Ultra-Romantic, technically a breeze
Avid Reader | Franklin, Tn | 10/13/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Like other reviewers I had thought the Ashkenazy recording was unbeatable but this CD arrived as if it were a secret gif from another planet. WHAT A RECORDING! The problem with the Erude-Tableaux (for me, at least) has always been those internal rhythms and secondary melodies as well as the sheet technical demands on the interpreter. I still think that Etude-Tableaux #5 (E Flat Minor) is sheer nectar in the hands of van Cliburn with his rhythmic churning but this comes close. Each note is crystal clear even in the passages that seem to overwhelm the listener. This is music for the ages and it is difficult to select a "favorite". Right off the bat let me say that there are NO bad recordings, no obvious errors in either interpretatin or notes. They could have issued this with a guarantee. The sound is lush, romantic to the nth degree and very sophisticated. But it!!"
The best rachmaninoff
J. M. Evans | MI | 03/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I purchased this album on amazon's mp3 store. I have many of these same works by Vladimir Ashkenazy, and while they are both Rachmaninoff gods, there is just SOMETHING about Ian Hobson's playing that I cannot stop listening to. BUY THIS."