Search - Tchaikovsky, Nakamura :: Piano Concerto 1

Dramatic

David Saemann | 07/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My previous acquaintance with Hiroko Nakamura was on a Schumann recording on Sony Essential Classics. She is a fine pianist, with a full tone and sensitive to nuances. This is a very rewarding CD of the two most famous Russian concertos. In the Tchaikovsky, Nakamura's playing is elegant and flexible, perhaps without the fire of Horowitz and a few others. Svetlanov's accompaniment is the best I've ever heard. The Rachmaninoff, however, is the main reason for hearing this disc. It is one of the best performances I've ever heard. Nakamura has a keen sense of the work's moods, which she projects with flexibility and unerring insight. Once again, Svetlanov's accompaniment is exemplary. The blend of soloist and conductor here is truly thrilling. The sound engineering in both works, from 1990, is clear and well balanced, with a superb dynamic range. Nakamura is definitely a pianist I want to hear more of."