Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3

Adequate, but not outstanding

Benjamin Sagan | Laguna Niguel, CA | 11/17/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This should have been much better, I'm sorry to say. Mr. Abbado is among the finest Prokofiev interpreters alive (witness his incredible Alexander Nevsky and his glorious reading of the 3rd piano concerto with Martha Argerich, for example), but his orchestral mastery and the excellent playing by the BPO fail to compensate for Kissin's uninvolved, and uninvolving, playing.It is not without merit, mind you. I don't think I've ever heard finer precision in the orchestra on a Prokofiev 1st, particularly the strings in their many rapidly figured glissandi. This is a testament to the engineering as much as it is to the players and conductor. But what is supposed to be thrilling at the end of the concerto is only technical. What should be heart-poundingly exhilerating is merely ostentatious. It's as though Mr. Abbado's legendary attention to detail has bested his sense of drama. Although, the greater fault by far is Mr. Kissin's, who plays the concerto as though he's thinking about what he'll have for breakfast tomorrow. It's virtuosic, I suppose, but "played correctly" is not the same as "well-played." And neither comes close to "stunning."The third suffers even more by this standard, particularly to my ears since I've long felt that it's the finest piano concerto composed in the 20th century. (I realize that's not a popular opinion.) Truly inspired readings cause me to quiver with excitement at the end, but this one simply comes to a stop. All the right notes? Yes, probably. But I, for one, would forgive a few errors if it meant someone's pulse was above 60. A lot of the tempi also seem quite tame, particularly when compared to the earlier Argerich recording.If you're interested in finer recordings of these concertos, I whole-heartedly recommend the afore-mentioned Abbado/Argerich for the 3rd, as well as Argerich's partnering with Dutoit for both. Many people feel her later attempt at the third was less successful than her first, but I like them both for different reasons, and would very probably take both with me to any desert island.I'd be more likely to leave this one behind on that island."

For the Prokofiev fans.

Benjamin Sagan | 06/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording has it all. Kissin is great in every way. The orchestra is brilliant under Abbado, lyrical, powerfull and the sound is colorfull and and clean. As a Prokofiev fan I can recommend this CD. This is my favorite recording of the 3rd."