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Two MP3 albums for £10
Buy this MP3 album with any other MP3 album under £8 and pay no more than £10 for both (terms and conditions apply). Just look for any album with this message, put it in your basket with another eligible title and the discount will be applied at checkout. |
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The Sarcasms are quite interesting and innovative pieces, and they accomplish their goal, if, in the end, not being as deep as some of Prokofiev's other music. Performances are quite good. The performances of the Fugitive Visions are the main reason I don't give this disc five stars. While it's true that they are often lyrical in mood, the pianist seems to think they must be played very quietly and with no dynamic variation whatsoever. Having played some of them myself, I know they deserve much better performances than this. The playing is either so bland or so mechanical (in the faster pieces) that it fails to capture any of the drama.
The last four pieces are the earliest on the disc, and the last, "Temptation", (or as it's more commonly known, "Diabolical Suggestion") is a true example of Prokofiev's genius and a thrilling way to round out the disc. Overall, because of the price, I would still recommend this CD, but if you're specifically looking for the Fugitive Visions, there are surely much better recordings.
The first thing you might notice about this CD is its sound quality. It's not bad but to be fair, it has the sound as if it where recorded in a high school shower room. But the passionate playing nearly defeats this small yet noticeable handicap.
While most Prokofiev enthusiasts have probably heard "Ten Small Pieces" and the "Visions Fugitives," few have had the chance to hear his "Toccata" and "Four Pieces." It's typical of a music critic to simply shrug off such adolescent adventures but with Prokofiev, even his most juvenile composition where, at the very least, amusing. And the selection offered to us are certainly set for our amusement, enchantment, .....veneration. The "Ten Small Pieces" is a wonder. It's very uplifting to see someone seem to have so much fun with the musical language. And that's what Prokofiev never lost: his exultant, youthfull voice. This voice can be found all throuout this disc; the "Sarcasms" being one of the few classical pieces that can make me laugh out loud.
The pianist, Eteri Andjaparidze, is a very accomplished player who's take on Prokofiev is slightly different than most. Her style is very unpredictable, to say the least. It's hard to believe that one would agree with her interpretations 100%, but it's enough to evoke the right ammount of playfulness when she isn't taking some of Prokofiev's pieces too seriously. Those looking for a less literal take on Prokofiev should look to Boris Berman's numerous recordings of Pokofiev.
At nearly 80 minutes, this CD is one of NAXOS' best bargains. Not only a showcase for the lesser known Prokofiev, but one for the highly talented Andjaparidze as well.
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