Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt :: The Aldeburgh Recital

A masterpiece!

Gorky | 04/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I fully agree with the music fan from Minneapolis, this CD is certainly one of the best recorded by Perrahia and for many reasons: the variety of the program in this life concert, some unequivalent interpretation of Liszt, actually with Brendel or Zimerman. The R.Shumann Carnival inimitable, and the interpretation talent shown in Etudes Tableaux of Rachmaninov have nothing to envy the others like Horowitz or Ashkenazy. The Listz rapsody: amazing! fan of Horowitz, Cziffra: listen this version, we may only regret that Murray did not record yet the Complete Rapsodies....The Consolation in D major is a regal when you have a pianist of a delicate touch. For the Beethoven Variations i have nothing to add to our other customer rewiewer... I have more than a dozen of CD with Perrahia and this one is presently my favourite. The sound is excellent, concert was recorded in 1989 and in DDD."

Perhaps the best solo cd Perahia has ever done

Mark Hennicke | A stone's throw from Carnegie Hall | 02/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pianist Murray Perahia's "The Aldeburgh Recital," recorded at the Snape Maltings Concert Hall in 1989, is perhaps the finest compact disc of solo works that the he has ever released. This cd is stellar in every way, from the extraordinary sound to the impeccable virtuosity that will surely take your very breath away.

The rich & varied program features works from two of Perahia's favorite composers, Robert Schumann and Ludwig Von Beethoven. He is very much in his element with works of Schumann & Beethoven, giving a superb performance of the former's Carnival Jest from Vienna, Op. 26, and the best reading of the 32 Variations for Piano in C-minor by LVB that I have ever heard. I would have expected nothing less from Perahia in pieces by two of the most iconic composers in the history of classical piano literature.

As stupendous as the Schumann & Beethoven selections are, the real treasures on this cd come from the works of Franz Liszt & Sergei Rachmaninov that fill the remainder of the disc. Murray Perahia has not often recorded the works of Liszt, which is quite a shame. He has a flare for the composer's music that the listener might not have anticipated, given the pianist's close association with music Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert & Mozart. Perahia displays a rakish charm in the Hungarian Rhapsodie No. 12 that brought a wide & enthusiastic smile to my face. Who knew Murray Perahia could be so dashing!

As fine as all of the other playing on "the Aldeburgh Recital" is, by far the highest accolades belong to Perahia's stunning perfomances of Rachmaninov's Etudes Tableaux, Op. 32, No.2, in C-Major & Op. 39, No.5 in E-flat Minor, No.6, in A-minor and No. 9, in D-Major. I had the good fortune to hear Perahia play all of the pieces on this disc at a Carnegie Hall recital on the very same world tour that gave birth to this recording. Far and away, he displayed the most jaw-dropping technique in the Rachmaninov. That same breathless virtuosity is apparent on "The Aldeburgh Recital" compact disc. One absolutely begs Murray Perahia to record more works by the Russian master!

Added to all the brillant playing on this cd is a sound so sharp & crystal clear that it is little wonder Perhia has recorded so often at the Snape Maltings Concert Hall in England. What amazing acoustics that building must have! The digital sonics on this release are quite probably the very best Murray Perahia has ever had, on a compact disc that is very likely the most outstanding solo piano work he has ever done."