Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Liszt, Ferruccio Busoni :: Fazil Say Plays Bach

Exquisite defines this CD / this CD defines Exquisite

Mark K. Reed | San Antonio, TX United States | 11/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The word "exquisite" came to mind as I started to record my impression of this performance by Fazil Say. I'm an awful speller, so I stopped by m-w.com to look up that word and found it's definition so perfectly descriptive of the qualities of this recording - my review was just about accomplished! This piano playing is: marked by flawless craftsmanship, by beautiful, ingenious, delicate, and elaborate execution, .... marked by fine discrimination, deep sensitivity, and subtle understanding. Indeed, in a universe of many, many great pianists, the touch of Fazil Say floats on the very crest of them all. In keeping with all other reviewers of this CD, I have also been utterly captured by the Bach-Busoni transcription. I eager await further releases by this truly rare artist."

A flashy, fun Bach recital

Aaron F. Judd | Copenhagen, Denmark | 05/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fazil Say's Bach recital is amazing for it's variety and breadth: it begins with the lucid, intimate beauty of the 6th French Suite (in which Say's playing is unusually sensual, with the recording balance just warm enough to match his playing style) and climbs to the mountainous Liszt and Busoni transcriptions. The Liszt is wonderfully colorful and dramatic, an underrated work that is smashing in Say's tense and fiery reading. Say ends the disc with the the famous C major Prelude and Fugue from Book I of the Well-Tempered Clavier, a move that could seem pat but works very well; the tender arpeggios of the Prelude dispel the epic anguish of the Bach/Busoni "Chaconne" and close the disc in innocent wonder.



I look forward to another Bach recital from this delightful artist; perhaps next time he can push the Bach-playing envelope with recomposition/improvisation? Or a transcription of his own?"

INCREDIBLE !

Mehmet Tunc Celebi(mcelebi@tron.com | Istanbul | 06/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"He is one of the most talented and gifted pianist and composer of our generation.His concentration and achievement at Chaconne BWV1004, striked me as a commendable achievement all around. He plays Bach with a genuine fire with a personal approach. I would strongly recommend any Classical Music lover to follow this Gentelman as a great pianist and more over, a very talented composer with his Piano Concerto 1 - Silkroad."