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Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky, Herbert von Karajan, Vienna Symphony Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1

Two of Karajan's bestselling recordings with great soloists. Karajan's rare collaborations with Soviet musicians in the 1960s resulted in exceptional recordings that have become classics - including the ones presented here...  more »

     
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Two of Karajan's bestselling recordings with great soloists. Karajan's rare collaborations with Soviet musicians in the 1960s resulted in exceptional recordings that have become classics - including the ones presented here: "a performance of astonishing intimacy and refinement" from Richter in Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto (October 1962), and "a deft and stylish account" of the Rococo Variations with Rostropovich (September 1968) Citations from R. Osborne, Herbert von Karajan: A Life in Music (London, 1998)

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CD Reviews

Great Russian soloists, great conductor, and now much better
Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 01/14/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"So far as I know, Rostropovich and Richter recorded a total of only five pieces with Karajan, and all are great performances (the other three works, besides the two here, are Strauss Don Quixote, Dvorak Cello Cto., and Beethoven Triple Cto.). Here we get Richter's 1963 Tchaikovksy First Concrto in much better sound than ever before. The performance has lived in the shadow of its disc-mate, the Rachmaninov Second under Rowicki, whenever DG has issued it before. The Tachmaninov is in a class of its own, but Richter's very personal interpreation of the Tchaikovsky is equally breathtaking -- I've never understood why critics diss it, perhaps becasue the pianist, despite his massive technqiue, didn't choose to pull out the stops in the finale a la Horowitz. The new remastering makes orchestra nad piano sound up to date.



The Rococo Variation was also a filler of sorts to Rostropovich's acclaimed and nearly definitive Dvorak Cello Concerto. Critics have had nothing but praise for this performance, but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to buy a CD based on what is a leser work of Tchaikovsky's -- cellists, who lack for central repertoire, keep it alive. The new remastering is good, but the original 1968 analog LP was good to begin with (it won the Grand Prix du Disque in 1969.)



Note" The 2008 release date reflects a large batch of Karajan discs being remastered in commemoration of the eminent conductor."