Search - Antonin Dvorak, Borodin Quartet, Sviatoslav Richter :: Dvorák: Piano Quintets, Opp. 5 & 81

Bob in Santa Monica

Bob in Santa Monica | 07/23/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is supposedly a classic performance. I recommend, however, that you avoid it. First of all, it is a live performance, which is not indicated in the Amazon listing, and which is in very small print on the back of the CD. Although the audience is mostly well behaved, the sound editor could easily have removed the usual coughing between movements, and the mood-jarring applause at the ends. Minus one star here. Second, the performances suffer (in my opinion) from frequent aggressive, driven tempos which suck the beauty out of the music. While the effect is virtuosic and the contrasts can be dramatic, the performers seem more interested in making a statement than in making beautiful music. Minus a second star. A disappointment, overall."

Richter and the Borodin in fine form

J. Grant | North Carolina, USA | 01/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pay no heed to the reviewer who gave this wonderful performance 3 stars. While there may be equal or perhaps better performances of op.81 (Rubinstein/Guarneri & Pressler/Emerson SQ come to mind), they don't include the early op.5. Without a doubt this is the best disc containing both piano quintets, but even if you don't want the early work (you would be missing out), this is still among the better recordings of the later. 4 1/2 stars."