recordings in comparison.
If you like this set then OBVIOUSLY you will vote on my review as follows:
, no this review was not helpful
But at least I'm truthful, w/o the hype.
Besides I've heard all the avaliable, while others that promote this set has not.

Idiomatic piano, shrill strings.......2006-02-11

Ashkenazys playing has a certain "definite" (slightly clanky and strutting) style to it. For example the last part of cto3 mvt2, it is explicit and playful, other interpreters miss this out. And the beginning of cto3 mvt3, it sounds idiomatic/ folklore to me, (Russian, or Klezmer, or just a song and dance man, I don't know which). I like his playing better than any other's in these works. Sadly enough, the shrill strings deprive the recordings of their beauty, especially unfortunate in cto 3. If the orchestral tone of this recording could be restored, it would make me so happy.

In the meantime, I enjoy the Janis/Kondrashin cto 3. It seems to have similar qualities as Ashkenazy. For cto 2, I enjoy Baloghova/Ancerl/CzechPO on Supraphon.

Magnificent achievement!.......2005-02-02

I have this recording of all five Prokofiev concertos. The rapport between soloist and conductor is first rate. The fact that Andre Previn is an excellent pianist helps mould a great understanding and the fact that both soloist and conductor got on so well helps so much.
Vladimir Ashkenazy played all the concertos very brilliantly.He doesn't overcook the interpretation and it sounds better for it.His recording of the second concerto is amazing. Remember he used that with his New York debut in the fifties with Bernstein. I find this collection to be such an achievement. I thoroughly recommend this CD.

Average customer rating:

Solid performance and great value
Great collection and great value
No brainer -- buy it!

Prokofiev: Complete Concertos
Sergey Prokofiev , Vladimir Ashkenazy , Joshua Bell , Lynn Harrell , Andre Previn , Charles Dutoit , and London Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Prokofiev: The Complete Symphonies
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ASIN: B000076GYI
Release Date: 2003-01-14

Customer Reviews:

Solid performance and great value.......2007-02-15

This set contains almost all Prokofiev's concertos. Contrary to what is advertised as "Complete Concertos", it omits Prokofiev's early work "Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 58". Although a large amount of thematic material is reused in the later piece "Sinfonia Concertante for cello & orchestra in E minor, Op. 125", there are really substantial differences. (Traditionally, when a set is advertised as "complete", it will contains at least all works with Opus numbers.) But really, Op. 58 is not performed in the concert halls these days. (At least, none that I am aware of.) If you are really interested in comparing these 2 works, you may consult, e.g. Chandos recording "The Unknown Prokofiev".

I like the performances here. For each individual piece, there are performances closer to my heart. For example, Richter's Piano Concerto in G and Argerich's Piano Concerto in C., Heifetz's Violin Concerto in g minor, besides those mentioned in other 2 reviews. (By the way, Rostropovich's Sinfonia Concertante is now available in DVD from EMI Classic Archive 15.) However, if you are looking for solid performances at an affordable price, hesitate no more! This set is for you.

Highly recommended.

Great collection and great value.......2006-10-09

This 3-CD set includes all of Prokofiev's concertos in one place. The best part is that it includes Ashkenzy and Previn's perfomances of the piano concertos- generally considered the best on recording.

Bell's perfomance of the violin concertos and quite good, maybe not the best, but Lynn Harell's cello renditions are excellent.

Highly recommended.

No brainer -- buy it!.......2004-08-22

This is a great and inexpensive introduction to the concerti of Sergei Prokofiev. And there's not a boring piece--or performance--in the box. I'm generally not a big Ashkenazy fan these days, but many of his earlier recordings were often very fine, and these are among them. His direct, declamatory way of played works to the advantage of the music here as well. He seizes these works by the horns, and the results are spectacular. Previn and the LSO never sounded better--for those who are familiar mostly with the later Previn, somewhat burned out and sluggishly leading the RPO or LAPO, these recordings will be a revelation. From the mechanical workings of No. 1 to the agitated fury of No. 2 to the quicksilver lithe of No. 3 to the enigma that is No. 5, these are great performances that manage to hit the mark while being very middle-of-the-road. (I don't mean middle-of-the-road in a negative way.) You'll notice I didn't mention No. 4, which has never really worked for me. As far as left-hand concertos go, listen to Ravel's.

The violin concerto is very fine, but it won't displace either Oisktrakh (a tall order, I admit) or, believe it or not, Perlman, with Rozhdestvensky and the BBC Symphony. The two cello concerti are tremendously exciting compositions that deserve to be played a lot more often than they are. Written for Rostrapovich, they are given credible readings by Harrell here, though I wish Rosty's performances were available (other than Op. 132 in an expensive 13-CD box) to show you you're *really* supposed to burn up these works. There aren't a whole lot of other performances of either of them, so you'll have to settle for these.

Prokofiev: The Five Piano Concertos; Overture on Hebrew Themes

Average customer rating:

Not only for the performances and the recording quality --
Sheesh
I guess the score doesn't matter
Piano could stand out a little more
awesome and terrifying

Prokofiev: The Five Piano Concertos; Overture on Hebrew Themes

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 / Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini / Muti, Gavrilov
Prokofiev Plays Prokofiev
Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos 1-5; Wedding Cake Caprice-Valse
Shostakovich: The Complete Symphonies - Mariss Jansons (10 CD)
Prokofiev: The Five Piano Concertos

ASIN: B000002S09
Release Date: 1992-09-29

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No 1 In D Major, Op.10: I. Allegro Brioso
Piano Concerto No 1 In D Major, Op.10: II. Andante assai
Piano Concerto No 1 In D Major, Op.10: III. Allegro scherzando
Piano Concerto No 2 In G Minor, Op.16: I. Andantino - Allegretto
Piano Concerto No 2 In G Minor, Op.16: II. Scherzo (vivace)
Piano Concerto No 2 In G Minor, Op.16: III. Intermezzo (allegro moderato)
Piano Concerto No 2 In G Minor, Op.16: IV. Finale (allegro tempestuoso)
Piano Concerto No.3 In C Major, Op.26: I. Andante - Allegro
Piano Concerto No.3 In C Major, Op.26: II. Theme et variations
Piano Concerto No.3 In C Major, Op.26: III. Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.4 In B Flat Major, Op.53,'For The Left Hand': I. Vivace
Piano Concerto No.4 In B Flat Major, Op.53,'For The Left Hand': II. Andante
Piano Concerto No.4 In B Flat Major, Op.53,'For The Left Hand': III. Moderato
Piano Concerto No.4 In B Flat Major, Op.53,'For The Left Hand': IV. Vivace
Piano Concerto No.5 In G Major, Op. 55: I. Allegro con brio
Piano Concerto No.5 In G Major, Op. 55: II. Moderato ben accentuato
Piano Concerto No.5 In G Major, Op. 55: III. Toccata (allegro con fuoco)
Piano Concerto No.5 In G Major, Op. 55: IV. Larghetto
Piano Concerto No.5 In G Major, Op. 55: V. Vivo
Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op. 34
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 1. Lentamente
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 2. Andante
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 3. Allegretto
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 4. Animato
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 5. Molto giocoso
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 6. Con eleganza
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 7. Pittoresco
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 8. Commodo
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 9. Allegretto tranquillo
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 10. Ridicolosamente
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 11. Con vivacita
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 12. Assai moderato
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 13. Allegretto
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 14. Feroce
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 15. Inquieto
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 16. Dolente
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 17. Poetico
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 18. Con una dolce lentezza
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 19. Presto agitatissimo e molto accentuato
Visions fugitives, Op. 22: No 20. Lento irrealmente

Customer Reviews:

Not only for the performances and the recording quality --.......2005-12-07

-- I even like the cover art!

Sheesh.......2003-11-05

I'm reading the reviews here because I just adore this recording and wonder why it's so rarely the recommended choice in CD guides, etc... Maybe there are individual moments in other recordings that surpass individual moments here, but as a whole I don't think any of the other sets are nearly as effective.

But anyway - the review below really annoyed me so I just wanted to weigh in: Beroff's is a really lovely rendition of the Visions Fugitives, and the "ppp" in question (that prompted my fellow reviewer to impress us all with his lordly inability to tolerate philistinism by hurling his CDs into the trash like the filth they are) - ahem - the "ppp" in question applies WITHOUT ANY DOUBT only to the inner voice - I don't know what edition Mr. Landkamer has, but the two that I just looked at both make special effort to place the "ppp" on the page in a way that communicates this. It also bears mentioning that this "ppp" does not appear in the first edition at all.

In conclusion: this set is an amazing deal and, regardless of what people say about Ashkenazy or Argerich or Richter or whomever else, is utterly satisfying. It's one of the few recordings of Prokofiev I've heard where the performance is GENUINELY CONVINCED of the idea that this music is utterly coherent and human. Even supposedly "sensitive" Prokofiev performances often underestimate the fluidity of his musical expression and decide to let things seem thorny and chaotic rather than doing the work necessary to clarify the enigmatic elements. Beroff and Masur are so in tune with the spirit of Prokofiev's screwball jokes and whimsically meandering emotions that you feel you're hearing the piece direct from the composer. Very rare thing, that. There are no more and no fewer fireworks in these performances than Prokofiev put in the score - which is plenty! - and I don't know about you but that's how I like my classical recordings.

I guess the score doesn't matter.......2003-04-26

A few minutes ago, for lack of anything better to do, I put on the Visions Fugitives as played by Michel Beroff on this CD. In bar 14 there is a two-note pickup starting a repeat of the opening melody, here marked "p semplice". Then, on beat 1 of the next bar, the marking is "ppp" implying that the repeat of the theme is to *begin* like a routine restatement but then shift without warning into a new, quieter dreamlike realm. Beroff makes ABSOLUTELY NO CHANGE at the ppp. It might as well not be there. These CD's are about to go into the trash.

There, gone.

Addendum (5/31/03)...I purchased another recording of Visions Fugitives, by Boris Berman, and he played this part the same way. Looking again at the score, I think I can see why...the ppp is being interpreted as applying only to the chromatically winding inner voice. I'm not certain that's right, but it's at least not completely unreasonable. Sorry, Michel, I take it all back.

(11/28/03) in response to my courageously anonymous fellow reviewer ("music fan" above) the edition I have is MCA and the ppp is placed between the upper an lower staves but somewhat above-center. I'm not sure this qualifies as a special effort to communicate the intent.

Piano could stand out a little more.......2002-09-21

I agree with other reviewers this is a very good recording, of very difficult works. But it is especially good for the orchestral part. I am not saying Beroff is not a good pianist dont get me wrong. I am just saying there is better.
For the piano (and those are PIANO concertos my friends :) I have to say that I like the Ashkenazy/Previn recording better especially for #2 and #3 The piano sounds much clearer and less hesitating. The opening of 4th movement of #2 for example is 100 times better as played by Ashkenazy. Those chords are so much more precisely dropped. The orchestra though in many passages is more overwhelming (as it should be in this piece) in the Beroff/Masur recording.
If you want the complete set. Get both this recording and the Ashkenazy/Previn. They complement one another really well.
Now if you want the best recording of #3. You want to get the Argerich/Abbado recording. It ROCKS its is way above any other. Better rythmic precision , better phrasing, faster tempo. It is just amazing.

awesome and terrifying.......2002-09-21

This CD is another example of good price, comprehensiveness, and outstanding quality combining to make a powerhouse recording. I cannot overstate how dazzling Beroff's performance is. To hear pianistic technique at its pinnacle, just listen to the cadenza of the Second Concerto's opening movement--it'll take your breath away (you'll swear that it cannot be played by just a single player--examining the score will compound the disbelief). Beroff's swift hammering, mastery of dynamics, and perfect grasp of both Prokofiev's wit and rage, will have you coming back to this CD set for years. Concerto No. 3, by the way, is the best performance I've heard besides that given by Martha Argerich. With expert performance by Maestro Masur and the Gewandhaus Orchestra, these five neoclassical works have rarely received such musical justice. The second CD also features Prokofiev's delightful ethnographic chamber piece, "Overture on Hebrew Themes," as well as his solo piano work, "Fugitive Visions" (not quite as notable as, say, his late sonatas). I consider this CD set one of the best in my collection, and I recommend it without any reservations.

Prokofiev: The Piano Concertos; Violin Concerto No. 1

Average customer rating:

Indispensable Recordings from Leinsdorf's Masterful Prokofiev Series

Prokofiev: The Piano Concertos; Violin Concerto No. 1

Manufacturer: Testament UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0007VXZE0
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Customer Reviews:

Indispensable Recordings from Leinsdorf's Masterful Prokofiev Series.......2005-08-31

John Browning and Erich Leinsdorf first recorded a Prokofiev piano concerto (the Third) in 1960 for Capitol records. When Leinsdorf became music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra two years later, he brought Browning to RCA and they recorded all five, the very first integral set anywhere. Some forty years later, it's still impressive as remastered by Testament. These are sharply projected, athletic performances that nevertheless do not scant Prokofiev's characteristically mordant lyricism. Analog sound quality is first-rate, in fact superior to what RCA managed to transfer to its original Lps. Neither Browning nor Leinsdorf are with us anymore and this set is a fine tribute to their memory. But it isn't just nostalgia that persuades me to recommend this set: even given its steep price and competition from the likes of Ashkenazy/Previn, Beroff/Masur and others, Browning and Leinsdorf's unique projection of machine-like power and lyric whimsy is essential to a full understanding of these wonderful compositions. As a bonus, Testament throws in a fine performance of the first Violin Concerto recorded by Leinsdorf, the BSO and Heifetz-protege Erick Friedman. Friedman's performance isn't in the Browning league, but it's splendidly assured and goes far to explain why Heifetz placed such high hopes in his future. Note: Leinsdorf recorded the second Violin Concerto at about the same time with a young Itzhak Perlman and that recording is also available on a BMG/RCA CD. In fact, Leinsdorf recorded quite a bit of Prokofiev in Boston for RCA and Testament apparently intends to release much of that series on CD over the next year or so. Good news for those of us who have been praying for a release of symphonies 2, 3, 5 and (especially) 6! One can only wonder why BMG/RCA have been so derelict in reissuing these fabulous (and fabulously well-recorded) recordings, while applauding Testament for its initiative. Leinsdorf's Boston tenure produced nothing more memorable than the stunning performances RCA captured in its Prokofiev series, and they're all 'must-buy' priorities for anyone who loves Prokofiev's music.

Sergey Sergeyevich Prokofiev: The Five Piano Concertos

Average customer rating:

Killer Prokofiev

Sergey Sergeyevich Prokofiev: The Five Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos 1-5
Bartok: The Piano Concertos
Debussy: Piano Works
Haydn: Piano Sonatas
Becket

ASIN: B000000AMF
Release Date: 1992-10-28

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Flat Major Op. 10: Allegro brioso
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Flat Major Op. 10: Andante assai
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Flat Major Op. 10: Allegro scherzando
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major Op. 53 (For The Left Hand): I. Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major Op. 53 (For The Left Hand): II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major Op. 53 (For The Left Hand): III. Moderato - Allegro moderato
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major Op. 53 (For The Left Hand): IV. Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 5 In G Major Op. 55: I. Allegro con brio
Piano Concerto No. 5 In G Major Op. 55: II. Moderato ben accentuato
Piano Concerto No. 5 In G Major Op. 55: III. Toccata: Allegro con fuoco
Piano Concerto No. 5 In G Major Op. 55: IV. Larghetto
Piano Concerto No. 5 In G Major Op. 55: V. Vivo

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor Op. 16: I. Andantino - Allegretto
Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor Op. 16: II. Scherzo. Vivace
Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor Op. 16: III. Intermezzo. Allegro moderato
Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor Op. 16: IV. Finale. Allegro tempestoso
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Major Op. 26: I. Andante - Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Major Op. 26: II. Tema. Andantino; Variations: I. L'istesso tempo; II. Allegro; III. ALlegro moderato (poco meno mosso); IV. Andante meditativo; V. Allegro giusto - Tema. Listesso tempo
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Major Op. 26: III. Allegro ma non troppo

Customer Reviews:

Killer Prokofiev.......2001-10-01

If you are only going to buy one recording of the prokofiev piano concertos, then this is the recording to buy.

This is the most fiery and dynamic (ok, bombastic) recordings of these concertos I have heard, and the orchestra and soloists both agree on the style of the music. (The orchestra contributes significantly to the overall impact of the music in contrast to many other recordings where the orchestra is just there to play the notes.) The soloists are awesome.

Tracks:

Dreams, Op.6 (Symphonic Tableau)
Autumnal Sketch, Op.8
Allegro
Larghetto
Gavotte: Non Troppo Allegro
Finale: Molto Vivace
Allegro Ben Articolato
Thema
Variation I
Variation II
Variation III
Variation IV
Variation V
Variation VI
Thema

Tracks:

Moderato
Andante
Allegro Agitato - Allegretto
Andante Mosso - Allegro Moderato
Moderato
Allegretto
Andante Espressivo
Vivace

Tracks:

Le Depart (The Departure)
Rencontre Avec Des Camarades (Meeting Friends)
L'enjoleuse (The Seductress)
Les Danseurs (The Dancers)
L'enfant Prodigue Et L'enjoleuse (The Prodigal Son And The Seductress)
L'ivresse (Drunkenness)
Pillage (The Despoiling)
Reveil Et Remords (Awakening And Remorse)
Intermede: Partage Du Butin (Interlude: Sharing The Spoils)
Le Retour (The Return)
Andante - Allegro Eroico - Allegretto
Andante Tranquillo
Moderato Quasi Allegretto
Allegro Risoluto

Tracks:

Andante
Allegro Marcato
Adagio
Allegro Giocoso
In The Struggle
In The Night
For The Brotherhood Of Man

Tracks:

Adagio Moderato
Largo
Vivace
Since We Met
Cinderella In The Palace
Mephisto Waltz
End Of The Fairy-Tale
Waltz For The New Year's Ball
Happiness

Tracks:

Andante - Allegro - Kun Woo Paik
Tema Con Variazioni - Kun Woo Paik
Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Kun Woo Paik
Vivace - Kun Woo Paik
Andante - Kun Woo Paik
Moderato - Kun Woo Paik
Vivace - Kun Woo Paik
Piano Concerto No.1 In D Flat Major, Op.10 - Kun Woo Paik

Tracks:

Andantino - Allegretto - Kun Woo Paik
Scherzo: Vivace - Kun Woo Paik
Intermezzo: Allegro Moderato - Kun Woo Paik
Finale: Allegro Tempestuoso - Kun Woo Paik
Allegro Con Brio - Kun Woo Paik
Moderato Ben Accentuato - Kun Woo Paik
Toccata: Allegro Con Fuoco - Kun Woo Paik
Larghetto - Kun Woo Paik
Vivo - Kun Woo Paik

Tracks:

Andantino - Andante Assai - Tedi Papavrami
Scherzo: Vivacissimo - Tedi Papavrami
Moderato - Allegro Moderato - Moderato - Piu Tranquillo - Tedi Papavrami
Allegro Moderato - Tedi Papavrami
Andante Assai - Allegretto - Andante Assai - Tedi Papavrami
Allegro, Ben Marcato - Tedi Papavrami
Moderato - Tedi Papavrami
Theme And Variations: Andante Dolce - Tedi Papavrami
Con Brio - Allegro Precipitato - Tedi Papavrami

Tracks:

Andante - Allegro - Alexander Rudin
Allegro Giusto - Alexander Rudin
Andante Con Moto - Allegretto - Allegro Marcato - Alexander Rudin
Andante Mosso - Alexander Rudin
Andante - Alexander Rudin
Allegretto - Alexander Rudin
No.1 In F Major - Alexander Rudin
No.2 In C Sharp Minor - Alexander Rudin

Album Description

The White Box is Naxos' flagship boxed set series, dedicated to exploring complete areas of a composer's work. All releases in the White Box series are presented in durable and attractive packaging with the discs enclosed in individual sleeves. From the beginning, Naxos has sought to let these masterpieces speak for themselves and in designing these boxes, the music is presented with minimal fuss. Such minimalism does not apply to the generously sized booklets, which offer full essays on each work plus a biography of the composer and artists. The booklets also contain a specially created chronology for this series, which sets events in the composer's own life into a wider musical and overall historical context.

Customer Reviews:

Great price, but out of tune Ukrainian brass.......2006-10-04

I love this collection simply because there's so much music in it. Yet I find that Kuchar struggles to maintain the driving pace, and wrest the fortissimo out of the orchestra, demanded by the more brutal symphonies. Most disturbing to me, though, is the fairly common occurrence of high-profile brass notes, and somewhat less often, woodwinds, that are just out of tune. I realize the 2nd and 3rd symphonies are chromatic, and fairly dissonant, but you can still clearly hear intonation problems. Check out the counterpoint line at 0:17 in Variation I of Symphony No. 2's Theme and Variations, the ending of Symphony No. 3's Allegro agitato - Allegretto, 1:29-1:36 of Symphony No. 5's Andante, or the woodwind intro of Symphony No. 6's Largo.

A Super-Bargain But Variable Performances.......2004-06-05

This set contains not only all the symphonies and all the concerti for piano, for violin, and for cello, it also contains some ballet music (The Prodigal Son, for instance, which is rarely recorded), the Waltz Suite (delectable music rarely heard in the concert hall), and the almost-never-heard Unaccompanied Violin Sonata, among other tidbits, all on 9 fully-packed CDs.

Taking them category by category and with some attention to individual performances, I would start by saying that the five piano concerti, as well-played as they are here, are simply swamped by Vladimir Ashkenazy's set with André. Further, the Naxos performances (with the excellent Korean pianist, Kun Woo Paik, with Antoni Wit and the Polish Radio Symphony) are in somewhat glassy sound; their more recent provenance does not give them improved sound over the Ashkenazy set. I did like the verve of the D Flat Concerto (No. 1) in particular, however.

The Violin Concertos fare better, both in terms of performance and particularly in sonics. Tedi Papavrami is a young Albanian violinst, erstwhile pupil of Pierre Amoyal. The first thing to say is that he does not seem be copying any of his violinistic predecessors in these concerti. Notice in particular how well he projects the top line in the double-stop passages and his affinity for the lyrical aspects of the music. He has technique to spare, generally spot-on intonation, and real musical feeling. The only competition on a single disc is that of Gil Shaham who plays these concerti with real flair. Neither of them plays the Second Concerto with the laser-like intensity of Heifetz, however. And in the First there is the still-paramount Oistrakh. Still, these are creditable performances and I'm glad I have them. The Solo Violin Sonata is given a nicely judged performance and has very little competition on CD.

The Cello Concerto is given in the revised version, now more commonly called the Symphony-Concerto, Op. 125; Prokofiev had written it in the 1930s but when Rostropovich came to the fore in the late 1940s he worked with Prokofiev to revise it into the present form. For a time it was called the Sinfonia Concertante, and then, when revised further, the Symphony-Concerto. And of course Rostropovich owns the work, having championed it around the world. He recorded it in both of the revised forms, but those performances are a bit hard to find now. A pity. Still, the present recording is quite good. It features a cellist I'd not known of before, the 40ish Russian Alexander Ruben. Both the soloist and orchestra (the Polish National Radio Symphony under Antoni Wit, who accompany all the concerti in this set) are top-notch here. The same can be said for the Cello Concertino, Op. 132, which was unfinished at Prokofiev's death in 1953, but completed by Rostropovich and Dimitri Kabalevsky. This ravishing but rarely-heard work is given an outstanding performance. And the disc is filled out by the two delectable Pushkin Waltzes, Op. 120, which are Prokofiev in his most lovably ironic manner.

We come now to the seven symphonies. This is a very uneven set. They are all played by the National Symphony of Ukraine under their regular conductor, the American Theodore Kuchar. When I put on the First Symphony (the 'Classical') my heart fell; this is a dolorous account, taken at very slow tempi until, finally, in the last movement things start moving at a faster clip. The playing is OK, but the interpretation simply won't do. The Second is better but there are some balance problems; it sounds as if half the string section didn't show up the day it was recorded. The brutalist Third Symphony (developed from music taken from his opera 'The Fiery Angel') is given a decent performance. There are better single performances out there, though, including the one, surprisingly, by Ozawa (which is also included in his budget-priced but also variable complete set of symphonies). Symphony No. 4 is coupled with the music that spawned it, the ballet music for 'The Prodigal Son.' It is nice to hear the two pieces side by side; one can hear that Prokofiev took themes from the ballet and subjected them to symphonic development. Both performances here are quite nice. Symphony No. 5 is soft-edged and sounds as if it were recorded in a cathedral-like acoustic. That, coupled with the slight mushiness of the strings, makes this a gentle but not competitive performance. One misses the bite one hears in better performances. I happen to like a no-longer-available performance by the St. Louis SO under Slatkin, but there are others out there who feel the Järvi or the Previn are better than that one. The Fifth is coupled with 'The Year 1941' symphonic suite; this is simply not top-drawer Prokofiev although it has a few creepily effective moments. Symphony No. 6 is given a generally quite good performance. It begins with a scarily peremptory brass introduction (one imagines the NKVD at the door) before the ironically tender violin theme comes in. Nicely done. The Largo is ominously effective. But in the last movement, marked Vivace and taken a little too slowly for my taste, there is a weird drop-off in aural presence that I take to be a problem with either sound engineering or the pressing. However, the filler here, the Waltz Suite, surely one of Prokofiev's happiest collections (waltzes taken from 'Cinderella,' 'War and Peace,' and from a movie score) is possibly the best thing in the whole set. Or maybe it's just that I love these waltzes inordinately no matter how they're played! To complete the set, Symphony No. 7 (which is coupled with No. 3 on CD 2), written in Prokofiev's last year, returns to the simplicity of the Classical Symphony and is one of his most tuneful and least troubled. And it is given a very nicely judged performance here, relaxed and genial.

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In D-Flat, Op. 10: 1. Allegro brioso - Valery Gergiev
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D-Flat, Op. 10: 2. Andante assai - Valery Gergiev
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D-Flat, Op. 10: 3. Allegro scherzando - Valery Gergiev
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C, Op. 26: 1. Andante - Allegro - Valery Gergiev
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C, Op. 26: 2. Tema con variazione - Valery Gergiev
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C, Op. 26: 3. Allegro ma non troppo - Valery Gergiev
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B-Flat, Op.53: 1. Vivace - Valery Gergiev
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B-Flat, Op.53: 2. Andante - Valery Gergiev
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B-Flat, Op.53: 3. Moderato - Valery Gergiev
Piano Concerto No. 4 In B-Flat, Op.53: 4. Vivace - Valery Gergiev

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor, Op.16: 1. Andantino - S. Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor, Op.16: 2. Scherzo. Vivace - S. Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor, Op.16: 3. Intermezzo. Allegro moderato - S. Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 2 In G Minor, Op.16: 4. Finale. Allegro tempestoso - S. Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 5 In G, Op.55: 1. Allegro con brio - S. Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 5 In G, Op.55: 2. Moderato ben accentuato - S. Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 5 In G, Op.55: 3. Toccata - S. Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 5 In G, Op.55: 4. Larghetto - S. Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 5 In G, Op.55: 5. Vivo - S. Prokofiev

Customer Reviews:

Pity the sound is so bad.......2006-07-22

I just listened to this album. I have 3 other sets these concerti- the Ashkenazy, the Mehta, and the Kurt Masur. I also have individual recordings of almost all the rest (the 2nd and 4th are rarely recorded individually).
I think that Gergiev is marvelous here and that Toradze is also a great pianist. I do not agree with the interpretations in some cases but I respect the fact that there are different interpretations then my own.
So why did I give this 3 stars? I am surprised that none of the other reviewers mentioned that there is a horrible treble noise riding above alot of this album. I first noticed it in the 2nd concerto. It's as if the pianist was talking or mumbling or something and they tried to take it out and a noise resulted -- like in the Glen Gould case where he used to sing along and the mixers tried to get his singing out of the album. Listen to the first movement of the 2nd concerto expecially during minutes 7-10 and you will hear this. I heard this in my car first and was totally distracted by it. I thought I had problems with my system. Then I listened to it at home, and I heard the same thing.
In addition, the sound level of this recording is very low, while there is dynamic sound. However to get this sound, you need to turn the volume up really high which is not really healthy. For those of you who will say that this was the cause of the treble noise, it is not true. I listened over and over and played with the volume and tried different things with the equalizer. Nothing got rid of it.
As a result, I am giving a set of discs whose performance warrants 5 stars -- only 3 stars. I think that it is a pity that this is the case and that if this was caused by removing the pianists voice, better to keep it in there and hear the whole thing than to ruin a wonderful performance the way that the mixers did here.
Sorry to burst the line of 5 stars that this album got, but someone has to say this. If you get the album beware that there is treble noise and you will need to decide if you want to deal with this or not.

Very Good.......2006-02-24

This 2 CD set includes all five piano concertos of Prokofiev. This obviously means you can find a perfomance of the second piano concerto, which does not have many individual recordings, even though it would deserve to have been recorded numerous times. The set itself makes a point of stressing the importance of the second piano concerto and the effort the pianist has put into its performance. Toradze and Gergiev have worked extensively together on all of Prokofiev's piano concertos. The resut is very good and this set is worth buying if only to get an exceptional performance of the 2nd piano concerto. Although I own performances of the 1st and 3rd by Argerich (the recent one on EMI with the Montreal SO and Dutoit conducting) and the 5th by Richter, I can't claim to be qualified to make any comparisons. Still, I think I could write a few words. Argerich's 3rd is widely regarded to be among the best interpretations (usually in reference to the DG recording), but that doesn't mean that Toradze is not good. Personally I was equally impressed by both; even though I haven't heard her with the Berlin Philarmonic and Abbado, I am quite sure that her own performance can only have got better over time. In any case you can buy the set in question at a very good price, especially if you look around. I haven't heard Ashkenazy's set.

In short I think it is an excellent choice to get this. Firstly you won't find many interpretations of the 2nd out there. Secondly and most importanly all five concertos are excellently performed, even if individually they would perhaps just lose out against reference performances by Argerich or Richter.

Prokofiev: The Five Piano Concertos - Toradze & Gergiev.......2006-02-20

This two CD set is one of the most wonderful recordings I've heard. Toradze has brillant technique and the orchestra is flawless. The compositions themselves are Prokofiev at his best. It is very emotional music, dynamic music. A must have!

This should have been better.......2005-09-19

I saw a TV documentary in which Gergiev and Toradze were working together, and they seemed to have a special affinity, not to mention that both are Prokofiev specialists. With that in mind, I expected this set to be ablaze with inspiration. In reality it is simply good, and in some regards falls considerably short of excellent. The piano sound is not full compared to what Ashkenazy gets on Decca, and the overall thrust of the music can't match Richter, Argerich, and various others in the individual pieces. All in all, I consider this set a keeper but hardly definitive.

Incredible.......2005-03-18

It is rare to find all 5 piano concertos in one set, and even rarer to have all five pieces be performed beautifully. This is very powerful music and very powerful playing. A wonderful set. Sound quality is very good. Highly recommended.

Kun Woo Paik ~ Prokofiev - Piano Concertos, No. 1, Op. 10 · No. 3, Op. 26 · No. 4, Op. 53 / Polish NRSO · Wit

Average customer rating:

Passionate intelligent playing.
wonderful performances and an unknown gem at budget price!
Great
Strikingly good
A surprise among budget CD's

Kun Woo Paik ~ Prokofiev - Piano Concertos, No. 1, Op. 10 · No. 3, Op. 26 · No. 4, Op. 53 / Polish NRSO · Wit
Sergey Prokofiev , Antoni Wit , Kun Woo Paik , and Polish Nathiona Radio Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

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Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5
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ASIN: B0000013U1
Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

Concerto No. 3 In C Major, Op. 26: 1: Andante-allegro
Concerto No. 3 In C Major, Op. 26: 2: Tema con variazioni
Concerto No. 3 In C Major, Op. 26: 3: Allegro ma non troppo
Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major, Op. 53: 1: Vivace
Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major, Op. 53: 2: Andante
Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major, Op. 53: 3: Moderato
Concerto No. 4 In B Flat Major, Op. 53: 4: Vivace
Concerto No. 1 In D Flat Major, Op. 10

Customer Reviews:

Passionate intelligent playing. .......2005-06-20

I went to Barnes & Noble anticipating that I'd purchase the Previn/Ashkenazy recordings of the 5 Prokofiev Piano Concertos. After all, those 5 are packaged as a single set, and everyone speaks highly of the performances. I'm so very glad that I did NOT settle for those recording!! There was a certain clinical, dispassionate quality to the Previn/Ashkenazy recordings. In contrast, Kun Woo Paik truly feels this music, and has a dazzling technique. For me, these recordings of the 5 Prokofiev Piano Concertos are the recordings to own!

wonderful performances and an unknown gem at budget price!.......2002-03-04

This CD has really excellent performances of some of the most exhilarating and most consoling music written by one of the master composers of the twentieth century. The price would be worth it alone to discover the virtually forgotten and seldom performed masterwork of the Fourth concerto. Anyone who enjoys the jazz influences, and especially the slow movement,of Ravel's G major concerto will love this concerto with its beautiful nocturne andante movement. (The concerto was rejected by its intended original performer Paul Wittgenstein.)
Prokofiev's scintillating first concerto student work is given a bright and bold reading by Kun Woo Paik and the third concerto is given a performance which is as satisfying and assured as Argerich. This CD is one I listen to almost every day and never tire of. I'd recommend it to anyone as at bargain price it gives three of the finest 20th Century piano concertos in an excellent recording with a fine orchestral contribution and a brilliant soloist! And the music is therapeutic! What more could you want!?

Great.......2001-11-14

The concerto no. 3 is probably one of the most overplayed 20th century concertos, and, although it is a very effective concert piece and deserving of the attention, I find it hard to believe that these others have been neglected. Especially the 4th, with the tightly fitting orchestral and soloist parts, and the tension that is preserved even in the slow movements, without losing lyricism. Written when he was finishing up as a music student, the 1st concerto shows Prokofiev's talent and originality for such a young age. These performances are great, and at the Naxos price, there is little reason to consider any other recording.

Strikingly good.......2000-12-11

These recordings of the Prokofiev 1st, 2nd and 3rd piano concertos, along with the other Naxos recording of the 2nd and 5th concertos, are remarkably high quality, not just for a budget label but in absolute terms. The sound quality is excellent and has a rich, high-fidelity 3-D quailty to it. The interpretations of all five concertos across the two CDs give full justification to the works. To my ears the interpretations are slightly different and unorthorthodox, making me look at the recordings in a slightly different, but refreshing way. They bring out details that I didn't notice in the 2-3 other recordings that I have of these concertos. Both the pianism and the orchestra are excellent, and they smoothly compliment each other. It's good, it's a little different, it's refreshing, it's cheap...I like it.

A surprise among budget CD's.......2000-08-11

This recording, though not quite as well known as the other Prokofiev piano concerto sets out there, is equally as successful as any other out there. Kun woo Paik gives a very sharp, energetic, and insightful performance to each of these concertos and is backed up well by Paik and the Polish RSO. Concerto no. 3 is IMHO the best in the set and ranks above any other I've heard. There is lots of energy and excitement in all 3 movements and the slow sections are wonderfully played. Although the playing is not exactly polished and smoothed over, I feel the rough sound adds an extra ounce of excitement to it. Concerto no. 1 is a bit slower than I am used to and doesn't exactly do much for me, but the middle slow section of the concerto is wonderfully played. Concerto no. 4 also has lots of energy, but it is not one of my favorite concertos. All in all, this CD is worth it just for the 3rd concerto.

Average customer rating:

Prokofiev: The Concertos
Sergey Prokofiev , and Orchestra of Radio Luxembourg
Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Average customer rating:

Great Concertos, Not So Great Box Set

Great Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dvorák: The Symphonies

ASIN: B00008CLIH
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor, Op.18
Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30
Piano Concerto No.6 In B Flat, K.238
Piano Concerto No.8 In C, K.246 "Lzow"
Piano Concerto No.9 In E Flat, K.271 - "Jeunehomme"
Concert Rondo For Piano And Orchestra In D. K.382
Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor, K.466
Piano Concerto No.27 In B Flat, K.595
Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23
Piano Concerto No.2 In F Minor, Op.21
Concerto For Harpsichord, Strings, And Continuo No.1 In D Minor, Bwv 1052
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat, Op.83
Piano Concerto No.4 In G, Op.58
Piano Concerto No.5 In E Flat Major Op.73 -"Emperor"
Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op.54
Introduction & Allegro Appassionato For Piano & Orchestra, Op.92
Concert Allegro With Introduction In D Minor, Op.134
Alexander Scriabin
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43
Piano Concerto No.3, Bb 127, Sz. 119
Prometh - Le Poe Du Feu, Op.60
Piano Concerto No.1, Bb 91, Sz. 83
Piano Concerto
Piano Concerto No.2, Bb 101, Sz. 95
Piano Concerto No.1 In D Flat, Op.10
Piano Concerto No.2 In G Minor, Op.16
Piano Concerto No.21 In C, K.467

Customer Reviews:

Great Concertos, Not So Great Box Set.......2004-04-29

The fact that Vladimir Ashkenazy is one of the great pianists of the 20th Century is not open for debate. His performances of Mozart, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov in particular are among the very best ever recorded, and his Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky aren't far behind. Whether some of his better recordings should have been collected on this boxed set to celebrate his forty-year association with Decca, most certainly is up for debate.

I know that limited edition collector's sets focusing on venerable artists, instead of the traditional box sets focused on a specific composer, have been very profitable lately -- like those in the "Original Masters" series (see my reviews). But what distinguishes those sets from Ashkenazy's is the abundance of rare material, often never before released on CD. This 11 CD set only features one previously unissued performance, included on a "bonus CD" that is only 29 minutes in length -- Mozart's 21st Piano Concerto with Ashkenazy playing and conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. (A performance with the Philharmonia of No. 21 is included on Ashkenazy's Double Decca title and box set of the Piano Concerto Cycle.) It also features two performances in their "first international release" -- Schumann's "Introduction & Allegro appasionato" and "Concerto Allegro with Introduction," both with Uri Segal leading the LSO. The remainder of the recordings have all been available on CD previously -- the Rach 2 & 3 on Decca Legends, the Prokofievs on a Double Decca, the Tchaikovsky & Chopin PC2 in the Penguin Classics series, the Beethovens on a London/Decca box of the Piano Concertos, etc. Yes, some of the material is now out-of-print as single-discs -- the early Mozart Concertos with Kertesz and Schmidt-Isserstedt, and the Bach 1052 with Zinman were available in the old "Classic Sound" series -- but serious collectors most likely bought those initial offerings years ago before they were deleted.

So I guess my question is, whom does the Universal Music Group think will buy this set? The title "Collector's Edition" assumes collectors like me will, but I'm not trading in my single CD titles at the used store just to pay more money for one unissued Mozart performance! Therefore, this set must be aimed at entry-level fans, but most of them are not going to pay this much for their classical music either. And if they are curious about Ashkenazy as a performer, surely starting with a less comprehensive title makes more sense. You'd think by now UNI, with all its vast resources and labels, would have a better handle on their fan base, yet they prove once again that they do not.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

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