Search - Israela Margalit :: Schnittke: Piano Concerto No.2 / Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No.1

Hearing Margalit proves to be a real treat

Martin J. Plax | South Euclid, Ohio USA | 08/09/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Israela Margalit is both a magnetic pianist and accomplished playwrignt. That second talent is evidenced in this recording. Her playing of the Shostakovich First Concerto captures the voices present in the Concerto was great precison, both the soulful voices and the playful voices. She and Donald Barra, who conducted the Moscow Philharmonic, work together rather than at odds, as might eaily be done in this concerto.

For Shostakovich fans, Margalit plays portions of his Ballet No. 1 either adapted for piano, or the original scoring before the orchestration, and Three Fantastic Dances. In both, the clarity of her playing can have the effect of inducing one to sing along on second listening. This portion of the CD made me think of how piano teachers can use it to coach students to pay attention to clarity of performance and attention to marvellous phrasing.

I was not famililar lwith the Schnittke concerto for piano and strings before. Margalit's performance has led me to wnat to learn more of his music.

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