Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Arthur Bliss :: Icon: Solomon [Box Set]

Wonderful Survey of wonderful pianist

Ryan Morris | Chicago, IL | 07/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Below is a list of the tracks-

Beethoven; Piano Concerto 3 and 5. Piano Sonata's Moonlite, Pathetique, Appasionata, Les Adieux, Hammerklavier, op 90, and the Waldstein.

Brahms Piano Concerto 2. Tch Piano Cto. Grieg PnoCto. Schumann PnoCto. Scriabin PnoCto. Bliss PnoCto. Liszt Hung Fantasia. Mozart K491

Scarlatti K384.

Bach Waufet Auf.

Mozart Piano Sonata's K331. K 576



Needless to say, aquiring these singularly via Testament would cost you over three hundred dollars and never before have they all been attainable in one set. This is a wonderful way to hear a broad scope of a pianist most associate with Beethoven[who still is one of the greatest Beeth exponents ever-his Hammer, in my opinion, has never been bested in the studio].

SOlomon is, in many ways, more of a precursor to the modern pianist than almost all of his peers. His technique was stupendous and his playing shows little of the flamboyance of the time when many pianists attempted in vain to "Lang-Lang' their audience into an uproar. The Post-Liszt era of senseless showmanship was at its end, though a man named Vladimir Horowitz was about to begin the second world war of vanity. The sole video of Solomon[playing a marvelous appasion] shows a very economic pianist, capable of both power and grace without the slightest hint of strain. Solomon can be listed without hesitation in the same breath with such giants as Rachmaninov[the player[, Moiseiwitsch, and Schabel in regard to their respectable playing in total respect to both the composer and their audience.

Unfortenetly, his career was cut incredibly short due to a debilitating stroke in 1956 just as Solomon was reaching his true potential.

If you enjoy this record, I would recommend getting his Brahms piano concerto 1 and his Piano Sonata op5 along with his Schumann Carnaval[together on Testament] and the rest of his Beethoven Sonata's, Schubert, and Mozart all available on Testament.

Highly recommended."

Legendary pianist, brilliant bargain

Ivor E. Zetler | Sydney Australia | 08/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of the many recordings of Solomon that I possess, none have ever failed to thrill me. Solomon's repertoire was centred on composers such as Mozart,Beethoven,Schubert and Brahms. On the evidence of this fine set one can hear his mastery in playing their works. When you listen to Solomon's pianism, it seems that this is the way the music is meant to sound.



My favorite of all the performances in this compilation is the Grieg Piano Concerto; it has such a glorious freshness and sense of wonder. To my ears it is the greatest performance of this work ever recorded. The same can be said for Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata. The rest of the performances come generally near the top of the list as well.



The sound in these historic performances is generally quite acceptable. No one should be deterred from acquainting themselves with these treasures due to their age. EMI's price is a steal compared to the extortionist cost of many of the same recordings as released on the Testament label."