Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Aram Khachaturian, Antal Dorati :: Khachaturian: Piano Concerto; Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3; Liszt: Mephisto Waltz

Landmark performance

Jennierose | New England, USA | 05/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a girl, I was raised with this recording in LP form. As an adult, I looked for it off and on for many years. I found it late one night, brought it home, and played it. It's been a life-altering recording, at least for me.



Nobody plays the Khachaturian Piano Concerto like William Kapell, the first great American piano virtuoso, who died much too soon in a plane crash. He is, for my money, the greatest pianist who ever lived--an intelligent, passionate performer of works by many composers from various eras. Yet it is this dramatic, heartfelt work by distinguished Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian that first put him on the map. Additionally, the Boston Symphony--one of the finest orchestras in the world--conducted by Serge Koussevitzky--the most amazing double bassist of his time, and the founder of Tanglewood--accompanies him.



I once asked a piano professor at a major music school why no one performs the Khachaturian. He answered that it's because no one can play it like Kapell did."

He plays the Khachturian better than anybody plays anything!

Jennierose | 08/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Probably the single most notable pianist this century-a life cut short from a plane crash-the recordings are essential, most especially the Khachaturian Pn. Conc. Other performances don't even come close! Any serious pianist might well attend to repeated listenings and mark well the timing and energy to which he applys to tempi and dramatic placement.'Course it doesn't hurt to have the BSO lead by Koussevitski.Spare no expense! Buy this or any album format with this in it."