Wonderful recording
Tim C Allen | Oregon | 12/14/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I ran across Julius Katchen's recording of the Diabelli Variations in a record store in Santa Cruz in 1970 and bought it on a whim . . . soon I fell in love with these pieces and played them nearly every day for months. Eventually I lost the record, and in recent years I've often wondered if it really was as beautiful as I remembered it. I have Rudolf Serkin's CD of the Diabelli Variations, and it always seemed as though something was missing. When I discovered that the Katchen recording had been issued on CD, I bought it immediately. If anything, it was even better than I remembered it. In comparison Serkin sounds mechanical and plodding; Katchen's touch is simply magical, and his interpretation profound. Not only that, but in my excitement to buy the Katchen CD, I didn't even notice that the Opus 111 Piano Sonata is included. And Katchen's treatment of Opus 111 is absolutely marvelous as well."
A colossal finding!
Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 12/17/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Considering the artistic status of the egregious pianism of Julius Katchen around Brahms' piano music, I didn't doubt just a bit at the moment to buy this album, because among other virtues, Katchen was probably, the most European of the North American pianists.
But believe me, I never thought the enormous satisfaction and enjoyable surprise. Katchen made one the most impressive readings about the Diabelli variations I have never listened throughout my life. There's an organic fluidity, a careful phrasing, but above all these virtues, a cosmic approach and handle of the contrapuntal lines without ostentation or cheap exhibitionism.
The Polonaise op. 89 was played with superb good taste. But the surprise was majuscule at the moment to listen the sonata No. 32 Op. 111. What approach! what sense of the fugue as expressive device. He really explores with unequalled honesty the mysterious and cosmic mood that surrounds this unique work; the fingering of the cantabile lines, the accurate articulation and tonal balance makes of this interpretation one of the most successful performances ever recorded.
Don't miss this phenomenal album.
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