Music CD - Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1/Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2

	Music CD: Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1/Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2 List Price: $17.98 Our Price: $12.47 Your Save: $ 5.51 ( 31% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Manufacturer: RCA
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Tracks: 1. Concerto 1 - Allegro Non Troppo E Molto Maestoso 2. Concerto 1 - Andantino Simplice 3. Concerto 1 - Allegro Con Fuoco 4. Concerto 2 - Moderato; Allegro 5. Concerto 2 - Adagio Sostenuto 6. Concerto 2 - Allegro Scherzando
Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0078635591224 Label: RCA Manufacturer: RCA Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: RCA Release Date: 1993-01-12 Studio: RCA
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Great Tchaikovsky better Rachmaninoff Elsewhere Comment: This is arguably one of the finest Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto recordings of all time. Unfortunately its not matched with a comparable performance of the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto - the tempi are ponderous and Mr. Cliburn slogs through the 'alla marcia" in the first movement as if he were wearing fly-fishing waders. He peaked in his early years and there was no further artistic growth. Having heard him bungle his live concerto performances at Tanglewood, I know why he insists his live performances not be broadcast - his reputation is based on recording engineers and retakes. His victory in Moscow was political, he made a musical career out of it. Customer Rating: Summary: Over-rated Comment: It's really weird to see the many raving reviews of this recording. I was skeptical, so I borrowed this CD from the library to hear if it was as good as people say. The orchestra was no match for Van Cliburn, which makes the whole thing unbalanced. Also, I think other soloists (Richter, Gilels) have more subtlety and shade in their playing. So anyway, do compare this recording with others and see for yourself. Customer Rating: Summary: Hard to beat Comment: The two greatest piano concertos of all times played by the master. What more could one ask? Customer Rating: Summary: Van Cliburn Comment: This CD has the quality of the original LP I purchased in 1958. It is wearing out which is why I purchased the CD. It also has the quality of the live performances I attended. Customer Rating: Summary: My favorite recording of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1 Comment: I just finished listening to the Emil Gilels Zubin Mehta/NY Philharmonic recording of this concerto as well as the famed Van Cliburn recording. One of my "what to buy next" classical CD review books top ranks the Gilels rendition. The Van Cliburn version has long been my favorite for a number of reasons. First, it is well conducted. Second, the playing of Van Cliburn is very accomplished and spirited. Third, the orchestra and Van Cliburn are on the same page. I never once got the feeling during the performance that the orchestra or Van Cliburn were 10 yards out in front of the other when passing the finish line. I did get this feeling several times during Bernstein/NY Phil Isaac Stern's rendition of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. In that performance, it seemed the orchestra was out in front of Stern. His playing was too slow for the speed of the Orchestra. Fourth, the recording engineer had his A game going and did a wonderful job--this CD sounds GRRRREAT! I did enjoy the Gilels performance but it does not quite rise to the level of a great recording. In particular, coughing during this performance is noticeable especially during the quiet second movement. Also, during that movement, the solo instruments seem too distant and are a little hard to hear along with the piano. The plus to the Gilels performance is the buzz and excitement the audience brings to the performance. More Reviews
Editorial Reviews: What a story there is behind this recording! When Van Cliburn won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War with his playing of this concerto, it created an international sensation. The recording followed immediately thereafter, and Cliburn was launched on an international career of unprecedented celebrity for a classical musician. Perhaps the attention was too much, too soon, given his subsequent burn-out and retirement from public life. Fortunately, we have these unique recordings to document what was, by all accounts, a genuine phenomenon. This is the disc "heard 'round the world." --David Hurwitz