Search - Igor Stravinsky, Dickran Atamian :: The Rite of Spring

Not quality but quantity

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 10/03/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Make no mistake. This is a 5-star performance. You might not, but I certainly do enjoy immensely piano redactions of symphonic works--or in some cases the original piano version that was later fleshed out with orchestration (e.g. Gershwin's original 2 piano version of "An American in Paris"). There is a rival four-hands piano rendition of "Rite" on Naxos that is in every respect as good as this 2-hand setting by Sam Raphling. But with a running time of only 30:15 minutes, even at Delos' mid-price asking, one would wish for a more generous offering with some added pieces such as Stravinsky's selections from "Petrushka" to round out the CD. Still if you must have this pianist or this piece, by all means expect a good performance."

A glorious transcription!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 11/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dikran Atamian made a tour de force transcription and a formidable performance of this score, he knew to preserve the primitivism and wild instincts along the score. Pitifully the CD does not include additional material of this mercurial pianist. I have it in vinyl and I recommend it without reserves.

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