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To mark the bicentenary of Chopins birth, two leading Russian pianists tackle the great Romantic composers two piano concertos: Evgeny Kissin plays the F minor Concerto op. 21, a key work in Chopins output, while Nikolai Demidenko performs the E minor Concerto op. 11, a virtuoso display vehicle of the first rank. They are accompanied by the Warsaw Philharmonic under the direction of Antoni Wit. Enthusiastically acclaimed by the audience at Warsaws Philharmonic Hall on 27 February 2010, this memorable concert has been captured in first-class sound and picture quality.
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The consistency with which Demidenko had conceived his interpretation was admirable. There was not a single remark in the score that was omitted or left without interpretation. () After the warm applause two encores were offered. --Magazyn Chopin
After the intermission we heard, for the first time, the rustle of angels wings. Muses were sitting at the balcony and after the final chord Nike descended on her wings from the vault of the Concert Hall, proclaiming the triumph of art. One does not witness such a power, skill and freedom of playing. Evgeny Kissin ravished the audience with his great poetic vision, the powerful creation that made an unforgettable impression. It was a giant fresco, where detail does not matter so much, as the big picture is of prominent importance. --Magazyn Chopin
The climax of Chopin's 200 birthday celebrations held in Warsaw late last February,this concert featured teo russian piaanists offering contrasting views of the composer from the perspective of his two concertos.Having been present at this event ,I am happy to find all its excitement and musical depth preserved-and even amplified-on DVD.The filming at Warsaw's venerable Philharmonic Hall,that high temple of Chopinism,is very atmospheric. Performance,Picture & Sound ***** --BBC Music magazine,Jan'11
After the intermission we heard, for the first time, the rustle of angels wings. Muses were sitting at the balcony and after the final chord Nike descended on her wings from the vault of the Concert Hall, proclaiming the triumph of art. One does not witness such a power, skill and freedom of playing. Evgeny Kissin ravished the audience with his great poetic vision, the powerful creation that made an unforgettable impression. It was a giant fresco, where detail does not matter so much, as the big picture is of prominent importance. --Magazyn Chopin
The climax of Chopin's 200 birthday celebrations held in Warsaw late last February,this concert featured teo russian piaanists offering contrasting views of the composer from the perspective of his two concertos.Having been present at this event ,I am happy to find all its excitement and musical depth preserved-and even amplified-on DVD.The filming at Warsaw's venerable Philharmonic Hall,that high temple of Chopinism,is very atmospheric. Performance,Picture & Sound ***** --BBC Music magazine,Jan'11
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Contrasting Chopin,
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This review is from: Chopin: The Piano Concertos [Blu-ray] [2011] (Blu-ray)
This concert in celebration of Chopin's birthday caught my eye immediately; both concertos in a concert given in February 2010, on the superior medium of blu-ray, and with Kissin's name prominently displayed. The maturing wunderkind plays the concerto no. 2, while Nikolai Demidenko plays the first (although they may well have been composed in the reverse order). While Demidenko might not have as elevated a profile as Kissin, he is a pianist of rare talent, some of whose recordings on Hyperion occupy a respected place in my collection.Let me firstly dispose of the excellent Warsaw Philharmonic under Antoni Wit, who must be extremely familiar with this music and play it not only with accuracy but also with affection. Demidenko concentrates on projecting every note clearly, and to some ears may err towards caution rather than carefree abandon. Nevertheless the fast movements of the first concerto are impressive for their immaculate fingerwork, and the slow middle movement is idyllic. His encore, a mazurka, is less buttoned-down and allows more of Demidenko's obvious affinity with Chopin's music to shine through. Kissin may be more mature now, but he always showed an understanding beyond his years, so there is for me no great surprise in his interpretation of the concerto no.2. His technique has always been phenomenal, and here he achieves pristine fingerwork to match Demidenko, but with less apparent effort. He also uses more dynamic contrast, in a masculine display of both technique and insight into the composer's mind. The first encore, the 'revolutionary' study, seems designed to upset all wannabee pianists like myself in its accuracy and abandon, and the posthumous waltz that follows varies between limpid delicacy and controlled fury. The faces of the listening orchestra tell it all; knowing smiles, then amazement at what they are hearing and seeing. Pictures are excellent; the hall is tastefully lit and camera direction is good. Demidenko leans out of his key light occasionally, but that's all that caught my eye. The surround sound tracks are as good as any recording of these works that I have heard. Chopin doesn't pose too many problems for the sound engineer, no bass drum to stomp on your subwoofer or cymbals to tickle your tweeters, so he has been able to achieve a believable balance that tends to favour the strings and keep the brass in check. Piano sound is only slightly forward, to my ears more so for Kissin (who seems more inclined to use fortissimos). The audience is not totally silent but doesn't intrude, except at the end of the second concerto where their enthusiasm for Kissin leads them to applaud before the final chords have died away. Demidenko brought a smile to my face, Kissin a tear to my eye. They are both well worth a hearing in an excellent recording.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Audience enthralled by Kissin's Chopin as always,
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This review is from: Chopin: The Piano Concertos [Blu-ray] [2011] (Blu-ray)
Concerto No. 1/Demidenko: 3/5, No. 2/Kissin: 5/5Video: 4.5/5 Audio: 4.5/5 Even before the final orchestral chord of the F minor concerto (designated No. 2 but actually written first) is finished the audience bursts out with rapturous applause, followed by standing ovation. This reminds me of the Rach 3 by Kissin I attended some years ago. Back in 1984 at only 12 Kissin already gave a phenomenal Moscow concert playing both Chopin concertos (on RCA Victor CD). In 2010, at 38, Kissin's performance has naturally matured (timing is actually shorter than in 1984) but still retains plenty of brilliance, bravura and panache. Both Chopin concertos are youthful works written when the composer was around 20 and they should sound that way. What has changed with Kissin over the years is more colour, shades of tone and expressiveness throughout. He has the ability to sustain long phrases, build up long crescendos and draws you in right from the first note. Listen to the opening of the second movement, how the long phrase never seems to end. Every note has meaning, whether it is part of a fioritura or inner harmony. That is the art of communication! And then there is the rubato and the ebb and flow which the conductor and orchestra follow amicably. The piano is close-miked which is in keeping with how the Chopin concertos emphasise the piano over the orchestra. The audience thoroughly appreciates it and shows it: look at the smiles and in members of the orchestra. The back cover mentions 'several' encores but here we are given only two on the disc, which is a great shame. Those who have been to a Kissin recital know very well his series of encores is very much a mini-recital on its own, with each stirring the audience in more frenzy. By the end almost everyone is engaged in rhythmic clapping and standing. Why omit the rest and leave us short-changed? In contrast, the E minor concerto with Demidenko is another story. It is largely forgettable and almost the antithesis to the above attributes. The first solo entry (marked ff) is asthenic, many notes are semi-detached, pedalling is restrained, phrases are disjointed, tempo is rather rigid and emotion is inward and understated. The sound just seems un-Chopinesque. The applause is understandably only polite. This is the more approachable concerto of the two and preferred by the past notable Warsaw competition laureates (Pollini, Argerich and Zimerman). Each of them, even any of the recent laureates would give a more idiomatic rendition than Demidenko. Kissin alone is enough reason to get this Chopin 200th birthday concert. This is from the first batch of Blu-rays from Accentus: the producer is ex-EuroArts and the presentation reflects this. Video is 1080i60, audio is 24-bit 48kHz PCM stereo and dts-HD MA 5.1. It is region-free. The English translation in the booklet refers to "sixteenth-note" (used in the US) rather than the more familiar semiquaver.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Contrasting interpretations to contrasting effect,
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This review is from: Chopin: The Piano Concertos [Blu-ray] [2011] (Blu-ray)
It is obvious that opinion is divided over this issue. Generally the Kissin contribution is considered outstanding by any standards. This is true - he fairly sizzles throughout the concerto then completely ignites for the encores!Demidenko, on the other hand, has disappointed many purchasers, largely for not delivering the same type of brilliance. This is an easily understood reaction but I am not sure that it is quite fair to Demidenko (or maybe even Chopin!). My personal view is that Demidenko is essentially deliberately taking a more introverted and reflective view. This is not as immediately appealing as it does not portray such surface glitter as could be achieved. However, I have found it to be perfectly satisfying on its own terms and over repeated viewing. It seems to me to be a viable alternative view - but only providing that you already have a livelier, more regular approach in your collection (and there are many to choose from). I certainly don't think the second concerto would have been capable of this view - but that wasn't tried! So, best to see this as one obvious winner and one possible alternative view which you may, or may not, share. I think 3 stars would be unfair in view of this summary, hence the 4 stars. Maybe 3 and a half ....?
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