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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
You might call them the heavenly twins among piano concertos: not surprisingly, they have been coupled together on disc many times over. It says much for Andsnes' version that it rivals the versions by Kovacevich and Perahia, combining as they do spontaneity and concentration, dedication and poetry. Indee, it was the Grieg Concerto that first made the name of Leif Ove Andsnes on disc in 1990.
The interpretation remains broadly the same, except that speeds have become rather brisker.
However many times he has performed the Grieg, Andsnes retains a freshness and expressiveness that never sounds contrived, always spontaneous. He is firmly supported by Jansons and the Berlin Philharmonic, with playing not just refined but dramatic too in fiercely exciting tants. Schumann's cello melodies are gloriously warm, with textures in both works admirably clear, and Andsnes fully responds to Schumann's espressivo and ritardando requests.
Though both Stephen Kovacevich -- in a 1971 Philips recording which still sounds full-bodied and clear -- and Murray Perahia are equally spontaneous, they tend not to be quite so free in their expressive flights; EMI's finely balanced digital sound and the playing of the Berlin Philharmonic are also in this version's favour. Andsnes also offers slightly faster basic speeds than his rivals; I particularly like the free-flowing tempo for the central Andantino grazioso of the Schumann, which one would never mistake for a simple Andante. In his many recordings for EMI Andsnes tended to avoid big warhorse works: this splendid new issue established his supremcy in the field.
The interpretation remains broadly the same, except that speeds have become rather brisker.
However many times he has performed the Grieg, Andsnes retains a freshness and expressiveness that never sounds contrived, always spontaneous. He is firmly supported by Jansons and the Berlin Philharmonic, with playing not just refined but dramatic too in fiercely exciting tants. Schumann's cello melodies are gloriously warm, with textures in both works admirably clear, and Andsnes fully responds to Schumann's espressivo and ritardando requests.
Though both Stephen Kovacevich -- in a 1971 Philips recording which still sounds full-bodied and clear -- and Murray Perahia are equally spontaneous, they tend not to be quite so free in their expressive flights; EMI's finely balanced digital sound and the playing of the Berlin Philharmonic are also in this version's favour. Andsnes also offers slightly faster basic speeds than his rivals; I particularly like the free-flowing tempo for the central Andantino grazioso of the Schumann, which one would never mistake for a simple Andante. In his many recordings for EMI Andsnes tended to avoid big warhorse works: this splendid new issue established his supremcy in the field.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
These are brilliant performances of much recorded (and frequently coupled) works. Andsnes plays beautifully, of course, and has much that is special to say about these works. These are inflammable performances but they are not barnstormers - they are very musical accounts that are quite simply special. Probably this is a top recommendation for this coupling and for each of these pieces. But do, please, listen to the Pires/Abbado version of the Schumann too: it is work with many faces and Andsnes shows you many of them but Pires shows you many new ones! I need both.
19 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The chances of finding these two concertos paired on a single disc are about the same as those of Simon Bates playing Beethoven's 'Pastoral' symphony - extremely high. It's a useful analogy because, if you didn't know, one could be readily convinced that these two piano concertos are Beethoven's sixth and seventh. Whatever, in the unlikely event that you tire of the five Beethoven concertos these two will easily delight in the same way - full of verve, appropriately tempered with moments of delicacy, together with great tunes that unfold in a natural and intelligent manner. It is also good and apt, given the Classical rather than Romantic leanings of these concertos, that Leif Ove Andsnes, with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Mariss Jansons, goes for a fairly light, classical piano tone rather than the somewhat more strident, hard on the ears tone adopted for quite a lot of piano music from the Romantic period. It's unlikely that you will find better perormances than those presented here. Definitely a purchase that will not disappoint you.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
classical music new enthusiast
The quality of the sound could be better but considering the price its good value.Iwould consider buying further cds at this price but if you are a serious classical music fan its... Read more
Published 11 months ago by crafty
Beautiful playing
Leif Ove Andsnes is in great form on this double Concerto CD. Having seen a documentary in which he played the Grieg Concerto on Edvard Griegs original piano, I felt sure this cd... Read more
Published 12 months ago by I. R. Scott
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