Search - Kaikhosru Sorabji, Jonathan Powell :: Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji: Rosario d'arabeschi; Gulistan

Powell's Gulitan

Alscribji | Washington, D.C. | 02/25/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Anybody familiar with the music of Sorabji realizes what a landmark event it is in the recorded piano for a new recording of Gulistan to appear. The pianist Jonathan Powell is a recent trailblazer in recording the piano music of Sorabji. I attended Powell's performance of the Opus Clavicembalisticum in New York in the summer of 2004 and was so taken aback by his merciless and calculated attack on those black and white keys. Of the Madge and Ogden recordings, I was convinced that Powell's performance of the OC would have out stripped them both if it had been recorded (and it should have been!). Powell has contributed four other recordings of Sorabji's music on the Altarus label, of which this CD is the fifth. Gulistan is accompanied by an unfamiliar piece, Rosario d'arabeschi, a great piece of Sorabjian piano music. Powell's performance of Gulistan is the main attraction of this CD. The music is voluptuous, sensous, ornate, full of chromatic filigree. The performance, however, is quite limp and drags lethargically. The earlier recording of Gulistan by Charles Hopkins (also on Altarus) brings out the true fantasy of Gulistan and conveys the music more convincingly than Powell. Whereas Powell's version trudges along, Hopkins' version glides effortlessly, bringing the listener along for the exotic ride. Michael Habermann has also recorded Gulistan and equals that of Hopkins in delivery and his realization of fantasy. Powell's Sorabji CDs overall, however, are stupendous; if his live performance of the OC had been recorded, it would have been one of the greatest CDs of recorded pianism. But his Gulistan, surprisingly, does not measure up to his other Sorabji performances."

More great pickings . . .

Valerie Scruggs | Alexandria, Va | 04/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is another towering achievement from Mr. Powell. Unlike some of the other recordings of Gulistan, where the listener is bombarded by a series of unrelated notes, Powell wisely imparts the necessary air and breadth to Sorabji's vituostic compostition to create a world that leaves the audience awash in luxuriant sound and color. Moreover, the performance allows us the opportunity to track Sorabji's roots into late Liszt and Scriabin; the preludes of Debussy; and Busoni, namely his materpiece, the Fantasia Contrappuntistica.



If ever you were looking for an easy in to the mystical side of Sorabji, then, look no further. This, ladies and gentlemen, is pianistic nirvana that on no account should be overlooked."

Transcendentally towering pianism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stephen A. Boetius | Charlotte, NC USA | 03/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mr Powell is a sensitive and brilliant musician who obviously chose the tempo for artistic reasons. I have heard the other recordings of Gulistan and I think that they all are worth owning. Mr Powell's vision of the piece is gripping and emotionally satisfying as is the previous 2 recordings of Gulistan, in my opinion. However, I must admit that after careful re-examination and comparison of all three recordings (almost twenty years separates my listening to the three recordings!) I must agree with a previous commentator that the Hopkins Gulistan reigns supreme. This recording is almost beyond believe. This recording alone puts Mr.Hopkins in the pantheon of pianistic deities, among the likes of the greatest virtuosi in recorded history i.e. Horowitz, Michelengeli, Volodos & Marc-Andre Hamelin. His Gulistan is simply one of the greatest piano performances ever recorded! To my ears, this recording is bar none, the greatest Sorabji recording ever!!!! For fun, get all three and compare and contrast them but do so BLINDFOLDED!! Then see which one you prefer!



The Rosario d'arabeschi is a very different work from Gulistan. This is a virtuoso tour de force that encompasses the entire range of the keyboard and skillfully displays an encyclopedic understanding of the piano's resources as a virtuoso vehicle. I found the piece to be fascinating aurally and viscerally exciting.



I have all of Mr Powell's Sorabji recordings and eagerly await his future releases. I would absolutely DIE to see a video of any of his or anyone else's performances of Sorabji's music!! If anyone has any such items or any non commercial recordings or videos of virtuoso piano or violin fare, PLEASE CONTACT ME at the email address above!!!!"