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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Elegant Moiseiwitsch in an All-Russian Program, 19 Nov 2003
Benno Moiseiwitsch (1890-1963) was a Russian pianist of the old school, but with a difference. Where others of that group played with brilliance and éclat, his calling cards were a plush tone and an elegantly poetic approach. He never made an ugly sound. Although his playing sometimes lacked the last ounce of forward impetus, it never lacked for sheer tonal beauty. Even warhorses like Rachmaninov's ever-popular 'Prélude in C Sharp Minor,' presented here, is different from others in that it is musing, lyrical rather than heaven-storming. And perhaps the better for it. Six of Rachmaninov's Préludes are included as well as the fourth Moment Musical and Rachmaninov's own transcription of his song, 'Lilacs,' the latter particularly beautifully played here.Moiseiwitsch championed the compositions of his friend, Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951), even though his works were not particularly popular. Of Medtner, Rachmaninov said, in 1921, 'I repeat what I said to you back in Russia: you are, in my opinion, the greatest composer of our time.' Included here are the Sonata in G Minor, Op. 22, the third of his hyper-romantic sonatas, and two of the so-called 'Fairy Tales.' They are played with dramatic sweep that also highlights their formal coherence. Medtner was often called 'the Russian Brahms,' and although his music sounds nothing like the classicist Brahms, it does have more clear formal design than that of some of his compatriots. Modern recordings of the pieces of Medtner by pianists like Hamelin, Demidenko and Tozer have little more to offer besides their more modern sound. One nice touch: there is a lively piano duet of Medtner's 'Round Dance, Op. 58, No. 1' recorded in 1946 with Medtner himself as the second pianist. Rounding out the disc are Kabalevsky's Sonata No. 3, reminiscent of Prokofiev in his mildly sardonic mood, as well as Prokofiev's own 'Suggestion diabolique, Op. 4, No. 4.' Then a bang-up version of Khachaturian's 'Toccata in B Minor.' The final piece, ending the disc in a blaze of glory, is Oscar Levant's piano version of Khachaturian's once-omnipresent 'Sabre Dance.' Yes! As we've come to expect, the transfer from mostly 1940s recordings, done by one of the Naxos Transfer Twins--Ward Marston and Mark Obert-Thorn; in this case, Marston--is simply first-rate. Recommended. TT=79:21 Scott Morrison
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~ Benno Moiseiwitsch
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DVD ~ Svyatoslav Richter
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