Search - Frederic Chopin, Sergey Prokofiev, Maurice Ravel :: Chopin: Piano Sonata No.2; Ravel: Gaspard De La Nuit; Prokoviev: Piano Sonata no. 6 [Germany]

Meeting of Two Geniuses

R. Williams | Los Angeles, CA United States | 11/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you've ever seen the sappy biopic w/Alan Alda's father playing George Gershwin, one of the funny scenes in it is the meeting of Gershwin and Ravel. The two take turns running themselves down. They really had a lot in common, underachievers (for different reasons) who still produced pieces of insane genius. Ravel, apparently, in an existential act of self-erasure, said at the end of his life that he produced only one masterpiece and that was an act of mere orchestration (Bolero). Well, in my humble opinion, Gaspard is one of the truly great masterpieces for the solo piano from any period. This performance is, I agree with the other reviewer, freaky in its brilliance. I can't remember the name of the pianist that Ravel composed this for, but he was insistent that the second movement, with it's bell tolling, honor the hypnotic repetition, but apparently, the pianist thought that would put the audience to sleep so he varied it and they never spoke again.) This makes this piece perfect for Pogorelich who has an incredible ability to mix the hypnotic with the dazzling technical brilliance; this piece makes an amazing showcase."

Freaky brilliance

Philippe Stephenson | Canada | 04/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll grant that the interpretations on this album aren't standard fare. It is even deeply eccentric. But this is fantastic stuff. The Gaspard is in a league of its own. It is not that the interpretation is much better than others available - such as Argerich, François or Michelangeli - but the interpretations are otherworldly. I think this is the Scarbo which is most likely to give you nightmares (appropriate, given the nature of the piece).The Prokofiev is very ably played, although I can't compare it to any other recordings. As for the Chopin, it is a deeply satisfying, if somewhat odd, interpretation. The liner notes even acknowledge that Pogorelich ignores some of the dynamics marked by Chopin."

The finest Prokofiev 6th

Leon Story | North Reading, MA USA | 11/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm surprised at the relatively low ratings given by other reviewers. This recording edges out several by Sviatoslav Richter as the finest performance on record of Prokofiev's epic 6th Sonata. Pogorelich brings amazing excitement to the unique simultaneously-A-major-and-minor first movement, and great delicacy to the quiet passages throughout. The rush to the conclusion of the 4th movement rondo is like rushing water. This, along with the 5th Symphony, War and Peace, and the 8th sonata, may be Prokofiev's finest work, and deserves to be much better known. Pogorelich's Ravel is nearly as well done. I agree with Argerich's famous evaluation of this pianist: "a genius!""