A five-star review to end the year
mainFrom the Lebrecht Album of the Week:
As a matter of course, I do not listen to new Mozart piano releases. There is such an abundance of unsurpassed recordings on my shelves — Ashkenazy, Brendel, Gilels, Haskil, Kempff, Richter — who could ask for anything more? But I slipped on this latest offering as an early-morning tune-up and, before I knew it, I was in heaven….
Read on here.
And here.
Let us not forget Annie Fischer
Beautiful review…. obviously a great talent. Here is his Mozart D-minor in 2011. 17 years old:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-bxtDrhXpY
The orchestra is too ‘thin’ – anxiously playing HIP so that the strings have no body.
The same concerto in 2018 in Philadelphia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAK8YObfWH8
Cho is very good but again, the orchestra (under Afkham) too cautious, taking-away the drama of the music.
Here is Cho with Chopin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pRQ4LqTJr4
Remarkable that he keeps the lyricism intact in the virtuosic textures where many pianists just let themselves go in rushing and banging. (And what a stunning piece it is.)
Cho also does Ravel, and one of the most difficult pieces, understanding how to ‘paint’ fore- and background:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhNCGgFIxN8
It is a consolation that in this world, Nature tries again and again.
Spot on, Seong Jin is a rare talent, amazing pianist.