Sergey Rachmaninov Maurice Ravel Ettore Gracis - Ravel Piano Concerto in G Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 4 (6 tracks) +Album Reviews

Makes the hairs on one's neck...

Geoffrey P. Smith | ATLANTA, GA USA | 12/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Years ago I owned and then loaned the vinyl disc of these recordings, and I'm so glad the compact disc is available. These performances will compel you love these works. The Ravel is liquid crystal, and the slow movement achingly beautiful. The Rachmaninov 4th...this must be the greatest performance committed to posterity. I was no fan of this work until I listened and then re-listened to Michelangeli's performance. This is dark, defiantly melancholic music, and the soloist's articulation is astounding, the perfect amalgamation of fantasy, bravura and let's not leave out a dash of romance. I defy anyone who listens to the develpment section of the 1st movement not to get goosebumps on the back of their neck! This time I'm holding on to this prize."

Michelangeli at His Best

CV Alkan | 11/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of my favorite albums has always been the Ravel Concertos with Argerich playing the G maj Concerto and Beroff play the Concerto in D. I still think this disc is unmatched when it comes to an album with both concertos. I've always loved the Argerich and always thought the performance couldn't be matched. This was until I heard Michelangeli's version on the radio. The first movement was coming to an end and I didn't know who the performer was. Then the 2nd movement came on and the rest was history. It's one of the most devastating experiences of my musical life so far. Until this, I had the ever-familiar misperception of Michelangeli just being a technician, and that he is cold. Nothing can be further from the truth. I've learned that you really need a completely blinded test to truly gauge a performance because the preconceptions and reputations can unjustly influence a listening experience. The Argerich seems like child's play compared to Michelangeli, beyond comparison. This is also extremely well-recorded for 1958, better than Argerich's. The Rach 4 is simply stunning. I had never heard this work before and now I can't stop listening to it. Again, this is unmatched, nothing and I mean nothing comes closer. Not Wild, Ashkenazy, no one! Michelangeli had very few studio concerto recordings and these 2 concertos must have been special to him. I own >1300 clasical discs and can't think of a better concerto recording. It ranks up there with such great recordings as Kleiber Beethoven 5th and 7th as one of the greatest albums ever!"

Amazing playing

CV Alkan | 04/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is an all-time classic. Michelangeli had almost unlimited technique, and here he puts it to good use. The Rach 4 has probably never been equalled, while the Ravel is one of a few great recordings (Argerich is another).Unfortunately, once you start noticing how terrible and out of time the triangle is (it's especially prominent in the Ravel) you just want to travel back through time and strangle the percussionist."

Great Ravel and stunning Rachmaninov!!!

Julio Castro Karg | Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico | 11/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love Ravel's concerto in G ever since I heard it for the first time back in 1982! The first version I bought was the one with Pascal Roge (directed by Charles Dutoit); a nice version indeed! However, I love this concerto so much that this year I decided to buy two more versions that I was always curious about: the one with Martha Argerich (directed by Claudio Abbado) and this, my newest acquisition, with Michelangeli (directed by Ettore Gracis) from EMI's fantastic series "Great Recordings of the Century"!

In many ways I feel a certain similarity between Argerich's and Michelangeli's versions. Both exhibit tremendous power and great passion, although I feel Martha Argerich's has a little more feeling and perhaps a bit more excitement overall! Her playing also feels more relaxed than Michelangeli's. The second movement (adagio assai) is played beautifully by both of them, and it is perhaps in the first and third movements where I have a slight preference for Argerich's playing. Both Claudio Abbado and Ettore Gracis direction is fine in either version, however I prefer the overall orchestral sound in my older (Rage-Dutoit) version, it's more lushious than the other's!

I also like Rachmaninov's 4th concerto a lot, and have two other versions as well: Earl Wild's (under Horenstein) and Kocsis (under de Waart). If Wild's version is great and Kocsis' is just fine, Michelangeli's is simply stunning!!! The first movement is awesome!

One thing that dissapointed me a bit in this "Great Recordings of the Century" version is the recording's sound. There's more tape noise than I was expecting, judging by the excellent remastering shown in most of the other CDs that I own from this fabulous series!

So, if you don't mind a bit of tape noise and if you're ready to listen to a great version of Ravel's and an absolutely stunning Rach 4, go for it, this is truly one of the "Great Recordings of the Century"!"

Piano artistry at its finest

Baker Peeples | Santa Cruz, CA United States | 04/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Michelangeli's piano playing is simply one of a kind, eschewing all sorts of musical tendencies to fit his own vision of these works presented on this disc, making it some of the most amazing pianism with an uncanny musical intellect. He was a perfectionist and hated recording, so michelangeli must have felt these recordings did him justice in order for him to authorize their release. That said, on to the performances.
The playing is inimitable and michelangeli i felt knew so much about piano technique that new musical spheres are reached that lesser pianists simply could not dream of doing. His playing is immaculately clean, revealing all sorts of contrapunctal details, esp. in the rachmaninov, but what amazes me every time is the absolutely hypnotic second movement of the ravel. rarely have i ever heard music in which time seems to stop. the rachmaninov is stunning as well (what amazing chord playing!) and makes the sometimes trivial second movement, around the theme of "three blind mice" a beautifully rendered and melancholy experience. The climax of the third movement is staggering as well, esp. since michelangeli's restraint stops and he absolutely unleashes...this has got to be piano playing, or even artistry at its finest.
A must for piano lovers and essential for michelangeli buffs."

Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Maurice Ravel, Ettore Gracis :: Ravel: Piano Concerto in G; Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 4

CD Details

Similar CDs

CD Reviews