Search - Franz [Vienna] Schubert, Johannes Brahms, Frederic Chopin :: Eugen d'Albert: The Centaur Pianist. Complete Studio recordings, 1910-1928

Warning, nearly unbearable amounts of static and hiss

S.D. | L.A., CA | 11/29/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I agree with the reviewer above that this is a good disc if you want an historic artifact with some great playing by d'Albert. And it is of great significance for those interested in the history of piano performance. Well, at least I think it was great. I haven't really heard it. Not that I haven't tried. Be forewarned that the remastering leaves a lot to be desired. Complete tracks are often completely submerged in a loud hiss that muffles the piano terribly beyond recognition. Almost completely makes you want to give up on the effort of trying to distinguish the sound. This would require some really active listening. I felt during these moments as if I were listening to someone play the piano softly (so as not to wake the neighbors) two doors down while a rail car rattled outside my window. These recordings deserve better. Unfortunately, this may be the best we can do with the recordings available. I felt that the duets were better presented as the violin that accompanied rose above the level of the hiss, but aren't we here for the piano in the end? Certainly not worth $38 unless you REALLY need this and it's not available at your local library (check to see if it is). And if you simply must hear the man you can do better if you look elsewhere. You certainly can't do worse.



Again, what the 5-star reviewer writes is true (even the part about this not being d'Albert anywhere near his prime - as the liner notes will also tell you). I've heard there are recordings of player piano rolls based on some of these recordings. That might be one way to go as you would be hearing it as he would have played it. But it's still not the real deal. This is. What I don't understand is why this isn't public domain and up on the net for free. It's not like the people who are charging you $38 are actually investing money to clean it up for presentation."