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Product Description
BBC Music Magazine
MacDowell, the original soloist in these works, must have been a formidable keyboard player: they tend to support the observation by a contemporary critic that he was a prestissimo pianist who could play fast more easily than play slow. The Romance for cello and orchestra is more of a sentimental potboiler, but worth an occasional hearing. These are strong, committed performances in very good sound. Stephen Prutsman has the faultless finger technique that MacDowell demands. Although Earl Wild and Van Cliburn, among others, have recorded the Second Concerto, I would say that this new bargain-price version is the one to acquire, though you might be able to track down Donna Amato's splendid coupling of both concertos on Olympia.
Performance *****
Sound ****
© BBC Music Magazine 2001
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
For Romantic Piano Concerto Lovers,
By
This review is from: American Classics: Edward MacDowell (Audio CD)
If you'd like to surprise someone with recordings of unknown piano concertos which sound familiar, try this. Do you like a touch of Liszt, some Brahms and Schumann and a composer with a great feeling for form? This is the right stuff.It's unpretentious AND convincing. It's very well played and the bonusses are nice too.
5.0 out of 5 stars
overlooked romantic piano concerti,
By
This review is from: American Classics: Edward MacDowell (Audio CD)
MacDowell was an American composer who studied for a time in Germany and the two piano concerti here are representitive of that romantic idiom. These stand well against more well known pieces in the repertory and are dramatic and very melodic. If you like romantic piano music this is for you.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews) 19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Glorious MacDowell Piano Concerti Given Expert Performances,
By Darin Tysdal - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: American Classics: Edward MacDowell (Audio CD)
Except for a misreading of a bass note in the cadenza in the first movement of the first concerto, Stephen Prutsman plays flawlessly. His virtosity is effortless, and never strained. He does not get in the way of the gratutious orchestral parts, so the balance between soloist and orchestra is exemplary. The first concerto especially sounds fresh and newly-minted. Even though the Wild and Cliburn recordings of the 2nd concerto resonate in the mind, this certainly stands as a fine alternative interpretation, and should be listed alongside them. The other short works are well done, too. Great sound and worth the money!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A budget issue that's worth full-price,
By Classic Music Lover - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: American Classics: Edward MacDowell (Audio CD)
Chalk up another offering from Naxos classics that is highly competitive with full-price issues. The big treat here is the First Piano Concerto, historically overshadowed by MacDowell's 2nd. Most reviewers tend to give the work short shrift, dismissing it as inferior to the later concerto. I disagree. The middle theme in the 1st movement is one of those haunting melodies that will stick with you for days afterward. Even though one hardly ever hears the 1st in the concert hall, many pianists have recorded the two concerti together -- even back in the LP days when each work fit neatly on one side of the record. Stephen Prutsman does this concerto proud, and is given great support by the Irish players. IMHO, the only recording that gives him a run for his money is the old Eugene List performance on Westminster (with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra conducted by Carlos Chavez, of all people.)
In the 2nd concerto, the competition is more fierce. Again, Prutsman does very well, and he shapes the three movements nicely. Many people like Earl Wild and Van Cliburn in this repertoire. I agree about Wild, but Cliburn has never sent me over the horizon, either in his recording for RCA or in the concert hall (I've seen him do this piece twice, 15 years apart -- both times his performance didn't linger long in the memory). There are of course numerous other recordings of the 2nd you can sample. Whatever you do, stay away from Seta Tanyel on Hyperion ... the tempo in the beginning of the final movement is so s-l-o-w, I laughed out loud when I heard it. I know it's marked "largo", but this is ridiculous! Frankly, I'm surprised conductor Martyn Brabbins was part of that recording project. He is normally so "spot on" in conducting romantic piano concerti ... Ms. Tanyel probably insisted on doing it this way (like her slow Scharwenka concertos, also disappointing). One wonders why Brabbins didn't just put his baton down and walk off the stage! Anyway, you certainly can't go wrong with the Naxos. Indeed, it would be worth purchasing at twice its budget price. 4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Performance,
By Casey Kelley - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: American Classics: Edward MacDowell (Audio CD)
The piano has great reverberation and really sticks out in this recording. The pianist in addition, gives an exceptional performance.
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