Search - Emil Gilels :: Carnegie Hall Recital 1969

A mind-blowing recital!

Kalle Kuusava | Lahti, Finland | 08/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gilels gave this memorable recital on February '69 at Carnegie Hall. He had been preparing these pieces for couple of years, gave several different concerts, and all culminated to Carnegie Hall. The recital was a massive success and great victory for Gilels. The opening piece is Bach-Busoni Prelude and Fugue in D, a piece which is well-known for being just piano-banging from beginning to the end. But no, not with Gilels! The thing which he was the most famous of is the spreading mass of beautiful sound which he was able to release from piano better than anyone else. Gilels makes this piece sound like a Mass or some other huge choral/orchestral piece. And how wonderful pedalling he has and also great contrasts to fortissimos - so delicate pianissimos! And this piece is SO COOL, and it's incredible that Gilels chose this to open the recital! Normal pianist would be completely exhausted after playing this, but Gilels just warms up his muscles! After huge applauses starts Beethoven's 32 variations. He plays this piece with full energy, and this piece must have mentioned much for Gilels, he performed it so often and included it in this program also. Gilels has a keen ear for dynamic balances, even in fortissimo. Then comes the "moonlight" sonata, with the most beautiful first movement I've ever heard, and Gilels also brings the harmonies out outstandingly. The second movement is a flower between two pits, and after that explodes the last movement. Gilels has a wonderful tempo and gives this music a feeling of nervousness. One can feel Beethoven breathing in Gilels's playing! After Beethoven comes Medtner's a minor Sonata Reminiscenza. Gilels cared about Medtner, and this music IS REALLY GOOD, at least played by this giant! Music is full of beautiful melodies and gives a feeling like remembering some old times. Then comes incredible performance of Prokofiev's "Scherzo and March" ; this is Gilels's piece definitely. He brings out all nyances outstandingly, and makes me laugh almost always when I listen to it! What a power, what a drive! Then comes some Ravel. First, Pavane pour une Infante Défunte, an account which is not outstanding, but very well. Change from Prokofiev to the color-world of Ravel Gilels does with experience. The final piece before encores is Ravel's Jeaux d'Eaux. This is the best performance of this work I have ever heard. I have listened lots of different versions, but none can beat this! Gilels's pedalling and sound colors/tone qualities are just a matter of marvel. Gilels gives a feeling that the piano is an instrument with 100 instruments inside it!! Then comes Chopin's Op. Posth. etude no 3 and etude Op. 25 no 2 for encore. Quite and extraordinary encore pieces, played with floating mezzopiano character, gives "we want more" -feeling to the listener! I'm sure that he played many encores, but the CD can't hold up anymore - there's 76 minutes of music in this CD!! Wonderful!! And the sound quality is perfect, there is no audience coughing, just applauses, and the applauses are also shortened. Warmly recommended to every Gilels-fan, and why not to every pianomusic listener!"

A treasured recital from the past

SantaBBob | 03/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I originally bought an LP recording of this recital back in the early 80's and it instantly became a great favorite of mine. I purchased the above pictured CD many years ago.



The Bach-Busoni Prelude & Fugue in D major grabs hold of one immediately because of the fugue, which builds on a very simple but catchy theme that Busoni builds into a tremendous crescendo. For me, the prelude ultimately ended up capturing my imagination though. In particular, near the end of the prelude, there is an octave run at the high end of the keyboard played mezzo-forte. In a split second, it is followed by a chord several octaves down, which Gilels suddenly plays pianissimo. It is a very magical moment. Of the several versions I have of the piece, this is my favorite version.



As with the above review, the Medtner Sonata is a welcome hidden treasure among the many warhorses on this CD.



The other reviewer is correct as to there being other encores not on the CD. My original LP recording contained an encore of the Siloti transcription of the E-minor prelude from the Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1. A beautiful, meditative piece (not incorporating the presto from the second-half of the original prelude) wonderfully played by Gilels. If this recital is re-issued on one CD again and there is only limited room, it may well be worth trading one of the Chopin preludes for the Bach-Siloti prelude.



This is one recital that deserves another printing in the future.

"