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Piotr Anderszewski Plays Bach: English Suite BWV 811/Beethoven: Piano Sonata Op. 110/Webern: Variations Op. 27
Ludwig van Beethoven, Anton Webern, Piotr Anderszewski
Piotr Anderszewski Plays Bach: English Suite BWV 811/Beethoven: Piano Sonata Op. 110/Webern: Variations Op. 27
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (18) - Disc #1

Usually it's the dazzling moments in a piano recital that first catch your attention. But although Anderszewski plays the opening of the Bach with plenty of brio and energy, it's the haunting playing of the Sarabande that ...  more »

     
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Amazon.com
Usually it's the dazzling moments in a piano recital that first catch your attention. But although Anderszewski plays the opening of the Bach with plenty of brio and energy, it's the haunting playing of the Sarabande that first demonstrates that you are in the presence of pianistic greatness. The subdued, songful opening of the Beethoven Sonata Op. 110 promises another revelatory performance, promise amply fulfilled by Anderszewski's subtle, thoughtful playing. He then goes on the play the often-puzzling Webern as more of Beethoven's lyricism with weirder notes. This music actually isn't hard to understand when it's played with this kind of musical assurance. It isn't until you start reading the booklet--which is, alas, not very helpful--that you discover this recital is a reissue, first recorded for the Polish Accord label in 1996. The information should have been more prominently displayed, but the performances of this engrossing program are still well worth the price of the disc and continue to convince that Anderszewski is one of the most interesting, rewarding pianists of our time. --Leslie Gerber

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CD Reviews

An instant classic
hjonkers | The Netherlands | 08/19/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recital is extremely impressive. I've heard plenty Beethoven opus 110's so far, but Anderszewski's version may be the best of them all. His pianistic abilities are tremendous, whether it is his very wide dynamic range or a superb tonal control. It results in a breathtakingly beautiful first movement, a ferocious Allegro Molto (perhaps even too much, but you'll forgive him), and an Adagio-Fugue that is so tremendously sustained and coloured in every phrase that you could hardly wish for anything better. The Bach suite, too, has all these qualities. Many seem to prefer Perahia in this repertoire, but frankly, I find him rather dull in comparison with what Anderszewski does here. As for the Webern, these are played so convincingly that you'd hardly have trouble understanding it - I strongly agree with the Amazon reviewer here. In all, a superb disc that completely belies the cliche that we don't have really great pianists around nowadays. Already a classic!"
Really, Really Good.
Xyp | Cincinnati, OH | 10/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Andersewski is truly amazing, and anyone who loves piano and hasn't heard this CD is really missing out. Lets forget for a moment about the Bach that leads off the disc- Andersweski could well be a Bach specialist if he wanted to in my opinion, except that he's so damn good at other things as well. Let me just say that the Bach is totally excellent, as all his recorded Bach is, incidentally: check out his disc of the partitas or the french suite. Lets also not concentrate on the Webern, which ends the disc- it's also good, if an odd pairing.



The centerpiece of this disc is the Beethoven: this is the best Beethoven Op. 110 that I have ever heard, period. Andersewski has a sense of structure that I have heard in few if any pianists, and he brings his style across with just about everything I have ever heard him play. He is, for me, the best of the worlds of Brendel (for intellect) and Pollini (for emotion). His readings are always worthwhile, steady, and totally musical. Urgently recommended."
Hear Bach and Beethoven for the first time all over again!
J'Carlin | San Jose, CA United States | 12/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a person who grew up with excellent piano playing, Bach in all forms, and Beethoven, again from piano to choral. I find this album to be stuck in my CD player as I continue to find new ideas being drawn from my favorite composers. All of these pieces are part of my "mental repertoire" and yet I learn new things about them each time I listen to this disc. Piotr Anderszewski is that rare musician that can find the new in a composer without violating the composer's music.



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