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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. I. Moderato |
| 2. II. Allegretto |
| 3. III. Finale: Presto |
| 4. I. Allegro Agitato |
| 5. II. Non Allegro/Lento |
| 6. III. Allegro Molto |
| 7. I. Intermezzo In A Minor |
| 8. II. Intermezzo In A Minor |
| 9. III. Ballade In G Minor |
| 10. IV. Intermezzo In F Minor |
| 11. V. Romanze In F Major |
| 12. VI. Intermezzo In E Flat Minor |
| 13. Dumka (Russian Rustic Scene) |
| 14. Nocturne In C Sharp Minor |
| 15. Islamey (Oriental Fantasy) |
Product Description
BBC Music Magazine
The 18-year-old Chinese pianist Lang Lang is a sensation, no doubt about that. Armed with a Horowitzian technique, offset by a Horowitzian delicacy, he can tackle anything in the repertoire with an apparently effortless aplomb which is almost unnervingly serene. His Haydn here is reminiscent of Horowitz's Scarlatti: phenomenally subtle in its every inflection, impeccably articulated, and illuminated by a colouristic and dynamic palette which ranges from the almost inaudible to the forceful-but-never-strident. All of this is remarkable in the extreme, but does the music in Haydn's case require such a lavish display of sensibility? Can it even survive it? To the first I'd say 'no', to the second, 'just barely'. And for much of the Brahms, I'd say 'no' to both. The pianistic control is astonishing even when it is barely audible (which is often), and the extreme rhythmic freedom is deployed with precocious sophistication, but in this particular mix they come perilously close to presenting Brahms as a feline, neurasthenic ultra-Romantic of almost decadent sensuousness. And more's the pity, since so much of the playing is deeply, ravishingly beautiful. In the Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and Balakirev, who really were ultra-Romantics, all of the pianist's most phenomenal qualities come together to quite staggering effect. A true poet, but never a barnstormer; heroic but never remotely macho; a dazzler who is never out to dazzle: this is a talent in a million.
Performance *****
Sound *****
© BBC Music Magazine 2001
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.7 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Decent performance marred by in-your-face sound, 4 Dec 2001
By Mireille Wastwater - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Live at Seiji Ozawa Hall,Tanglewood (Audio CD)
Having read so many conflicting reviews of this CD I could not resist buying it and listening to it myself. BBC Magazine called him 'a talent in a million' whilst Gramophone were less enthusiastic. So which do I agree with? One thing I'll mention straight away is that the sound is far too dry. Some of the 'floating' pianistic effects that Lang Lang uses, such as in the Rachmaninov 2nd movement and the 2nd of the Op.118 by Brahms, relies on a warmer recording to capture its essence. No doubt the live audience would have been delighted, but on this record the effect is lost. I have heard Lang Lang in concert and he is indeed a talent in a million, as BBC Magazine enthuses. But to label him as such on the basis of this CD would be wrong as it does not show him at his best. Indeed, I would not give a top recommendation for any of the performances on this CD - It is only interesting/worth buying in that it is the debut CD of a rising star. His next recording is of the Rachmaninov 3rd concerto, which I listened to live. You will understand what I mean by the 'floating' effect when you hear his opening phrase (as long as they haven't recorded it as drily as this CD).
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting showman., 2 Jan 2003
By alan - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Live at Seiji Ozawa Hall,Tanglewood (Audio CD)
After seeing Lang Lang play twice in one week I can give an honest review. He has some of the best showman qualities that great performers possess but is lacking in substantial overall pianistic ability and maturity. He concentrates too much on his look and celebrates, in my opinion, his ego. Horowitz was proclaimed as "the greatest pianist alive or dead" but his music had little showmanship. The music went from the heart and then directly too the fingertips. But Lang Lang has a maturity beyond average pianistic ability. I have scarcely heard anyone play Brahms as well as Lang Lang, which is a great and well-deserved compliment. But his maturity does lack in pieces like Islamey and Rachmaninoff's Second Sonata. These are heavy virtuoso compositions that are recieved with reservations and little power from Lang Lang. He plays in a perfectly crisp tone and does not confuse the listner. He rarely uses the damper pedal which can be a blessing when playing Hayden and a curse with Rachmaninoff. I give this cd 4 stars based on content. Hayden, Brahms, a beautiful Dumka by Tchiakovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Balakirev. It has pieces for everyone and seems to be a promising start for just a 19 year-old pianist.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A phenomenal young pianist, 3 May 2001
By "rainbowcrow" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Live at Seiji Ozawa Hall,Tanglewood (Audio CD)
Since hearing Lang Lang perform in Seattle a few months ago, I've been eager to get ahold of this CD, his first recording. I was very curious to see whether his personality and uniquely emotive style of playing would come through on CD. I finally found a copy of the recording, I certainly was not disappointed! The record faithfully reproduces his spirit of his performance.It is a joy to hear, as well. The pieces are well chosen (with the possible exception of the Rachmaninoff, in my opinion), and the recording quality is superb. I do not share the editorial reviewer's concern about the final piece, myself, and I find the Tchaikovsky Dumka to be practically worth the price of admission on its own.
If haven't heard about Lang Lang, this might be a good time to see what the buzz is about; if you have heard him play, I suspect you'll be delighted by this recording. I certainly was, and this one will definitely spend a lot of time in my CD player.
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