Still One of the Best Chopin Piano Concerto Recordings
John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 05/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Murray Perahia's elegant playing still stands out in a crowded field of excellent recent recordings of Chopin's piano concerti. It's still one of the best currently available, even with excellent alternatives from the likes of Argerich and Zimerman. Perahia is truly a keyboard poet; his playing filled with much warmth and empathy for Chopin's scores. He is blessed in having Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic as splendid accompanists (Indeed, this may be the finest recording I have heard from either Mehta or the Israel Philharmonic.). Regrettably, Mehta's skills at the podium have been dismissed by many, yet he turns in vibrant, superb interpretations of Chopin's scores in these live performances. Sony's - or rather CBS' - sound engineers did a great job recording both concerti; the sound quality is remarkably excellent for an early live digital recording. The Penguin Guide to Classical Music CDs still rates this recording as one of the finest of these concerti; after you purchase this CD I think you'll agree."
Spellbinding
J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 03/05/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I first heard the recording of the E minor concerto on my car radio on the way to a play. I was so caught up that once I got to the theatre I sat in my car to the very end and then missed the play's opening curtain. And I bought the recording the next day. Perahia is simply marvelous, poetic. Mehta's accompaniment is a bit drab in comparison, hence only four stars."
Five stars for performance; Three stars for sound.
J Scott Morrison | 09/28/1998
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I was impressed by Murray P's performance. Slow movements in both concertos are exquisite. Sound is very average. Had Sony done a better job on the sound, this CD would have been a real classic!!"